John C. Harris, a breeder of thoroughbreds whose Harris Farms foaled and raised 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome and 2000 Horse of the Year Tiznow, died in Coalinga. He was 81.

He died Wednesday, according to Harris Farms. No cause of death or location was provided.

Harris didn’t breed either California Chrome, a two-time Horse of the Year, or Tiznow, but both spent their early years at his Coalinga farm in San Joaquin Valley. Both horses were elected to the sport’s Hall of Fame.

California Chrome was the first California-bred to win the Derby since 1962. The colt, who was trained by the Bay Area’s Art Sherman, went on to win the Preakness, but had his Triple Crown bid derailed in the Belmont.

Harris Farms stood many leading California sires, including Unusual Heat, Cee’s Tizzy, Lucky Pulpit, Eclipse Award winner Acclamation and Smiling Tiger.

Harris was born on his family’s farm on July 14, 1943. He graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1965 with a degree in animal production. He served for two years in the Army.

He became the sole shareholder and CEO of Harris Farms in 1981 following the death of his father, Jack, and led the ranch for decades, including Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant, Harris Ranch Beef Co., Harris Feeding Co., Harris Farms Thoroughbred Division and Harris Fresh.

Harris was also known for his philanthropic efforts, supporting his alma mater as well as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Fresno State. He donated horses to a program at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga that gives horses and prisoners a new start through its vocational training program.

“Mr. Harris’ foresight, courage and willingness to invest his energy and assets in making our sport be better and rise higher in the eyes of the general public was a thing of pure beauty,” the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club said in a statement. “We owe him a great debt for dedicating his life to the marvelous animals we all love.”

GOLF

Doug Ghim holed out from the fairway for eagle for the second straight day, sending him to a 3-under 68 and a one-shot lead in the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., his first 36-hole lead in his six years on the PGA Tour.

Defending champion Davis Thompson (63) and former Cal standout Max Homa (68) were among the five players within one shot of the lead going into the weekend. The starting times have been moved up today because of rain in the forecast.

Ghim holed out on the short par-4 sixth in the opening round. This time it was from 179 yards away on the par-4 15th.

Ghim had a two-shot lead until hitting left into the trees and down a cart path, punching out through the green and chipping to 18 feet, missing the putt to make his second bogey of the round. He was at 12-under 130.

Mexico Open winner Brian Campbell (66), David Lipsky (67) and Emiliano Grillo (66) were tied for second.

Homa was tied with Ghim late in the afternoon, when the greens were getting dry and crusty. But on the 18th hole, he pulled his tee shot into a bunker, missing the green to the right and wound up missing a 12-foot par putt to fall one back.

He’s still in good shape going into the weekend as he tries to get his game turned around.

WNBA

Caitlin Clark will miss her fifth consecutive game with a strained left groin for the Indiana Fever when they host Los Angeles today.

Clark’s most recent absence came Thursday night when she sat out Indiana’s 81-54 win over Las Vegas as the Fever snapped a 16-game losing streak against the Aces.

She also missed the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, which did not count toward the regular-season standings.

Clark, the first overall pick in the 2024 draft and one of the two captains selected for the WNBA All-Star Game later this month, never missed a game in college at Iowa or with the Fever as a rookie. A strained quadriceps earlier this season kept her out for five games.

MOTORSPORTS

Team Penske has new leadership structure atop its IndyCar and sports car programs in the wake of its latest cheating scandal that engulfed the organization at the Indianapolis 500.

Jonathan Diuguid has been promoted to president of Penske Racing, and Travis Law has been named competition director for Penske Racing. Diuguid and Law have a combined 38 years of experience at Team Penske. Diuguid and Law will oversee the Team Penske teams competing in IndyCar as well as Porsche Penske Motorsport, which races in both IMSA and the World Endurance Championship series.

Roger Penske fired his top three executives at Team Penske after two of the Penske cars were found to be illegal.

Team president Tim Cindric, IndyCar managing director Ron Ruzewski and IndyCar general manager Kyle Moyer were fired in May in the wake of this Indianapolis 500 cheating scandal.

Penske is owner of the three-car team, IndyCar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500.