Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Trainer of the Month
for March 2011

Dave Rankin

In 2011, Ohio trainer-driver Dave Rankin became the 37th inductee into the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame.

Dave Rankin

Rankin with the trotter Salagadoola

As one of the Buckeye State's most respected trainer-drivers of all time, Dave Rankin was elected into the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Hall of Fame by the Ohio Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writer's Association.

The Breman, Ohio native was a driving force on the Buckeye racing circuit and on the Ohio Sire Stakes arena for nearly 40 years. Through 2010, Rankin's green, gold and white silks graced the winner's circle3 over 2,646 times and the horses he drove earned over $12.5 million.

Rankin conditioned a plethora of great Ohio and open-bred pacers and trotterse, including Barefoot Hanover ($535,602), Gramarian ($425,218), Cyran De Bergorac ($319,065), Pedro Island ($218,660) and Fan Anna ($178,975).

Rankin, now 64, has been battling health issues for the past five years, which have curtailed his driving and training duties considerably. However, he still remains an upbeat and positive individual, whose face is easily recognized throughout any harness circles.