Don Rice is now dead from horse injury.

[MAGICHORSEMAN]

Don was a good man that also raced many years at Waterford Park and Mountaineer Park. He was a good horse trainer and person.

He would pick me up when I would hitch hike a ride from Chester to the track.

I hate to see all these trainers go-- John Semer, Dale Baird and now Don Rice.

[Tom Barrister]

This sort of thing is, unfortunately, one of the occupational hazards of the industry.

Rice was one of the top trainers at Tampa. He'll be missed.

[MAGICHORSEMAN]

Don Rice, 73

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Don Rice, age 73, passed away at 4 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. He was a long time member of the racehorse community, racing mainly at Mountaineer (formerly Waterford Park) and Tampa Bay Downs.

At his farm in Anthony, Fla., a horse broke through a gate of a paddock, running over him and pinning him under the gate. He was airlifted from his farm to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., on Jan. 3.

He is survived by his loving wife, Maxine Rice whom he married 53 years ago; his five children, Paula Williams, Kim Wingo, Brett Rice, Tori Hoppel and Kitty Cheeks; also survived by his nephew, Chad Janssen, whom he thought of as a son; his nine grandchildren, Penny Shilling, Heather McGeehan, Jesse Hoppel, Cody Hoppel, Quincy Hoppel, Tanner Wingo, Chance Wingo, Jared Cheeks, Katy Cheeks; and his two great-granddaughters, Rhys Shilling and Keeley McGeehan. He is also survived by his brother, Clyde Rice and sisters, Kaye Prough and Connie Steckbauer.

He grew up in Antigo, Wis., loving horses and began racing them at the age of 16 at the different fair grounds located in small towns throughout the state. In 1972, he moved his family to Wellsville, Ohio, to race year round at Waterford Park in Chester, W.Va. He raced there for many years until he moved to Florida to race at Tampa Bay Downs.

There he won eight leading training titled in 11 years. Records show since 1971, he saddled 1,403 winners and his horses earned $6.4 million in purses. He lived the life he loved, breaking and training racehorses. Four of his children follow in his footsteps working in the racehorse industry and all live in Florida.

Memorial services will be held at Hiers Funeral Home, 910 Southeast Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, Fla., on Friday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a memorial fund for Marion County Youth Sports, 3223 NE 86 Lane, Anthony, FL 32617.