Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Andy Crushing The Competition!

January 18, 2007

Andy "Orange Crush" Miller

Driver Andy Miller, who wears distinctive orange colors, had a nine-winner week, and it looks like his decision to relocate to New Jersey is already paying off dividends.

“Things are going real good right now,” said the 38-year-old Illinois native. “I first came here in the winter of 2003 when racing was suspended in Chicago, and it worked out well. I didn’t have the power I like to have, but I was just trying to get my foot in the door. I did have some success here with my brother Erv’s horses.

“I pretty much made up my mind to stay here last year, unless they got slots or something serious happened in Illinois,” Miller added. “My plan was to stay here in the spring and go back to Chicago for the summer. My wife, Julie, and I purchased a house in Millstone, New Jersey in August, and moved out here in time to get our kids started in school. I went back when the meet was over to drive in a few stakes, then packed up and moved back here permanently.”

In 2006, Miller posted a career best as far as earnings with $5.9 million of which nearly $2.7 million was from his efforts at the Meadowlands. He now has career totals of more than 5,000 wins and $45 million in purses.

“Back in 2000, I won over 600 races, but the money is the big thing,” he noted. “Unfortunately, Illinois seems to be on the decline, and here on the East Coast things are getting better. It’s taken some time, but I knew you have to be able to adapt to where you go and every place is obviously different. To win here is a little bit different, too.

“Confidence and patience are two key words,” Miller explained. “You can’t have a chip on your shoulder or something bothering you. You’re going to get beat here and there, and you have to be able to turn the page. You can’t beat yourself up. It’s equally important to get noticed by storming home with a longshot and making sure you don’t mess up with a favorite. You have to have a lot of discipline with a heavy favorite to not throw the race away. You always have to do what’s right for the horse. Sometimes the race doesn’t go as expected.”