Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Driver of the Month: May 2004
Ronnie "Boom Boom" Marsh

By Kimberly A. Rinker

One of the top drivers of the Chicagoland driver’s colony for nearly 30 years has been the affable Ronnie "Boom Boom" Marsh, who on May 1 guided his 5,000th winner under the wire at Balmoral Park.

With a hoard of fans cheering in the grandstand, and horseman in the paddock urging him to the wire, Marsh joined his father, Joe Marsh Jr., as one of the elite members of the "5,000 win club" and together they became the only father-son team in harness racing history to achieve that elite status.

Ronnie Marsh

"This was a goal that I had set for myself many years ago," Ronnie said. "Having my Dad here tonight beside me has made this victory even more special. And to win with a small stable’s horse just adds even more to the feeling. I came from small stable beginnings, and I’ve always had pride in trying to do something good for the little guy in the sport."

Marsh’s 5,000th came with the Gary Kreisher-trainer Cold Cold Heart for owners Paul and Mary Liakos of Dyer, Indiana in the evening’s seventh race. Marsh had 11 drives on the 12-race program. Interestingly, Kreisher’s father had trained one of Ronnie’s all-time favorite horses years ago, the multiple stake winner Gold.

"We’re very proud of Ronnie," Patti Kreischer (Gary’s wife) said. "It’s great to see someone like Ronnie achieve this kind of milestone with any horse, but to have it be one that we train is even more special."

The 50-year-old Marsh was born in Findlay, Ohio and raised under the wing of his father Joe, and wears similar red, blue and gray colors when driving.

"My Dad was instrumental in my success all through the years," Ronnie noted. "He taught me so much about horsemanship and about driving. Things that he taught me at an early age have really stuck with me through the years, like patience, giving a horse a good trip and safety. He always told me that the racetrack wasn’t a place for hot-rodding. I’ve tried to always follow his advice, and I think it’s paid off."

"I couldn’t be any prouder of Ronnie and what he’s accomplished here," father Joe Marsh, Jr. stated. "He deserves to be here and I knew it was only a matter of time before he reached this goal. He’s certainly worked hard enough for it over the years."

Ronnie received his "Q" license in 1973 and piloted Femme Fatale in his first qualifier at the now-defunct Sportsman’s Park. He went on to garner his provisional license in 1974 and made his first drive at the East Moline facility, Quad City Downs. Later that summer he raced at Balmoral.

"I drove at Balmoral in 1974, when it was still a half-mile track," Ronnie recalled. "I’d help Dad out. If he had two in, he’d drive the one-horse and I’d drive the one-A."

By 1975 Ronnie was driving on an "A" license, and since that time he amassed well over $33.4 million in purse earnings, and now has 5,001 victories to his credit. From 1988 through 1994 he had 300+ winning seasons each year, and during two of those years he won more than 400 races annually. His best year money-wise came in 1992, when he steered the winners of $2.8 million. Since 1987 Ronnie has had consistent, $2 million-winning seasons, and he scored his first one million dollar season in 1983 when he won 236 races.

"Dad was a giant influence on me," Ronnie said. "Without him I probably wouldn't be in the business. Of course I’m prejudiced just a little bit, but in my mind my father was one of the best in our sport—at one time he was tops as a driver and trainer. His horsemanship skills are just great. He taught me everything I know and then it was up to me to go out and refine my skills to be a successful driver."

Father Joe is also a harness legend, as he captured every major driving title over Illinois ovals before heading to the East Coast in the mid-1970s. The 69-year-old reinsman, who has 5,878 career victories, can still be found competing in the sulky at times. Just like Dad, Ronnie also captured a number of driving crowns at Chicagoland tracks, winning a pair of Maywood titles as well as topping the Sportsman’s Park driver’s standings on four separate occasions.

"I’ve always just tried to do the best I could as a catch-driver," Ronnie said. "I always set out to do a good job for whoever I drove for. It could be the guy with the one-horse stable or the multi-million dollar owner. I try to treat everyone the same and do as well for them on the racetrack that I’m physically able to do. I’ve also been very fortunate over the years to have some very nice mounts to drive."

Ever-modest, the transplanted Buckeye native recalls his best times with Illinois standouts such as pacers Mohican Pride, Gold and the trotters Incredible Child and Raceway Willie, as well as his modern-day mounts such as the tough race mare Parkland Powerful.

"I always set out to do a good job for whoever I drove for. It could be the guy with the one-horse stable or the multi-million dollar owner.

"I have to say that Mohican Pride and Gold were among the best I ever drove," Ronnied remembered. "Both were at the top of their game and I was driving them when they both progressed and continued to excel up the conditioned ladder. Parklane Powerful is the best mare I've ever sat been behind. Some of the trotters that I really liked driving were Raceway Willie -- I won the Dygert with him -- and Incredible Child, a horse that won a lot of Invitational races for me. It's great to be associated with some hard-knocking racehorses."
Over the years, Ronnie has been witness to some of the changes that have taken place in the sport of harness racing.

"The driving now is much more aggressive than when I first began," Ronnie noted. "The colony in Chicago is mostly made up of young drivers and it has gone to strictly a catch-driving sport, making for much more aggressive driving. I consider myself more of a trip driver. I prefer to drive a horse that way because it'll keep a horse sounder for a longer period of time. However, I study the program before each night and I'll go the other way (to the front) if that's the best strategy for a particular race as I've learned to adapt."

"The Standardbred breed keeps improving, too," Ronnie added. "Horses just keep getting stronger and going faster. I remember when 1:55 was a big mile, and now there are nights when that time doesn't get you anything. It used to be that a :28 first quarter was fast and rare at Maywood Park. That’s just not the case anymore. Last month they had a night where :28 was the slowest opening quarter."

Besides his father Joe, Ron was joined by his brother, trainer Robert Marsh, and his longtime girlfriend, trainer Angela Affrunti, as well as the entire Chicagoland driving colony and many local conditioners for the winner’s circle celebration. When a local fan asked for Ronnie’s whip, the affable Marsh smiled and replied that if the person was there until the last race, he could take possession of it then.

"I’ve always tried to be very friendly and accessible to the fans as well as to the other horsemen and people I drive for," Ronnie said. "After all, the fans are the reason we’re all here."

And so, if heaven does exist, when Ronnie reaches those pearly gates, what words would he like to hear from the Almighty? Marsh thought about the question for a minute and then answered: "Good job Ron, I’m glad you did what you did."

So are a lot of other folks.
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