Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Personalitiy of the Month
for August 2006

Tim Wilson Sr.

When the sport of harness racing lost breeder, owner and trainer Tim Wilson Sr in July of 2006, it was a serious blow the Illinois racing industry, as well as to the many friends and colleagues who were lucky enough to have known Tim.

A native of Terre Haute, Indiana, Tim was born Timothy David Wilson on January 17, 1946--not far from where he would spend a good part of his life breeding, raising and training young Standardbreds.

Tim Wilson, Sr. & Color Me Best

During his years as a trainer, he conditioned 267 winners to over $1.8 million in purses and drove 184 winners to the tune of $503,142. His gray and green colors could often be found at the Illinois County Fair raceways as he piloted his own stock to victory. His best year as a trainer came in 2000, when he trained 36 to $272,691 in earnings. Over the years he owned nearly 400 horses and bred 196 pacers and trotters.

Tim was a graduate of Wiley High School at Terre Haute and received his BS and MS from Indiana State University at Terre Haute. He formerly taught at Gerstmeyer High School at Terre Haute and had also taught at Vincennes University at Vincennes, Indiana.

Tim--along with wife Diana, a practicing veterinarian--owned and operated the Tim Wilson Farm in Martinsville, Illinois for many years, working side-by-side together taking care of stallions, broodmares, yearling and foals. In addition to his duties at the farm, a 300-acre facility--Tim made time to go to Springfield, talk to legislators and work on behalf of the Illinois horsemen as a member of the IHHA's (Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association) Board of Directors.

In addition, Tim put together his Windy City Sale on an annual basis, and worked at prepping yearlings as well as managing the sale. His son, Tim Jr., is a successful trainer in his own right, competing both on the Illinois circuit and on a national level as well. Tim also has a daughter Kim (Tim Jr.'s twin sister), and a daughter Deone, and another some Carter Wilson. He also was the proud grandparent to eight youngsters.

Tim worked tirelessly over the years to produce quality youngsters that could compete on the Illinois and North American raceways. He also was very proud of his efforts as an amateur photographer and was a great lover of music--especially of Neil Diamond.

Tim Wilson's Career Training Statistics
Year    Starts  Wins 2nds  3rds   Earnings     UTRS
2004        42      14       5       6      $75,359        .447
2003      122      10      15      22      $192,419      .210
2002      126      15      15      18      $195,853      .233
2001      201      19      20      29      $218,308      .198
2000      189      36      20      17      $272,691      .279
1999      105      22      11      8        $132,594      .293
1998      113      5      19      11      $81,145        .170
1997       85      13      12      16      $65,216        .294
1996      110      11      14      8        $50,053        .195
1995      180      16      19      20      $82,040        .185
1994      190      21      20      33      $88,090         .227
1993      200      26      23      27      $113,379       .239
1992      266      35      36      34      $153,960       .249
1991      159      24      32      22      $118,586       .309
Total               267                       $1,839,723

2006 Personality Archives
July: Terry Hunt
June: George Smallsreed
May: Rick Moore
April: Kevin Mack
March: Tom Kelley
February: Dick Buxton
January: Walter Paisley