The feature race Sunday is called "Racing Against Autism" and the sure winner is everyone who joins in to fight this neurological disorder that strikes children before age three.

The race sponsors are Arne and Ruth Anderson of Burwell, who head their own MilBar Thoroughbred Stables with their children Gage and Jordan. The Andersons race on the Nebraska circuit with Bob Rising serving as their trainer.

Like many people that have joined in the fight against this disorder, the Andersons have a personal stake in the race. Their son Gage, now age 20, was diagnosed at the tender age of two, with the neurological disorder called Pervasive Development Disorder, which is a high-functioning autism.

"We were lucky in that Gage was diagnosed at such an early age and received such good therapy," Ruth Anderson said.

PDD is a neurological disorder characterized by severe and persuasive impairment in several areas of development. Autism is the most common disorder of PDD, affecting an estimated one in 150 births in the United States, or as many as 1.5 million Americans who suffer from some form of the disorder.

The Web site Autism Society of America (autism-society.org) points out that autism knows no social, racial, income or educational boundaries.

Gage Anderson is a great success story as he is currently a very successful student at Southeast Community College in Milford studying electronics. The Andersons aren't the only thoroughbred owners racing against autism.

A colt named Autism Awareness, owned by Johnny Toboada, won the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows in January. Toboada named the horse in honor of his eight-year-old son Renzo, who is autistic.

The Andersons were aware of the horse, Autism Awareness, and wanted to do something themselves to make race fans more aware of autism and PDD. Thus was born the sponsorship of Sunday's feature race. Since April is National Autism Awareness Month, the race sponsorship was a natural to run at Fonner.

Not only are the Andersons sponsoring the feature race Sunday, but their own horse, Husker Herb, will hopefully be making his racing debut earlier on the Fonner Park card. It would be only fitting for Husker Herb to join the Andersons in the winner's circle, as the Anderson family are already proven winners.

Randy Monk is the turf writer for the Grand Island Independent.