Williams doesn't slow down after 4,000
R.D. Williams reached the 4,000-win milestone last Friday and quickly sped on by as he continued in quest of his 10th leading rider title at Fonner Park.
Williams recorded his third four-win day of the year on Saturday and has taken a commanding 42-25 lead over Larren Delorme in the jockey standings.
Williams could easily have his own section in the track's press guide. He has won four or more races on a Fonner Park race card 25 times and swept both halves of the daily double 14 times in his 30-year career.
"It didn't seem like it took very long to get to 3,998, but those last two seemed to take forever," Williams told The Grand Island Independent. "Getting it was a load off my shoulders. There were so many people helping me and hoping it would be their horse that I'd get my 4,000th on."
Among the well wishers looking on Friday were his parents, Dean and Sheila Williams. Dean served as a Daily Racing Form trackman for 50 years before retiring in 1995.
* Nominations for the $100,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes close next Wednesday. There is no nomination fee for the 1 1/16-mile race, scheduled for April 29.
* The Nebraska Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association announced six new inductees to the Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame late last week. Induction ceremonies for the first new members to the hall of fame since the close of Ak-Sar-Ben in 1995 will take place at Fonner on April 20 during a dinner hosted by Jack Van Berg.
The new inductees are:
Rol Shaal, a longtime racing official in Nebraska.
Bob Lee, former president of the Nebraska HBPA and the man responsible to bringing live racing back to Omaha with the construction of Horsemen's Park, which opened in 1998.
Herb and Nancy Riecken, who have maintained a breeding operation in Fremont for many years and campaigned one of Nebraska's all-time greats, Who Doctor Who.
Hugh Miner, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Fonner Park.
Perry Compton, a nine-time leading rider at Fonner and winner of numerous other riding titles at the state's other tracks.
Amadevil, a top sprinter in late 1970's and early 1980's campaigned by two hall of famers, owner Paul Kemling and his brother, trainer Orville Kemling.