David Miller has no plans to slow down on the racetrack, even if he slows down a little before returning to the racetrack.
Miller -- who is set to spend the winter in Florida before returning to action at the Meadowlands in April -- enjoyed a record-setting season in 2015. He won an unprecedented five Breeders Crown races, established a career high with $12.76 million in purses, and was honoured with his second Driver of the Year Award from the U.S. Harness Writers Association.
He enters 2016 needing less than $700,000 to join John Campbell and Ron Pierce as the only drivers in harness racing history with more than US$200 million in purses. He has ranked among the top five in purses in 16 of the last 17 years and holds the record for most seasons with at least US$10 million in purses, with 13.
“I still feel good,” said Miller, who turned 51 last month. “I can’t see any reason why I can’t keep going like I’ve been going the last few years. But I don’t set goals because you never know what’s going to happen. I’ve done that in the past, looked forward to racing certain horses, and sometimes they don’t make it back or they use somebody else. I’ll just show up to work like I always do and hopefully it works out.”
Miller won’t be completely idle while in Florida. He will train two of his own horses with his wife Misty and also plans to sit behind horses for other trainers. He also has reportedly committed to drive Arthur Blue Chip at Pompano Park for trainer Dr. Ian Moore.
“So far I’ve not gotten tired of it yet,” Miller joked about his first week in Florida. “I’ve come down here the last few winters and sat behind horses for Dr. Ian Moore. I’m sure I’ll get behind some horses. It won’t be like I’m not doing anything. I just took a shot with this. I’m going to see how I like it.”
Miller, who was voted to the U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2013, has won 11,633 races in his 35-year career, a victory total that is sixth best in history.
His first Driver of the Year honour came in 2003, when he was the regular driver of Pacing Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year No Pan Intended and led all drivers in purses with US$11.7 million. He won a record 10 races at the Delaware County Fairgrounds on Little Brown Jug Day that year, including the feature event with No Pan Intended, and also enjoyed successes during the season with the likes of Kikikatie, Kadabra, Modern Art, and Forever Starlet.
Last year, Miller’s record five Breeders Crown victories came with trotting mare D One, older male pacer Always B Miki, three-year-old female pacer Divine Caroline, three-year-old male trotter The Bank, and pacing mare Colors A Virgin.
Divine Caroline was voted the Dan Patch Award for best three-year-old female pacer and Miller also was the regular driver behind Dan Patch Award winning two-year-old female trotter Broadway Donna. In addition, he scored stakes wins with Dan Patch Award honourees State Treasurer and Bee A Magician.
“Those two years were pretty much equal,” Miller said, comparing his two Driver of the Year campaigns. “That year with No Pan Intended, I won 10 races that day at Delaware. People still will bring that up from time to time. I’m sure down the road people will bring (the Breeders Crown) up.
“It was quite an accomplishment to have that big a night on a night that is that big. It’s a little luck, and good horses, and everything kind of clicked. Nights like that I’ll cherish forever.”
He also will cherish another Driver of the Year Award.
“It’s nice to get recognized for your work,” Miller said. “It’s quite an honour and I appreciate it. That was quite nice.”
Photo credit: New Image Media. Story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.