Local / State Snapshots

By The Associated Press - 07/16/2009

Horse racing back in Montana GREAT FALLS — Live horse racing returns to Montana Expo Park Saturday for a five-day meet that will conclude on July 26.

Racing will be conducted at the fairground with a 1:30 p.m. post time on Saturdays and Sunday and a special 4:30 post time on the lone Friday of racing, July 24.

Some of the featured races that fans can expect to see will be the annual Charlie Russell Quarter Horse Futurity and Quarter Horse Derby, the Cascade County Invitational, the State Fair Handicap, and the Treasure State Futurity for 2-year-old Thoroughbreds.

There will be free admission to the races July 18-19 and free with State Fair admission July 24n26.

Carroll hoops coach hires twin brother to staff HELENA (AP) — Take a look down the Carroll College men's basketball bench this fall, and you might think you're seeing double.

Coach Brandon Veltri on Thursday announced the hiring of identical twin brother Brock Veltri as assistant coach and sports information director at the NAIA school in Montana.

Brock Veltri joins the Fighting Saints from NCAA Division II Seattle Pacific University, where he spent the past five seasons as head assistant coach, overseeing scouting, recruiting, scheduling and travel.

The 32-year-old brothers played basketball together at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Wash.

Griz sign three JC transfers MISSOULA (AP) — The University of Montana football team has added three junior college players from California to its 2009 roster.

Seventh-year head coach Bobby Hauck announced the signings Thursday of cornerback Brandon Dodson, defensive tackle Brett Hutter, and punter Sean Wren. They'll join the Grizzlies this August in 2009 fall camp.

Dodson is a 5-foot-8, 170-pound junior who played at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif.

Hutter is a a 6-3, 260-pound defensive tackle who'll be a sophomore this fall at UM. He played at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.

Wren is a 6-6, 210-pounder who will be a sophomore. He transferred from California's Fullerton College and is expected to be Montana's punter this season.