Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Driver Dave Magee shows the style that's made him a winner for three decades in Chicago.

Dave Magee Closing in on Win #10,000

By Kimberly A. Rinker

February 25, 2005

Though he’s been one of the leading drivers on the Chicago circuit for over 25 years, Hall of Fame reinsman Dave Magee shows no signs of slowing down. The 52-year-old horseman is currently the king among all Balmoral Park drivers, and is in second-place behind Tony Morgan among all Chicago reinsmen. As well, Magee is tenth in the North American driver standings with $392,793 in earnings in 2005.

Through February 15, Magee has 43 wins, 27 seconds and 29 thirds from 247 starters at the Crete oval. With 9,916 lifetime victories and over $79.4 million in career purse earnings, Magee is certain to hit the 10,000 win plateau in the next two seasons, joining an elite group of just a handful of drivers in history who have attained that goal.

Magee has posted $1 million winning seasons every year since 1979, and has captured numerous driving titles at every Chicago racetrack. As well, he’s driven the winner’s of over $2 million every year since 1986. Not bad work for a farm boy from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Magee began his career by racing horses on the Wisconsin county fair circuit, driving for "$200 and a blanket." He soon ventured onto the Chicago scene, working for his uncle Elwood as a groom, before plying his trade at the now defunct Quad City Downs. He quickly became that track’s leading driver, before making his way to the Windy City tracks.

Since his salad days, Magee has evolved into one of harness racing’s finest drivers, and is known for his quiet confidence and courtesy, both on and off the racetrack.

Magee also holds the title of "Mr Super Night," as he’s garnered more wins on Balmoral’s annual spotlight of state-bred Standardbreds than any other driver in history. With a total of 22 Super Night Championships, he’s 10 wins ahead of his nearest rival (Joe Anderson with 12), and 15 victories over any other driver.

Nationally, Magee enjoys a solid reputation as the driver of choice for Chicago-based stake races. As well, he’s driven in nearly every major stake in North America, and in 1997, plied his wares at the World Driving Championships in Germany.

Two years prior Magee was crowned World Driving Champion in the biennial World Driving Championships, held in the United States, with many of the races taking place at Chicagoland raceways.

"It was a great honor to represent my country in this series," Magee recalled. "But the real thrill was getting to know the competitors."

Magee—a longtime member of the Illinois Harness Racing Hall of Fame, was inducted into harness racing’s National Hall of Fame at Goshen, New York on July 1, 2001, surrounded by friends and family—and thus enshrined forever in the annuals of harness history.