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Anderson's suspension creates void in racing
HORSE RACING
By Jeff Apel
sports.desk@theindependent.com
David C. Anderson’s absence on the Nebraska horse circuit creates opportunities for fellow trainers, many of whom wonder how a void created by his three-year suspension will be filled.
“That’s kind of a sad deal,” trainer Mark Lemburg said. “You need a guy like Dave around. He has a lot of horses and he helps fill races.
“We’re going to miss Dave. Dave was good for racing. He’s a really good a spokesperson for racing.”
Anderson’s training license was suspended for three years by the Nebraska State Racing Commission on Friday for medication violations. The ruling means Anderson, a member of the Nebraska racing Hall of Fame who has won ten straight training titles at Fonner Park, will not be eligible for licensing until February 2013.
Anderson, who was also fined $4,000, has maintained his innocence.
“I don’t like to see anybody get in trouble,” trainer Larry Donlin said. “You need those kind of guys around. He’s been good for the sport.”
Two horses trained by Anderson tested positive for banned painkillers oxycodone and oxymorphone last summer at Horsemen’s Park in Omaha. The trainer is also currently serving a one-year license suspension that resulted from a positive test for a banned substance at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa.
“It will be a different year without him,” said Thoroughbred owner Alan Usher of Grand Island, who previously stabled his horses with Anderson. “You’re used to seeing David always saddling something. Not having him here will be a big adjustment.”
Anderson finished with 39 wins at last year’s Fonner meet and easily won the training title over Donlin, the runner-up who earned 16 wins. While starting 183 horses at the Grand Island track, Anderson also compiled 17 runner-up and 19 third-place finishes. His horses compiled a meet-best $230,205 in purse earnings during the 2009 Fonner meet.
Many of the horses previously trained by Anderson will now be cared for by Chuck Turco, an Omaha native who is returning to training for the first time since 2006.
“It’s an unfortunate situation,” Turco said. “But these horses had to go somewhere. This way, they’re able to stay in Nebraska. I think the horses need to stay in Nebraska.”
Anderson’s absence could have a notable impact on the entry box.
“Dave ran a lot of horses,” Fonner Racing Secretary Doug Schoepf said. “I’m not sure what impact (the suspension) will have because the horses he had will go to different trainers. Hopefully, the trainers that take over those horses will start as many times as David did.”
Races in Nebraska usually must have at least five starters to be run.
“If you think about it without Dave here last year a lot of your better races wouldn’t have went,” Donlin said. “He had two in almost every one of those races and a lot of times there was a short field anyway.
“We’re really going to miss him because we need those races to go. He always had horses for them. I’m just hoping those horses are here with somebody.”
“That’s kind of a sad deal,” trainer Mark Lemburg said. “You need a guy like Dave around. He has a lot of horses and he helps fill races.
“We’re going to miss Dave. Dave was good for racing. He’s a really good a spokesperson for racing.”
Anderson’s training license was suspended for three years by the Nebraska State Racing Commission on Friday for medication violations. The ruling means Anderson, a member of the Nebraska racing Hall of Fame who has won ten straight training titles at Fonner Park, will not be eligible for licensing until February 2013.
“I don’t like to see anybody get in trouble,” trainer Larry Donlin said. “You need those kind of guys around. He’s been good for the sport.”
Two horses trained by Anderson tested positive for banned painkillers oxycodone and oxymorphone last summer at Horsemen’s Park in Omaha. The trainer is also currently serving a one-year license suspension that resulted from a positive test for a banned substance at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa.
“It will be a different year without him,” said Thoroughbred owner Alan Usher of Grand Island, who previously stabled his horses with Anderson. “You’re used to seeing David always saddling something. Not having him here will be a big adjustment.”
Anderson finished with 39 wins at last year’s Fonner meet and easily won the training title over Donlin, the runner-up who earned 16 wins. While starting 183 horses at the Grand Island track, Anderson also compiled 17 runner-up and 19 third-place finishes. His horses compiled a meet-best $230,205 in purse earnings during the 2009 Fonner meet.
Many of the horses previously trained by Anderson will now be cared for by Chuck Turco, an Omaha native who is returning to training for the first time since 2006.
“It’s an unfortunate situation,” Turco said. “But these horses had to go somewhere. This way, they’re able to stay in Nebraska. I think the horses need to stay in Nebraska.”
Anderson’s absence could have a notable impact on the entry box.
“Dave ran a lot of horses,” Fonner Racing Secretary Doug Schoepf said. “I’m not sure what impact (the suspension) will have because the horses he had will go to different trainers. Hopefully, the trainers that take over those horses will start as many times as David did.”
Races in Nebraska usually must have at least five starters to be run.
“If you think about it without Dave here last year a lot of your better races wouldn’t have went,” Donlin said. “He had two in almost every one of those races and a lot of times there was a short field anyway.
“We’re really going to miss him because we need those races to go. He always had horses for them. I’m just hoping those horses are here with somebody.”
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| Fonner Park Notebook | HORSE RACING NOTES: Cairo native Anderson sidelined by injuries |
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