At 75, trainer Johnson having meet to remember

There’s a new name sitting atop the trainers’ standings at Louisiana Downs, but it belongs to a very familiar face. H.B. Johnson Jr. has been a staple at the Bossier City, La., track since the 1980s and is enjoying his best local season in 30 years.

Heading into Wednesday’s card, Johnson had won 23 races from 73 starts to lead all trainers in wins. He also tops the standings in stable earnings with $255,965. The numbers are a throwback to the standout meet Johnson had at Louisiana Downs in 1986, when he went 23 for 74 and his charges earned nearly $200,000.

For Johnson, a 75-year-old native of Minden, La., a number of factors have come together to make this meet one to remember, including a host of loyal owners. He has 36 to 40 runners at Louisiana Downs, he said, and will send out four starters Wednesday.

“I’ve got horses with conditions, and that always helps,” Johnson said. “I also have a great crew that I couldn’t do without. It’s a good feeling.”

Johnson’s starters Wednesday include Jackson’s G G, who moves back to dirt for a 5 1/2-furlong allowance for fillies and mares. She’s coming off a third-place finish to Boom Bam Bing in a turf-sprint allowance at Louisiana Downs, and since their June 25 meeting, Boom Bam Bing has won another allowance at Lone Star Park. Jackson’s G G will break from post 4.

“I look for her to be close to the pace,” Johnson said. “Hopefully, we can run down [Diamond Cutter] at the wire.”

Johnson said the right kind of performance from Jackson’s G G could send her to the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Aug. 6 at Louisiana Downs. She’s one of a handful of horses the trainer has on deck for the card of stakes. Icy Gentleman, a three-time stakes winner, is being pointed for the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint, while Bernie Strike is a candidate for the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Classic.

Johnson got into racing after being injured while competing in bull-riding and bareback-horse-riding events. His peers on the rodeo circuit included eventual Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Carl Nafzger.

“I got hurt real bad,” Johnson said. “I was 32, had a wife and three kids, and had to find something else to do.”

Johnson said that as he was recuperating, he began spending time with trainer Tater Whatley and learned racing’s ropes from his neighbor. That was back when Johnson lived in Arkansas.

One of Johnson’s most notable stakes winners ended up coming in that state, with Roza Robata in the Grade 3 Honeybee in 1998 at Oaklawn. His other top performers over the years have included Political Whit, a sprinter who won nine stakes; Wa Bert, a six-time stakes winner who banked more than $350,000; and the popular stakes winners Albert’s First, Lawyer Tiffany, and Sudden Storm.

Other career highlights for Johnson include winning back-to-back training titles at Sam Houston in the late 1990s. He’s currently winning races at a 32 percent clip at Louisiana Downs and is vying for his first training title there. The season continues into September.

“Hopefully, we finish up good,” Johnson said. “I don’t expect to be leading trainer when it’s all over, but you never know.”

• The Louisiana Racing Commission has granted Erica Murray an extension of her apprentice allowance after she missed riding time due to injuries.

According to a commission staff member, her allowance is now scheduled to run through Nov. 16. Murray is based at Louisiana Downs. Her mounts Wednesday include Tough Kicks, who will be seeking her fourth straight win in the sixth race for trainer Ellen Williams.

• Fair Grounds has received Louisiana Racing Commission approval to drop Feb. 23 from its Thoroughbred schedule, making for a new total of 81 days of racing from Nov. 19 to April 2.