Time Machine wins Inaugural Irving Anderson
In 1938, jockey Irving Anderson rode Bull Lea (sire of Triple Crown winner Citation) to a track record setting victory in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland-- which helped cement the race’s status as a premier Kentucky Derby prep. On October 28, 2023, Columbus Park ran the first edition of the stakes race named in his honor.
The Anderson family have been in Nebraskan and national horse racing scene for a long time. Irving grew up in Hoskins in northeast Nebraska according to the Columbus Telegram. An undated story from Canterbury Park explains that since Irving, the family has been full of jockeys. Wayne Anderson, son of Irving, rode in the Midwest for 30 years. Wayne’s sons, Chad and Mark, also had riding careers.
Chad’s most successful mount was the mare Valid Leader, whom he won the Al Swihart Memorial Stakes on in 1999 and 2000 at Fonner Park, in addition to stakes at Turf Paradise, Canterbury Park, Sunland Park. The pair also finished fifth in the G3 Senator Ken Maddy at Santa Anita in 1999. Mark won the Gold Strike Mile Stakes, Hazel Wright Stakes, on Kommando Kate in 2011 at Assiniboia Downs after capturing the North Dakota Futurity there in 2010.
Irving Anderson was one of a coalition of jockeys in 1940 who founded the Jockey’s Guild.
Eight runners were entered in the first running. Five horses went to post for the 6 1/2 furlong contest over a fast track on a frigid late-October day.
The post-time favorite was Kentucky-bred Time Machine. By Giant’s Causeway and out of the G1 Prioress winner Emma’s Encore, he had been facing tougher conditions at Remington Park and Prairie Meadows. He has five wins on the year from 11 starts, including an 11 ¾ length romp at North Dakota Horse Park in the 6f Paribet Sprint.
After breaking sharply from the gate, Time Machine went to the lead and never looked back. After a snappy 22.0 flat opening quarter, Time Machine and jockey Mike Luark opened up a comfortable lead heading into the home stretch. That lead held off closers Robert Who and Three Ball. Time Machine hit the wire 4 3/4 lengths in front and equaled the track record of 1:17 for 6 ½ furlongs.
Complete order of finish: Time Machine, Robert Who, Three Ball, Rickey B, Kid’s Inheritance.
Time Machine is trained by Schuyler Condon and owned in partnership by Condon and Seven Arms Stable.
