Second thoughts

— No chance riders will be thrown

Even thoroughbred racehorse owners can’t get enough of Tim Tebow.

The Jockey Club lists at least six horses named after the New York Jets’ new backup quarterback, who last season led Denver to the playoffs with a string of comeback victories but was traded away after the Broncos signed free agent Peyton Manning.

Out there on a farm, at a training center or on a racetrack, there is Tebow Go, Tebow Gator, Tebow Time, Tebows Big Play and, naturally, Tebowing and Tebowmania.

“At the same time the Tebow fascination was happening, we said what a great name for a horse,” said Billy Koch, the managing partner of Little Red Feather Racing, who bought four yearlings last September and named a filly Tebowing. “I’m not the biggest Tebow fan, but whathe did was pretty miraculous and we all thought the name would be terrific. And it wasn’t taken.”

Koch, though, was surprised when told two other 2-year-olds have Tebow-centric names - a colt named Tebows Big Play and a filly named Tebowmania. He said he’s hoping Tebowing will makeher first start this summer at Del Mar in California.

Tebowmania is owned by trainer Dave Bennett’s wife, Deborah, who hails from Denver, and the trainer says his wife has always been Tebow-oriented.

“She loves college football, followed Tebow when he played at Florida, and then when the Broncos drafted him we started throwing Tebowmania around,” said Bennett, adding they also were aware of a horse that was named Broncomania. “So when we bought the filly in January, the name was easy to come up with.”

And now that Tebow’s a Jet?

“She’s a fan of Tebow,” Bennett said.

It probably would have been better if he had at least went to the Colts.

Tebow time

More on Tim Tebow from Brad Dickson of the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald:

“Tim Tebow arrived at the Jets’ training facility in New Jersey. He’s having no trouble adjusting to New Jersey thanks to his missionary work in underdeveloped countries.”

“Starting Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is expected to seta record as the first quarterback to take every snap during a season while looking over his shoulder.” Glamour racket

Cover girl Maria Sharapova says she prefers tennis to posing for the cameras.

“There is nothing more mortifying than the red carpet,”she said with a smile.

Sharapova said she enjoys the work that comes with her endorsement deals, which gives her a chance to be creative and meet talented people.

But she said shemostly leads a normal life and finds it terrifying to walk a red carpet.

“It’s - I don’t want to say fake, but - it’s one big illusion, to be honest,” Sharapova said.

“The things you see on a red carpet, everything is perfect, the image of a person there dressed beautifully with hair and makeup and wonderful styling. I come home an hour later and I take everything off and, you know, ‘Where did all that glamour go?’ ”Quote of the day “As the head coach,

anything that happens in

the framework of your

team and your program, you’re responsible for.

And that’s a lesson I’ve learned.” New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton, who is suspended for a season for allowing an assistant coach and players to run a bounty system

Sports, Pages 22 on 03/28/2012

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