Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Driver of the Month
March 2012

Sam "Chip" Noble, III

Sam Noble

Driver-trainer Sam “Chip” Noble III was born in Xenia, Ohio, and broke into racing at Lebanon Raceway at the tender age of 17, after learning about the sport of harness racing from his father.

Noble has been one of the top percentage drivers in the sport for more than three decades, and won driving titles at Latonia and Lebanon before turning his attention to bigger circuits. He won North American UDR crowns in 1978, 1981 and 1983, and he is perennially among the lead¬ers each season.

Chosen to represent the United States in the biennial World Driving Championship in 2001 and 2003, Noble was also the first two-time winner of the Jerry Kaltenbach Memorial Award as the top trainer on the Ohio Sires Stakes circuit in 1993 and 1998.

Among the best horses Noble has trained are Nobleland Sam, Concussion, and Deal Direct. In 2003 he received the Buckeye State’s highest honor when he became the 30th inductee into the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame. He also conditioned the 2008 Countess Adios & Sweetheart winner Pedigree Snob.

Noble earned the Meritorious Award from the Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers’ Association in January, 2000 as the Ohioan who has done the most for harness racing over the past two decades.   He is both an USTA and OHHA director, as well as the Little Brown Jug Society.

His son, Dan Noble, was the leading driver in North America in 2012.

Sam Noble's Career Driving Statistics as of March 1, 2012
Year   Starts   Wins   2nds    3rds  Earnings    UDRS
2011      625      116      100      116   $838,390      0.336
2010      741      148      134       99 $697,378      0.345
2009      702      111      125      116 $774,482      0.312
2008      557      128      91        76     $693,547      0.366
2007      853      133      131      124   $774,346      0.290
2006      1013    156      156      170    $775,416      0.295
2005      1095   193      157      145    $1,039,339    0.300
2004      1059   153      153      150   $992,318       0.272
2003      858      117      139      100   $866,744       0.265
2002      1333    232      182      202   $1,144,968    0.300
2001      1346    202      202      179   $921,732        0.278
2000      931      154      124      135   $834,139        0.288
1999      915      146      139      146   $1,251,938      0.297
1998      848      163      147      132     $1,260,187     0.340
1997      445      95        75        58      $667,630        0.351
1996      420      81       67        70      $598,968        0.337
1995      650      116      118      88      $545,966        0.324
1994      559      130      93        74      $848,260        0.369
1993      496      101      78        80      $808,935       0.345
1992      483      86        79         74      $763,075       0.320
1991      480      110      79         61      $1,035,162      0.363
1990      587      141      99         90      $1,007,610      0.385
1989      476      102      103      74      $791,582         0.386
1988      613      112      114      97      $667,429        0.339
1987      635      152      128      97      $1,013,678      0.402
1986      462      125      85         61      $869,930         0.417
1985      565      124      84         72      $436,153         0.345
1984      607      151      87        82      $591,466        0.373
1983      544      160      108        64      $482,005         0.444
1982      513      114      86          62      $473,531         0.356
1981      517      147      101        72      $723,950         0.439
1980      483      142      98        65      $542,060         0.452
1979      479      106      67        63      $408,926         0.343
1978      393      131      55         56      $359,273         0.459
1977      328      79       53         41      $242,437         0.372
Total              4,944                           $27,052,637