Melrose Park, IL – After 11,868 driving wins in his Hall of Fame career, harness driver Dave Magee was honored by Maywood Park prior to last drive at the Melrose Park oval Friday night. The final drive of his career will come Saturday night in the 5th race at Balmoral Park.
The 61-year old Magee will retire with over $101 million in earnings in a career that spanned more than four decades and included a 1988 Breeders’ Crown Championship with the pacing mare Anniecrombie.
“I’ve been fortunate,” Magee said when asked about his amazing longevity. “I’ve had wonderful trainers and wonderful horses and competent competition. The guys I’ve raced with have taken care of their horses and taken care of themselves and it makes it a lot safer out there. If you don’t have safe guys to race against, that longevity would not be there.”
“The best part of this whole thing are all the people that I’ve gotten to know,” Magee continued. “A farm boy from Wisconsin granted all the opportunities that I’ve been granted? It’s just been amazing.”
Magee is leaving the bike to become a racing official at Hoosier Park in Indiana.
