Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Miller Set for Another $10 Million Season

December 15, 2005

Although the driving headlines have gone to Brian Sears for earnings and Cat Manzi for races won, David Miller is about to wrap up his fourth straight year in which he has surpassed $10 million in purses won. Meadowlands-based Miller also topped $10 million in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Only John Campbell can claim a similar record. This year, Miller is third in the North American earnings race with $10,976,745 through December 15, trailing only Sears with $14,947,895 and Ron Pierce with $13,298,813.

"It's been a really good year,” said the 41-year-old Miller. “I am third in the money standings, but I did not drive any of the top 10 money-winning horses. Plus, I got to 400 wins [410 through December 15]. I told [my wife] Misty when I was at 370 that I would love to hit 400. That means something to me.”

Miller has exceeded 400 wins 11 times with a personal best of 733 in 1998. His top earnings year was 2003 with $11,490,590. Drivers generally keep about five percent of what is earned by the horses they sit behind.

The Ohio-born Miller enjoyed his biggest paydays this year with Dawn Ofa New Day, winning the $500,000 Hoosier Cup, Palone Ranger finishing second in the $840,000 Metro, Gryffindor’s win in the $394,120 Progress and a pair of stakes victories at the Meadowlands, Chotat Milk in the $357,000 Mistletoe Shalee and Lonesome Day in the $330,000 Sweetheart.

"Gryffindor added a lot to the end of the season, a nice surprise,” Miller noted. “I had seen Eric Ledford race him earlier in the season, and I didn't think he'd be this kind of horse. Lonesome Day, Chotat Milk, they worked out well.

“One of the highlights of the season for me was racing against my daughter [Devan] for the first time,” Miller said. “She told me earlier this year that it might happen at Delaware [in Ohio on September 22, 2005]. It was pretty special when it happened [17-year-old Devan was fourth and David was sixth]. I would rather she did not get involved in the business as a career. I have told her how tough the business can be. But she might have to find out for herself. I know she has some interest in journalism. I hope she looks into other fields."

Devan posted her first driving victory with Easy Connection at the Dayton Fair on September 1, 2005, racing for an $800 purse. She has finished in-the-money in three of 19 drives. On the other end of the driving spectrum is 55-year-old Cat Manzi. Through December 15, Manzi has driven in 3,430 races this year with 691 wins, 28 more than his closest rival for the dash title, Tony Morgan.

“I hope Cat wins the title,” said David Miller. “He deserves it. His work ethic is unreal. At his age he just goes out and does it."