4:30 a.m. EDT, May 17, 2011

A new monthly sports magazine found inside today's American News features two sporting events, deep in tradition, which enthrall American sports fans every May: The Indy 500 and the Kentucky Derby.

The Indy 500 has been the premier racing event in the entire world for 100 years now. The 100th running of that race will be Memorial Day weekend. Athlon Sports previews the 500 in the May issue along with a personal profile of the sport's most recognizable driver, Danica Patrick.

With the Kentucky Derby kicking off the Triple Crown series of horse racing, the leading female jockey in the U.S., 23-year-old Anna Rosie Napravnik, has her sights on becoming the first woman to win the Triple Crown.

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Get these stories and more in this month's Athlon Sports magazine inside today's American News.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Lockout to stay - for now

The NFL's lockout remains in place, a federal appeals court ruled Monday. That means the league likely won't get back to business until at least next month - and maybe much longer than that.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the lockout can stay until a full appeal is heard on whether it is legal. That hearing is scheduled for June 3 in St. Louis, before the same panel that issued this 2-1 decision.

The appellate court said it believes the NFL has proven it ''likely will suffer some degree of irreparable harm without a stay.''

The decision came as NFL owners and players finished their latest round of court-ordered mediation behind closed doors, a session that lasted more than eight hours. This was the fifth day of talks in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, the first since April 20.

Neither side would elaborate on the discussions, citing the judge's confidentiality order, but they said they planned to resume talks this morning.

CYCLING

British rider tops first leg

of Tour of California

Ben Swift of Britain emerged from a massive sprint finish and took the lead Monday after winning the 76.3-mile, weather-shortened and rainy opening stage of the Tour of California.

Swift, 23, who competes for Team Sky, completed the road race from Nevada City to the state capital in 2 hours, 47 minutes and 12 seconds and earned his fifth win of the season.

Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) of Slovakia was second, and Matthew Goss (HTC- Highroad) of Australia was third in the pack finish, about a bike length behind.

Originally scheduled as the second stage, the first day of competition in the seven-day race was reduced from 133.2 miles because of snowy conditions at high elevations near the planned start at Squaw Valley. The seven-day race continues today with a 121.9-mile road race from Auburn to Modesto.

GOLF

Woods aiming for U.S. Open