Seventy-five-year-old trainer/driver Gene Oakerson is enjoying a successful season at Hoosier Park
. And the veteran has a standout trotter named Noble Commander to thank for a great deal of his success.
Noble Commander wasted little time getting marching to the lead in his Thursday evening assignment, and once in command he laid down panels of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:28.2 before kicking home in :29.1 to seal the deal in 1:57.3. He drew off to win by more than five lengths over Bluebird Longlegs. Ernest Prayer rounded out the top three.
"I don't have good luck with racing two-year-olds," said Oakerson. "They just aren't very mature, and their bone structure isn't developed. So, I don't really race them. That's why this horse didn't race at two. I don't have to do too much with this horse. He's very easy to race. He doesn't wear boots or bandages."
Owned and bred by Oakerson, who resides in Farmland, IN, Noble Commander increased his career bankroll to more than $12,000 with his latest win. His best time to date was taken in his first win of the season the prior week in a time of 1:57.1.
"I've been training horses about 30 years now," said Oakerson. "I started off at Muncie at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. When that closed down, I moved to Portland to the Jay County Fairgrounds, and that is where I train now."
Oakerson, who is a farmer by trade, began racing Trotting-bred ponies before switching over to harness horses. He now oversees a small stable of horses with his wife of 27 years, Karen.
"I'm the one that picked out the name," said Karen. "Somewhere in the lineage, the name Noble was there. I've always liked the name Commander, so that is how we got the name."
Although the Oakersons no longer have the dam of Noble Commander, they still have a tie to his line. They have a yearling half-brother in the field at home named Try Wynn.
"Right now, we have three other horses in training, a two-year-old, a three-year-old and a five-year-old," said Oakerson. "They belong to my brother, Vernon (Oakerson). This is definitely a family business."
The Oakerson family continues to enjoy the sport of harness racing. The hard working Oakerson is enjoying retirement, but he's showing no signs of slowing down behind Noble Commander.
(Hoosier Park)