Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Driver of the Month
August 2008

Andy Miller

Andy Miller, known as the "Orange Crush," had a career year in 2007, earning $8.2 million as a driver,
and representing the U.S. for the second time in the World Driving Championship.

Andy grew up in an Arthur, Illinois harness racing family and is often found standing besides his brother, trainer Erv Miller in the paddocks at North American racetracks.

The 40-year-old reinsman is perhaps best known for his partnership with the ageless pacing champion Taser Gun, and also piloted the champion filly Loyal Opposition, as well as other top horses such as Aries Conquest and Jan's Julie Too.

Andy Miller

Andy with the top Illinois-bred pacer Taser Gun

Andy's orange, white and black colors are a familiar site for this driver who has posted million dollar winning seasons each year since 1996.

Andy started driving in 1985, at the age of 16, on the Illinois fair circuit. When older brother Erv went to work for leading Illinois trainer Tex Moats, Andy followed and was soon afforded the opportunity to drive stakes-caliber horses for Moats.

                                    Andy behind the filly Loyal Opposition

By 1996, Miller topped the $1 million mark in purses. After spending eight years with Moats, Miller moved on to become one of the most successful catch drivers on the Balmoral- Maywood-Hawthorne circuit. His older brother’s stable has developed nto a national powerhouse and he has often been in the sulky behind Erv’s top trainees like Restive Hanover and Loyal Opposition.

In 2006, Miller guided Vysoke Tatry, another of Erv’s pacing fillies, to five straight victories at the Meadowlands, including the Night Styles and White Ruffles finals. He steered My Boy David to a runner-up finish in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, and later to a 1:47.4 mile at the fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. Miller’s wife, Julie, is an established trainer in her own right and has a small stable based at Gaitway Farm. The couple purchased a home in Millstone, New Jersey in August 2006.

Andy Miller Career Statistics Through August 1, 2008
Year/Starts/Wins/2nds/3rds    Earnings        UDRS
2008 2029    277      250 260      $4,927,554      0.248
2007   3325   469      500   437      $8,254,613      0.268
2006   2895   412      417 364      $5,915,592      0.264
2005   3203   581      478   402      $4,475,013      0.306
2004   2899   532      375   361      $5,108,460      0.297
2003   2258    284      272   243      $3,719,457      0.229
2002   2972    468      379   345      $4,395,566      0.267
2001   2924    509      398   358      $3,944,505      0.291
2000   3303    613      536   469      $5,623,134      0.323
1999 2940    455      446   359      $3,744,769      0.280
1998 2742    440      379   321      $3,516,447      0.276
1997   2441    356      370 336      $2,232,685      0.276
1996   1430    176      187   159      $1,080,736      0.233
1995    627   121      102   83      $808,058       0.327
1994    365     77        62    61      $354,354         0.361
1993   302      76       52    34      $184,146         0.385
1992   165      30       20    33      $89,764           0.316
1991    180      37        25    25      $81,518           0.329
1990    149    47       20    17       $88,483           0.428
1989     46      13          5      6       $16,556           0.386
1988    99       5           3   12      $20,485           0.108
1987    69       8           2      6      $10,272           0.161
1986     45       2           2      13    $3,676            0.165
1985     16       0           1      1      $430                0.056
Total           5,988                       $58,596,273