Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Widger Red Hot on the Chicago Circuit

March 20, 2005

By Kimberly Rinker

Chicago reinsman Sam Widger has begun 2005 in terrific fashion. The 41-year-old Monee, Illinois resident is in fourth place in the Maywood Park driver standings and sixth in the Balmoral Park driver standings currently. To date in 2005 he has racked up a 70-72-62 record from 501 starters with $405,455 in earnings.

"I feel like I’m really in the game right now," Sam noted. "Basically, since the start of the year, I’ve gotten good horses to drive who have been in good spots. When a trainer classifies his or her horses correctly, it makes it so much easier for the driver."

Sam, a Canton, Illinois native, who dons maroon and light blue colors, began driving horses in 1986 and competed at Quad City Downs and Fairmount Park before heading to the Windy City. To date he’s piloted 1,777 winners of over $12.8 million, and had solid one and two million dollar seasons every year from 1998 through 2002. His best year came in 2000, when he steered 235 winners to the tune of $2.29 million.

1991 was the first year Sam broke the $100,000 money-earning barrier, winning 36 races from 304 starts. He remained consistent, winning an average of 50 races per season until 1997, when he visited the winner’s circle 106 times, steering the winners of $410,307.

Sam is known for his partnerships with many great Illinois-breds, including Justaposition, whom he describes as a "great mare," and the filly Star Slinger, whom he says "raced tremendously at two."

Sam piloted Juxtaposition, a daughter oft Cole Muffler, to victory in the $98,136 Two-year-old Filly American National Final of 1998, winning in 1:55.1.

Sam is also know for his union with the Stanley Miller-trained filly Cyber Wave, a freshman Illinois-bred sensation who won nine of 12 starts and $254,774 in 2000 with Sam in the sulky.

"Cyber Wave was just awesome," Sam said. "She won at Springfield at two in 1:52.2, which made her one of the fastest Illinois fillies in history, and then won the Cinderella at Maywood Park against open fillies at three. I think that was her best race ever, winning at Maywood on the front end against open-bred competition. She never got a breather in that race, and just gave a huge effort that night."

"This business is a real roller coaster ride," Sam said. "You have to keep your head up and keep a positive attitude, taking the bad with the good. I’ve learned a lot through trial and error and been fortunate to have trainers stick with me through the good and the bad. This is a tough business and I take my hat off to everyone involved—the trainers, grooms, the owners, and the other drivers. It’s a community effort and it takes everybody to make things work."