Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Tim Wilson, Sr. Passes

On July 14, 2006 Tim Wilson, Sr. passed away. He worked tirelessly on making Illinois Harness Racing a better business and sport for everyone involved. This is a sad day for anyone who loves our sport.

Tim was first class in every sense of the word. His honesty and integrity were of the highest degree. His willingness to help anyone was surpassed by no one. Tim was everything that is good, he was what most of us should aspire to be. My heart goes out to the Wilson family.

Tim was a schoolteacher, driver, trainer, breeder, owner, and on the board of the IHHA, but to me Tim was just a GOOD GUY. That is how I will always remember Tim. I am proud to say Tim Wilson was a good friend of mine. I already miss you, and your passing is truly my loss.
.....Dana Parham, Odds On Racing

Tim Was a Long-Time Owner-Breeder-Trainer-Driver
It is with great sorrow that Odds On Racing announces the passing of one our best friends, Tim Wilson Sr. on Friday, July 14, 2006. Tim had recently been hospitalized and developed further complications. He will be missed by not only his family, but by his many associates within the industry. Tim--along with wife Diana--owned and operated the Tim Wilson Farm in Martinsville, Illinois for many years and was a lifelong breeder, owner, trainer and driver of Standardbred horses. He will be sorely missed by everyone in the harness racing industry both here in Illinois and nationally.

Tim, 60, was born Timothy David Wilson on January 17, 1946 at Terre Haute, Indiana, not far where he would spend a good part of his life breeding, raising and training young Standardbreds. 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, IN.

Surviving is his wife, Diana Childress Wilson: two sons, Timothy (Deana) Wilson of Crete, IL and Carter Wilson of Martinsville, IL; two daughters, Kimberly (David) Ward of Ft. Wayne, IN and Deone Wilson of Martinsville, IL; eight grandchildren, Teddi Ward, Patrick Ward, Elizabeth Ward, Rachel Ward, Tyler Wilson, Abbey Wilson, Darby McNeil and Grace McNeil and a brother, Dan (Marge) Wilson of Marshall, IL.