David Miller, who earlier this year became harness racing’s all-time leading driver in earnings, reached another milestone as he collected career win number 15,000 when Country Victory won the 13th race at Miami Valley Raceway on Wednesday, April 22.

Miller hustled the four-year-old International Moni-Kristins Victory mare out of post eight to take the lead at the quarter, and the Melvin Schmucker trainee was in control throughout, winning by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:54.2. She posted the $29 upset for owner Yacht Club 140 LLC.

Miller became the fifth driver in North American harness racing history to reach the 15,000-win mark. Horses driven by the 61-year-old have earned more than $301.5 million USD in purses.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Miller got his first career win in 1981. He finished among North America’s top 10 drivers in victories seven times from 1991 through 1998 before moving from the Buckeye State to the northeast and becoming a force at The Meadowlands and on the Grand Circuit. He moved back to Ohio near the end of last year and is the current leading driver at Miami Valley. 

Miller has received the U.S. Harness Writers Association’s Driver of the Year Award three times: 2003, 2015 and 2016. His 2003 season was highlighted by capturing the Pacing Triple Crown with No Pan Intended, who was named the Dan Patch Horse of the Year. He also was the regular driver of Dan Patch Horse of the Year winners Always B Miki in 2016 and Test Of Faith in 2021.

Among his other numerous career highlights, Miller has won the Little Brown Jug five times, tied for the most in history, and has captured 30 Breeders Crown finals, tied for third best in the series. Miller was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y., in 2014.

In other action on the card, Oh Look Magic continued his dominance of the Miami Valley top trotting class as he won his eighth straight $49,315 Open Handicap Trot.

Starting from post nine, Oh Look Magic floated off the wings for regular driver Chris Page and found himself four-wide with a host of leavers to his inside. With nowhere to go, Page took Oh Look Magic back out of the fray as Battle Hill (David Miller) went by Yanks Dugout (Austin Hanners) for the lead. Adamsville Road (Luke Hanners), who was right behind Battle Hill, pushed forward through the opening quarter of :27.1 and took over in front of the stands. Oh Look Magic was fifth on the outside, having never seen the rail, and brushed up quickly to draw even with Adamsville Road at the half in :56.2. 

As they turned towards the backside, Oh Look Magic seized control, placing Adamsville Road in the pocket and leaving Abbey D (Brett Miller) first-over. Three-quarters came and went in 1:24, and as they trotted the final turn, Oh Look Magic opened up on the field and continued to stretch his lead, cruising home to win by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:53. Battle Hill out-sprinted Yanks Dugout for second.

Oh Look Magic notched his ninth win of the year in 11 starts for trainer Ron Burke. The six-year-old son of Lookslikeachpndale-Miami Magic, who has won 19 of his last 23 appearances, leads North America in seasonal earnings with $175,500 USD and is tied for the top spot in wins with nine. The gelding, owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, is now 34-for-95 lifetime. He paid $2.60 to win.

Sauble Delightful extended her own win streak one race earlier as the 10-year-old mare scored her fifth straight victory in the $9,589-$13,699 claiming class for fillies and mares, carrying a $13,014 purse. Tyler Smith directed the daughter of Bettors Delight-Performing Art to her usual spot on the lead, and she put up panels of :27, :55.3 and 1:23.2 on the way to a 1:52.4 score. Tonic Treasure (Cameron McCown) was second by three-quarters of a length, followed by Pj Dena (Austin Hanners). Rachel Oenema trains the winner for Bradley Delaney and Mary Megerle. Sauble Delightful is now five-for-nine this year and 36-for-200 lifetime with $393,704 in earnings. She paid $2.60 to win.

Austin Hanners led all drivers with a triple on the 14-race card. Sam Widger and David Miller each had a double. 

(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)