Marvin Million Man
FROM START TO FINISH, Marvin Johnson's 2014 horse racing campaign was a winner.
The veteran trainer began his year by leading all trainers in terms of wins at Fonner Park, a track located in his hometown of Grand Island, Neb. Johnson concluded his 2014 racing season on Nov. 1 at Indiana Grand Racing with more than $1-million in purse earnings, a career-best figure that places the trainer in rare company nationally.
"I always feel fortunate to have any success. This year, I guess I was especially fortunate," Johnson said. "Things fell into place for the barn at times and we got lucky and won some races. It was a good year."
Johnson 2014 campaign concluded with $1,004,226 in purse earnings. While making 292 starts, horses trained by Johnson posted 66 wins, 48 runner-up and 36 third-place finishes.
What makes Johnson's feat remarkable is he posted lofty numbers despite being limited in terms of horsepower and racing dates. Johnson began his 2014 racing campaign in mid-February when Fonner began live racing. Unlike many trainers on the $1-million purse earnings list, Johnson doesn't have strings of horses at multiple tracks racing at one time.
For a complete list of the 2014 leading North American trainers in terms of purse earnings, click here.
"Each year, only about 200 trainers achieve more than $1-million in earnings. That might seem like a big number, but it's less than 3 percent of the number of trainers who start a horse each year in North America," said Ed DeRosa, Marketing Director at Bisnet.com, an online account wagering provider. "Winning that kind of money is more than about the money. It means the trainer is adept at placing his or her stock where it can win. That kind of money is good for business--not only Johnson's--but also his owner's at the tracks he trains at and the industry as a whole."
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EACH YEAR Nebraskans spend an estimated $500-million gambling in neighboring states.
That's money trainer Marvin Johnson wants to see stay in Nebraska. And that's why Johnson is a strong supporter of Keep the Money in Nebraska, which is trying to legalize casino gaming in the state while providing a major boost to the Nebraska horse racing industry.
"It's time to level the playing field and offer casino gaming in Nebraska," Johnson said. "Think about how much money Nebraska has lost out on by not offering casino-type games that states all around our borders do. It's time for Nebraska to realize the economic benefits expanded gambling offers."
Since October, Keep the Money in Nebraska has been collecting signatures from registered voters on three proposed constitutional amendments. One amendment would allow casino-style gaming at Nebraska horse tracks, including Fonner Park, which is located in Johnson's hometown of Grand Island, Neb. The remaining two amendments deal with allowing games of chance at designated locations--although not necessarily horse tracks-- and tax matters.
Signatures must be collected by July 7. They will then need to be verified before any measure is placed on the November ballot.
Trainer tops $1-million in purse earnings in 2014
Mark Davis Photo
Lady Caroline and jockey Fernando de la Cruz helped Marvin Johnson enjoy a career-best 2014 campaign
TRAINER JOHNSON COMING OFF BIG YEAR
By Bob Hammer
Grand Island (Neb.) Independent
MARVIN THE BOXER
THE NAME MARVIN JOHNSON certainly brings
back memories of greatness around Indiana, but
it's not of the horse racing variety.
Long before Nebraska native Marvin Johnson made
a name for himself as a horse trainer, his namesake garnered international attention as a boxer. An Indianapolis native, Marvin Johnson the boxer was a 3-time light-heavyweight champion who earned a bronze medal at the 1965 Olympics.
"Pops" Johnson last fought in 1987.
The two Johnsons have never met.
Sources say Marvin Johnson the boxer works less than an hour from Indiana Grand Race Course, the trainer's summer home, but rarely grants interview requests.One media member has always wanted to take a picture of the two Johnsons in the ring, with the boxer dressed in cowboy garb and the trainer sporting gloves and trunks.
Suffice it to say that both Johnson's know how to deliver a knockout punch when the time comes to face the opposition.
Veteran trainer Marvin Johnson had a pretty good 2014 campaign. It started at Fonner Park in February a year ago when he got off to a hot start and went on to win the trainer’s title with 24 wins while earning a total of $126,394 in purses.
Then it was on to Indiana Grand Racing near Indianapolis where his success continued. By the time the year was over, he had accumulated a personal-best $1,004,226 in purse winnings.
Johnson’s previous best was $702,578 in 1999.
“We had a nice year,” Johnson said. “We got a little bit over that mark which was nice. The only thing about having a good year is people are wondering why you didn’t have that same year years ago....CONTINUE READING
Marvin Johnson
