
Bill Center
Bill has covered sports for the U-T since 1967. He has been involved in covering the Padres since 1983 with that being his primary assignment since 1995. Center is also the newspaper’s lead motorsports reporter (since 1976) and boating writer (since 1969). Over more than four-and-a-half decades with the newspaper, Center has also covered San Diego State, soccer, boxing, the Chargers, USD and the preps. He has been on site for the 1984 Olympics, two soccer World Cups, both World Series involving the Padres, eight America’s Cups in sailing, more than 60 major title fights, 35 Indy 500s and 38 Rose Bowls, in addition to five Super Bowls. He is a past president of the Baseball Writers Association of America. A San Diegan since 1950, Center attended San Diego State.
All Stories

Sea Lions finish their season 17-3-1

Truly Quality lives up to name in Del Mar stakes win
Vincent Cheminaud rallies Truly Quality to win the Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup – a 1½-mile marathon for older horses.

Mesa College football coach will make league history when Olympians open playoffs on Saturday
Watkins is the first Black head coach to lead a team into the eight-team 3C2A playoffs since they originated in 2008

Team of the Week: Back home, Point Loma Nazarene looks to repeat as national champs
The Sea Lions face the toughest test of their title defense Saturday

College recap: USD, Point Loma Nazarene, Mesa shine in postseason
A look at how San Diego's colleges fared over the weekend

Mrs. Astor graces Del Mar with a win in Sunday’s Red Carpet Stakes
Mrs. Astor, the third-favorite in the field of seven older fillies and mares, finished a length ahead of 3-to-5 favorite Forever After All

PLNU scores twice in under a minute, advances in NCAA Division II Tournament
The Sea Lions will play at Cal Poly Pomona next Saturday, with the winner hosting the national quarterfinals the following week.

Skinner returns to take Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar
The 4-year-old son of Curlin rallies from fifth place to take the victory

Mixto gets former jockey back for Saturday’s Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar
Antonio Fresu will be back in the saddle on Saturday

Point Loma Nazarene begins national title defense with 2-1 win over Simon Fraser
“Defending the title is absolutely tougher" than winning it, coach says

Team of the Week: MiraCosta College not short on motivation as playoffs begin
Club ranked a surprising 17th in the state despite winning its league

College recap: PLNU opens NCAA Division II championship defense in women’s soccer
PLNU's women will host seventh-seeded Simon Fraser on Thursday

Bullard wins Bob Hope Stakes, continuing Bob Baffert’s rare dry spell at Del Mar
Going into Sunday, Bob Baffert had trained winners in three straight Hopes.

San Diegans claim titles at SCORE Baja 1000
Teams led by racers from San Diego County claimed the featured overall titles Sunday in the 57th SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race

Practical Dream beats Bob Baffert’s stacked field to win Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar
Trained by Tim Yakteen, Practical Dream, ridden by Antonio Fresu, finishes 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Silent Law

Sandy Bottom spoils Tamara’s return in Friday showdown at Del Mar
Sandy Bottom leads wire-to-wire and holds off the daughter of Hall of Famer Beholder by a nose.

A rookie jockey at age 37, Serafin Carmona chasing horse racing dream
Serafin Carmona spent 14 years as an exercise rider at Southern California tracks after arriving from in 2009

Team of the Week: Mesa College the team to beat in men’s, women’s cross country
Every week, U-T contributor Bill Center highlights one San Diego college team that’s making strides on and off the field

College recap: PLNU shines in men’s and women’s soccer; Mesa College runs away with titles
A look at how San Diego's colleges fared over the weekend

Fast finish helps Chismosa wins Betty Grable Stakes at Del Mar
Chismosa scores her fourth Del Mar victory under a strong stretch ride from jockey Tiago Pereira.

Big City Lights wins Cary Grant Stakes at Del Mar
After finishing second to The Chosen Vron in the past two Cary Grant Stakes, Big City Lights wins

The Chosen Vron out for Del Mar’s fall meeting, but trainer eager to return this summer
The Chosen Vron is out for at least the next three months after being scratched from the Breeders’ Cup sprin

Team of the Week: ‘Defense always travels’ for SDSU, which has most soccer wins since 2011
Aztecs have won the Western Athletic Conference's regular-season title with a 7-0-1 record

College recap: SDSU and USD shine in soccer; Mesa College beats Southwestern in football
A look at how local college teams fared over the weekend

Jockey Flavien Prat star of Breeders’ Cup’s ‘fabulous two days’ at Del Mar
Flavien Prat wins the 22nd Bill Shoemaker Award as the outstanding jockey of the Breeders’ Cup.

Team of the Week: Point Loma Nazarene ranked No. 15 nationally
Every week, U-T contributor Bill Center highlights one San Diego college team that’s making strides on and off the field

Weekend wrap-up: USD, San Diego State revel in soccer success
Toreros' win over Oregon State keeps strong season going

Team of the Week: USD men’s soccer team has sights set on NCAA Tournament bye, deep run
Toreros face Final Four participant Oregon State Saturday on campus

Team of the Week: Mesa College thrives behind play of stellar San Diegans
Every starter played at a local high school, and nearly 90 percent of the Olympians' roster is local

Team of the Week: Headline-makers a year ago, Southwestern College players lead women’s soccer team to No. 4 national ranking
Every week, U-T contributor Bill Center highlights one San Diego college team that’s making strides on and off the field

New San Diego Pro Sports Military Alliance connects local teams with servicemen and their families
Eight San Diego professional sports organizations have announced an alliance to benefit servicemen, their families and military installations throughout San Diego County

Team of the Week: PLNU cross country team runs to first meet victory since 2018
Madeline Reeves leads Point Loma Nazarene to victory over 15 other teams to win the Cal State San Marcos Cougar Challenge

Corey Peabody pulls of massive upset, wins Gold Cup race on Mission Bay
When it counts most, the U-9 team es the season’s final inspection

Andrew Tate the man to beat heading into final day of Bayfair on Mission Bay
With two heats to run before the championship race, Andrew Tate and the U-91 team need only a third-place finish in either heat to clinch season titles

Andrew Tate plays the long game on Day 1 of Bayfair races on Mission Bay
With the second qualifying round approaching, Andrew Tate takes a strategic look at a longer than normal weekend

Gold Cup powerboat race highlights San Diego Bayfair weekend on Mission Bay
This will be the 56th Unlimited Hydroplane race on Mission Bay since 1964 and the fifth time San Diego has hosted the Gold Cup

Summer meeting over, Del Mar officials turn attention, excitement to Breeders’ Cup
Come Nov. 1-2, Del Mar will host the Breeders’ Cup for the third time

All eyes on Bob Baffert as Del Mar’s summer session enters final weekend
Famed trainer He has the favorites in both of this weekend's biggest races

Kyle Frey’s self-imposed break, subsequent treatment lead to ‘biggest day’ as jockey
Had he been riding at Del Mar last summer, Kyle Frey said he might not be alive today.

NASCAR studying San Diego for potential road race, but massive speedbumps ahead
San Diego is but one of many options NASCAR is studying, a source told the Union-Tribune

Runaway win, inquiry highlight Del Mar’s holiday session
There were two $100,000 stakes at Del Mar Monday afternoon.

Muth wins Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar, one day after Pacific Classic
Muth stalks early leader Pony Express for more than a half mile before taking the lead on the far turn under Juan Hernandez.

Notebook: Defending champions are early favorites in Pacific Classic undercard
Gold Phoenix is the early 5-to-2 favorite to win the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap for a third straight year

Sweet Azteca proves worth in Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar
Sweet Azteca goes off as the 1-to-9 favorite — the steepest favorite of the summer meeting — and leaves no doubt

Raging Torrent outlasts The Chosen Vron to win Del Mar’s Pat O’Brien Stakes
Raging Torrent, a 3-year-old son of Maximum Mischief, refuses to fold under pressure

Trainer Bob Baffert stirring up Pacific Classic with three nominated horses
The Hall of Fame trainer nominates champion mare Adare Manor, prized 3-year-old colt Muth and Reincarnate for the $1 million race

Antonio Fresu, the latest in a long line of jockeys, is one of Del Mar’s best
With three straight wins last Sunday and wins in two of the last three races Thursday, Fresu moved into third in this summer’s jockey race with 18 wins. He also...

Hector Berrios completes weekend sweep, rides Moment’s Pleasure to Del Mar win
Berrios’ strong ride down the stretch denied jockey Antonio Fresu a fourth win on Sunday

Iscreamuscream surges late, wins Del Mar Oaks
Horse has won four wins in four starts, including two straight at Del Mar this summer

Eastern horses line up for Del Mar Stakes; Sunset Glory wins $100K CTT &TOC Stakes
News and notes from Friday's session at Del Mar

Rematch between Musical Rhapsody and Linda’s Gift highlights Friday’s action at Del Mar
The $100,000 California Thoroughbred Trainers and Thoroughbred Owners of California Stakes is a 1 3/8-mile turf test for older fillies and mares

Local favorite Anisette hopes to continue 2023’s success on Saturday at Del Mar
Anisette will be seeking her third straight win and sixth in eight races in the 1 1/16-mile turf test for older fillies and mare

Graduation Stakes kicks off busy weekend at Del Mar
Friday’s $100,000 Graduation Stakes is for Cal-bred colts and geldings

Stay Hot keeps cool to score win in La Jolla Handicap
Stay Hot raced for the first time since a defeat and won the $100,000 La Jolla Handicap with a strong stretch run under jockey Antonio Fresu.

Adare Manor shines at Del Mar, wins Clement L. Hirsch Stakes for a second straight year
Victory guarantees Adare Manor a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar in November

Johannes es key test in Sunday’s Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar
The son of Nyquist in control of the turf test for older horses over the entire 11/8 miles

The Chosen Vron captures Bing Crosby Stakes, has won 19 of 24 career races
The Chosen Vron scores a sixth straight win while easily winning the $400,000 Grade I Bing Crosby for the second straight year

Richard Baltas shines on Day 2 of Del Mar racing
Ag Bullet was the first entry and win at Del Mar since 2021 for the 63-year-old Baltas, a three-time training champion at the seaside oval

Jockeys Umberto Rispoli, Hector Berrios shine on Del Mar’s opening day
Saturday's handle of $23.983 million was up 10 percent over a year ago.

Del Mar officials hope rare Saturday start gives way to successful summer
Del Mar begins its summer season on a Saturday for only the third time in history and the first time since 1953

Ted Williams’ revamped childhood home ‘a connection’ for fans of San Diego baseball history
Once in disrepair, Ted Williams' childhood home on Utah Street has been given an update

Bill Center: Before he took UCLA, NBA by storm, Bill Walton was Helix High’s singular sensation
Bill Walton and I came upon the San Diego sports scene about the same time.Although I had worked part-time for the San Diego Union since 1964, I was just beginning...

‘Amazing talent’ Jett Lawrence to open outdoor motocross season Saturday at Fox Raceway in Pala
Jett Lawrence has heard the used as introductions: Phenom.Generational talent.Although he is just 20, Lawrence is already being viewed by veteran Supercross/motocross observers as one of the all-time great...

Hydroplane racing returning to Mission Bay in September, with guest racer Jimmie Johnson possible for ’25 event
After a year’s absence, Unlimited Hydroplane racing will return to Mission Bay in September.And, if things go right, seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson might celebrate his 50th birthday on Mission...

Texas women shine at Crew Classic; Chula Vista’s Azja Czajkowski wins at Olympic Trials
The University of Texas' nationally-ranked women’s crew completed a Crew Classic sweep on Mission Bay Sunday morning by winning the featured Jessop-Whittier Cup varsity eights race for the third straight...

They’re hooked: University of Texas women’s crew team returns to Crew Classic looking to win another Cup
The University of Texas women’s crew team returns to Mission Bay this weekend seeking a third straight victory in the featured Jessop-Whittier Cup for collegiate varsity eights.The Longhorns won the...

California Horse Racing Board’s vote could have major ramifications for Del Mar
Over the objections of both Santa Anita and Del Mar, the California Horse Racing Board voted 6-0 Thursday, March 21, to allocate dates for a 10-week fall racing meeting in...

California Horse Racing Board’s vote could have major ramifications for Del Mar
Over the objections of both Santa Anita and Del Mar, the California Horse Racing Board voted 6-0 Thursday, March 21, to allocate dates for a 10-week fall racing meeting in...

California Horse Racing Board’s vote could have major ramifications for Del Mar
Over the objections of both Santa Anita and Del Mar, the California Horse Racing Board voted 6-0 Thursday, March 21, to allocate dates for a 10-week fall racing meeting in...

California Horse Racing Board’s vote could have major ramifications for Del Mar
Over the objections of both Santa Anita and Del Mar, the California Horse Racing Board voted 6-0 Thursday to allocate dates for a 10-week fall racing meeting in Pleasanton that...

Aaron Plessinger wins first Supercross event during muddy night at Snapdragon Stadium
Aaron Plessinger took the lead on the eighth lap Saturday night when Ken Roczen crashed and never gave up the lead as he scored his first career win in the...

San Diego continues Supercross tradition with Saturday night’s Monster Energy event at Snapdragon Stadium
It all started in 1972, when Marty Tripes won the first Supercross at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.A year later, the Santee native repeated in what was then a one-off...

Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson still not done with racing; ‘I can’t let go’
Typically, induction into a Hall of fame — in this case, halls — follows the conclusion of a distinguished career.But Jimmie Johnson is far from being done.“I miss being in...

Surge Capacity keys history-making day for trainer Chad Brown at Del Mar
DEL MAR — Trainer Chad Brown made history on Del Mar’s closing day.Led by winner Surge Capacity, the four horses Brown shipped in from the East ran 1-2-3-4 in the Grade I...

Jockey Flavien Prat big winner on Del Mar’s penultimate day
DEL MAR — Flavien Prat capped a four-win Saturday by riding 4-5 favorite Program Trading to a neck victory over Webslinger in the Grade I, $300,000 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar.The win...

Del Mar Turf Festival a showdown between trainers Chad Brown, Phil D’Amato
Since 2016, Chad Brown has won 13 races during Del Mar’s annual Turf Festival with horses shipped west from his eastern base.And Phil D’Amato is closing in on a third...

Mr Fisk captures Native Diver stakes at Del Mar
DEL MAR — Back on Sept. 3, the Bob Baffert-trained tandem of Tahoe Sunrise and Mr Fisk finished in a dead heat for first in the $125,000 Shared Belief Stakes on the...

Trainer pulls off 1-2-3 sweep in Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar
Easter rallied in the stretch to upset defending race champion Hong Kong Harry as turf horses trained by Phil D’Amato scored a 1-2-3 sweep Saturday in the featured Grade II...

Jockey doesn’t lose ‘an inch of ground’ in riding Planetario to Del Mar win
DEL MAR — Richard Mandella is Del Mar’s turf marathon champion of 2023.Mandella’s Planetario captured the 1 ½-mile, $200,000 Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup Friday afternoon a day after his Linda’s Gift...

Gift horse: Jockey Tiago Pereira rides filly to wire-to-wire win at Del Mar
Twelve days after finishing fourth in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes, Linda’s Gift led wire-to-wire Thursday afternoon to win the Grade III Red Carpet Stakes kicking off Del Mar’s two-weekend Turf...

Flavien Prat rides ‘real pro’ Nysos to Bob Hope Stakes win at Del Mar
Before Sunday’s Grade III Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar, trainer Bob Baffert was wondering how his 1-5 favorite Nysos would fare in the seven-furlong race for 2-year-olds.The son of...

The Chosen Vron to race at Del Mar, two weeks after Breeders Cup Sprint appearance
The appearance of The Chosen Vron in one of three stakes highlights the second weekend of Del Mar’s 10th fall meeting.Racing just two weeks after placing fifth in the Breeders’...

Fall feels different at Del Mar, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing for horses, trainers
The annual summer meeting at Del Mar is a showcase event.The crowds are large and almost 2,000 horses are on the grounds for a meeting that draws national attention.The fall...

Dolce Zel breaks through starting gates, then wins race on wild Saturday at Del Mar
After winning four straight training titles at Del Mar, Phil D’Amato has seen just about everything — including a 1-2-3-4 sweep in the Eddie Read Stakes last summer.But he experienced...

Longshot wins big on first day of Del Mar’s fall meeting
There was a surprise start to Del Mar’s 10th fall season Friday afternoon when Tyler Baze rode 35-to-1 longshot Shezmisbehaving to victory in the opening race of the 13-day meeting.Not...

Racing returns to Del Mar for 10th annual fall meeting
These are heady days around the Del Mar Throughbred Club.Not only will the seaside oval host the Breeders’ Cup in back-to-back years in 2024 and 2025, the track’s 10th fall...

Racing returns to Del Mar for 10th annual fall meeting
These are heady days around the Del Mar Throughbred Club.Not only will the seaside oval host the Breeders’ Cup in back-to-back years in 2024 and 2025, the track’s 10th fall...

Racing returns to Del Mar for 10th annual fall meeting
These are heady days around the Del Mar Throughbred Club.Not only will the seaside oval host the Breeders’ Cup in back-to-back years in 2024 and 2025, the track’s 10th fall...

Racing returns to Del Mar for 10th annual fall meeting
These are heady days around the Del Mar Throughbred Club.Not only will the seaside oval host the Breeders’ Cup in back-to-back years in 2024 and 2025, the track’s 10th fall...

Bob Baffert’s Prince of Monaco caps Del Mar season with win in Futurity
Prince of Monaco, who went off as a prohibitive 1/20 favorite, won the Grade I, Del Mar Futurity Sunday as the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club closed out its 83rd summer...

Behold a new 2-year-old filly standout at Del Mar: Tamara
DEL MAR — Beholder, Tamara’s mother, scored one of the more memorable victories in Del Mar history in 2015 when she ran past the best older males on the far turn to...

Focus on youth, titles on line during final weekend at seaside oval
DEL MAR — The focus will be on youth this weekend as Del Mar closes its 83rd summer season.Featured will be the bookend $300,000, seven-furlong Grade I stakes for 2-year-old fillies and...

For ‘The Snake’: Carlsbad racer honors mentor with tribute car – then captures Nationals title
Fifty years ago last weekend, Don "The Snake" Prudhomme made drag racing history at the U.S. Nationals — driving his Funny Car to victory and becoming the first driver to...

A day after close call in Pacific Classic, Mike Smith finds the winner’s circle twice
DEL MAR — Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith just missed in Saturday’s Pacific Classic.But the veteran picked up a pair of consolation prizes Monday afternoon as he rode the winners in...

Phil D’Amato lands two Breeders’ Cup berths with stellar Saturday at Del Mar
DEL MAR — Trainer Phil D’Amato claimed two Breeders’ Cup berths and his Gold Phoenix and Bob Baffert’s Du Jour won the two Grade II stakes on Saturday’s undercard to the Pacific...

Bob Baffert ready for another memorable Pacific Classic at Del Mar
DEL MAR — Bob Baffert re where he was for the first Pacific Classic."It was 1991," he said. "I was just getting started as a trainer. I think I had five horses....

Geaux Rocket Ride installed as slight favorite for Saturday’s Pacific Classic at Del Mar
DEL MAR — Haskell Stakes winner Geaux Rocket Ride has been installed as the slight favorite for Saturday’s 33rd running of Del Mar’s premier annual race — the $1 millon, Grade I...

Eda wins 7th straight race with Rancho Bernardo victory
DEL MAR — Juan Hernandez rode Eda to the filly’s seventh straight win in Sunday’s featured Grade III Rancho Bernardo Stakes at Del Mar.But the weekend belonged to the combination of jockey...

O’Brien victory puts Anarchist in Breeders’ Cup
DEL MAR — DEL MARIt took an extra race, but Anarchist is headed to the Breeders’ Cup.After finishing second to The Chosen Vron in the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes on July...

Bob Baffert-trained horses among early nominees for Pacific Classic at Del Mar
DEL MAR — Fifteen horses have been nominated for the Sept. 2 Pacific Classic, although racing secretary David Jerkens believes the premier event on the Del Mar calendar likely will have nine...