Stillings hits $40 million in career earnings

Dick Stillings, who was elected to harness racing's Living Hall of Fame this summer, added another laurel Friday at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino when he passed $40 million in career purses.

 

Fittingly, he achieved the milestone when he piloted Rembrandt Spur, the co-holder of The Meadows all-age trotting record (1:52.2) that Stillings trains for Richard Davis, to victory in the 13th race.

 

A native of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Stillings, 68, is renowned for his horsemanship as well as his driving and training skills. As a driver, he captured the 1987 Little Brown Jug with Jaguar Spur, two Breeders Crowns (Kentucky Spur, 1988; Esquire Spur, 1989) and a pair of Yonkers Trots (Gunslinger Spur, 1986; Cheyenne Spur, 1990). In 1986, he became the first locally based driver to win the Delvin Miller Adios, The Meadows' premier event, with Barberry Spur.

In the $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot, Victory Is Coming, the lone mare in the field, showed the boys how it's done when she came second over for Mike Wilder to score in a career-best 1:53.3. Jessesjo was second, 1-3/4 lengths back, with Fox Valley Smarty third.

 

Ammon Hershberger trains the 5-year-old daughter of Victory Sam-Norse Comer, who now has banked $317,908, for Betty Shaw and John Red Shaw.