Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Prairie State Horsemen & Equines inducted into IHHA Hall of Fame

January 30, 2005

By Kimberly A. Rinker

Two horsemen and a pair of racehorses were inducted into the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association Hall of Fame Saturday night, January 29 at Balmoral Park.

Horseman turned Illinois County Fair Bureau Chief Tex Moats accepted his award as the newest Living Inductee of the IHHA Hall of Fame.

"This is really such an honor," Moats said. "I started training horses under Russell Rose (a fellow inductee), and it’s ironic that I would be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the same time as he."

As a trainer, Tex conditioned 446 winners of over $5.1 million, with his best season coming in 1994, when his charges racked up $768,636 in earnings. He captured numerous Illinois-bred stakes as well as competing on the Grand Circuit. Some of his biggest winners included Spy Hard, Nuclear Arsenal and Federal Arsenal.

"Harness racing has been my life for 35 years—I love the county fairs and I love this business," Moats said. "I was lucky to get connected with the Nettle Creek Farm people early on in my career as a trainer."

Moats trained the 1991 Illinois Horse of the Year Panic Attack, who earned nearly $300,000 and also Nettle Creek’s sire Ideal Society champion foals Anns Society, Social Tattler and Transcendental.

"One of the things I’m proudest of is to see guys who worked for me go on to great success," Moats said.

Inducted into the Immortal category of the IHHA Hall of Fame was Russell Rose, a driver-trainer during the 40s, 50s and 60s. Rose trained horses for Salem, Illinois oilman Herman Graham in the early 1950s, and for the famous Hayes Fair Acres of DuQuoin. Rose developed standouts Dominion Grattan, Lusty Son, Helga Song and Heidi Giers, and
he passed away in 1979.

Equine inductees in the Illinois Hall of Fame included the retired Champion On Ice and the still active Taser Gun. Hall of Famer Dave Magee made the presentation to trainer Dirk Simpson for Champion On Ice. Magee drove the trotter in most of his starts during his career. Champion On Ice earned $266,660 from 27 victories.

"This horse was a pleasure but he was also frustrating at times," Dirk recalled. "He would often switch to the pace late in the mile, and once, at DuQuoin, he flipped off a toe weight that hit Dave (Magee) in the mouth. That didn’t deter Dave, thank goodness, from driving him in the future."

Taser Gun is a nine-year-old gelding who has won over $1 million, with a 64-27-13 record from 127 career starts. His best mark came at age five, when he was clocked in 1:49.2 at Balmoral Park. Trainer Bob Walker accepted the award for Taser Gun.

"Taser Gun has been through a lot of battles, both on and off the racetrack," Walker said. It’s been a real honor to battle horses like Big Tom and Constant Change over the years."

The IHHA honored trainer Erv Miller with its Person of the Year Award. The 38-year-old conditioner has trained 1,471 winners to the tune of $12 million since 1991. Miller’s top horses include multiple stakes winner Loyal Opposition, Breeders Crown winner Restive Hanover, Sweetheart winner Fox Valley Shaker, and state-bred stakes winners Fox Valley Flan, Society’s Ransom, and Aries Conquest, etc.