The son of two of harness racing’s best, Andy and Julie Miller, 25-year-old driver Tyler Miller has been making a name for himself on the racetrack. Born into the sport that would eventually become his career, the racetrack has always been a big part of Miller’s life.
“I was always running around The Meadowlands and Balmoral Park where my family is originally from in Illinois,” said Miller, recalling his earliest memories at the track during an interview on In The Sulky with Meadowland's Dave Little. “Running around those two racetracks just watching racing and trying to get in the winner’s circle as much as I could.”
While growing up in the sport, it wasn’t until Miller’s teenage years when he began spending serious time in the barn.
“It was probably my freshman year of high school I would help here and there," said Miller. "But really fulltime in the barn on Saturdays and in the summer, more or less when I got into high school.
"Right around that time is when I started jogging more fulltime and doing more training and stuff like that."
Since hopping in the bike, Miller has begun to hone in his need for speed as 2023 was a career-year across the board for the young reinsman. Miller visited the winner’s circle 188 times in 2023 on his way to seasonal earnings reaching the $1.5 million mark. It was also a career year in terms of starts for Miller, something he doesn’t take for granted.
“You always try to take advantage of every opportunity you can,” said Miller, who drove in 1,452 races last year. “Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t, but you just go out there and try your best.”
Setting up shop primarily in New Jersey with drives at The Meadowlands and Freehold Raceway, Miller hopes to continue to grow within the competitive Meadowlands driving colony where he finished 14th in the standings in 2023. Driving against the likes of Hall of Fame drivers such as Yannick Gingras and David Miller, Miller sees opportunity in every race against high-level competition.
“Just being out there and being with Hall of Fame guys and the caliber of drivers here, you always pick something up every race,” he said.
As for what Miller hopes to build within his young career in the coming years, he has eyes on following in his parents' footsteps and becoming a regular on the Grand Circuit scene.
“Hopefully, I’ll be that Grand Circuit driver, and driving a lot of nice horses and taking advantage of any opportunity I can.”