Columbus track report

COLUMBUS, Neb. - Sunday's feature, the $15,000-added Amadevil Handicap, is expected to attract High Dice, the dominant older Nebraska-bred in training. High Dice, who is owned and trained by Herb Reicken, has been assigned high weight of 123 pounds.

Sunday's race offers the highest purse of the meet, equal to that of the Stevens Stakes, which will be run Sept. 14. Part of the Amadevil purse comes from the Nebraska Thorough-bred Breeders' Association.

The Amadevil is named for the top sprinter from Kemling Farms of Aurora, Neb. Trained by O.D. Kemling for his brother Paul, Amadevil gained national prominence in the 1980's and was a stakes winner on both coasts and many tracks in between during his career.

* Full fields and $1 promotions continue to fuel strong Friday night crowds as this town of less than 16,000 turns out in force for an evening at the races. Last Friday, 2,612 fans were in attendance to wager $76,538, the third-highest ontrack handle in the past two seasons. Total wagering for the night, both ontrack and from the state's four other tracks on the live product, was $120,286.

* Jerry Carkeek, third in the rider standings, will be absent from this weekend's racing as he serves a three-day suspension for a riding infraction last weekend. Dennis Baxter also received a suspension for a separate incident last weekend.