Chicago's leading harness driver for the past 30-plus years, Dave Magee, is retiring after his drives this Saturday night at Balmoral Park.
Magee is a Hall of Famer and has been one of the classiest individuals the sport of harness racing has ever known. He has almost 12,000 career victories and more than $101 million in career earnings during his illustrious career. He is one of only 17 drivers in the history of the sport to eclipse that $100 million mark in earnings and is the only Illinois based driver to go over $100 million in earnings.
Magee has had 10 seasons with $2 million-plus in earnings, 13 more seasons with $3 million in earnings and a trio of $4 million seasons. He won a whopping 630 races in 1994, which led all drivers in North America.
Magee also proved victorious in the 1995 World Driving Championship, defeating drivers from Canada, Australia, France, Sweden, Germany, Italy and other European stops.
He was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2001.
On the local scene Magee has been dominant throughout his career, winning driving titles at every Illinois racetrack. His 12 Maywood Park driving titles and 11 Sportsman's Park titles are both records. He is also the leader in Super Night victories among drivers.
He has also posted an amazing 36 straight seasons with more than $1 million in earnings and 38 straight seasons of 100 wins or more.
The 61-year-old Magee is a resident of Big Rock, Ill. He will be moving on to a new career as a State Steward (Judge) at Hoosier Park in Anderson, Ind.
(Balmoral Park)
Being from Nova Scotia,and
Being from Nova Scotia,and racing in Ontario, my exposure To Dave Magee has been limited, basically only knowing him by his exemplary reputation. When we were fortunate enough to win the American National at Balmoral with Escape The Wind, I was cooling him out in his stall after leaving the test barn and washing gear when Dave came over to spray his race bike off. He was the first person to stop and shake my hand and offer congratulations on winning, a total stranger and he spent 10-15 minutes chatting with me and asking about my horse. Nothing but class. All the best in your new career, hopefully you excel at that as you did at driving...
You are an ICON in the sport
You are an ICON in the sport of harness racing DAVE, may good health be with you and your family for the rest of your life. Enjoy your new challenge. Congratulation.
Congratulations to Dave on
Congratulations to Dave on his retirement. His experience in the sulky should allow him a great transition into becoming a steward and making the right calls on the track.
Congratulations Dave! You
Congratulations Dave! You were a memorable presence on the Chicago circuit and your ventures to the Big M with Anniecromie are just as noteworthy. Somehow someway it would a dream to see Mohawk and/or the Meadowlands stage a pace of the greats...Magee, Lachance, O'Donnell, Herve, Dicky Stillings, Joe Anderson, Jackie Mo, Rick Z.... Invitational trot. Invitational pace. Drivers drawn by lot. How about during the Meadowlands Pace and North American Cup. Could ESPN pick this up?