What kind of car do you drive? I've recently downsized. As my horse count has grown, my personal vehicle count has decreased. Silverado Z71 Black Widow. Favorite dinner meal? Snack? Pizza, pizza and more pizza. What is your favorite track to visit? Why? Meadowlands. If Sportsman's Park in Chicago was still around it would be the answer. Since it's long gone, right now when you win at Big M it's definitely a feeling of I've made it. What is your favorite big event in racing? Why? The Little Brown Jug. I've always favored pacers over trotters and it's awesome to see the track always filled with people. It really makes it exciting. How often are horses or racing on your mind? As close to 24/7 as I can get. This has been a dream of mine since 1989 and now that it's a reality; it's all I can think about. That said, it still takes a back seat to my family and business, which makes this new adventure possible. What is your favorite thing to do outside of harness racing? Golf. What do you do for a living? I've been in Transportation and Logistics since retiring from the US Navy. In 2011 my wife and I took a chance, quit our jobs and struck out on our own. We started with two drivers and have grown it to 100 strong. Still a very small trucking and logistics company but huge for us. What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? My favorite sport to watch on TV is a tie between football and golf. Live is baseball and our favorite team is the Chicago Cubs. 2016 I was in Cleveland for game seven. Winning the World Series and being there for it was a thrill of a lifetime! These days I watch more races on TV and live than any other sports combined. I can't get enough. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don't know? I'm as big a fan as the next guy/gal when it comes to horse racing. I met and talked to Tim Tetrick at Lexington last week and that was a huge thrill. To get to meet and rub shoulders with one of the best ever was very exciting. I thought about asking for an autograph but thought it might be a little too weird (laughing). What is one word that describes harness racing for you? Action. How did you get started in harness racing? My Grandparents (my Grandfather Bill Bowie drove the tractor/water truck at Sportsman's Park for nearly 50 years) owned and my uncle (Tom Bowie), who was like my friend, brother, and father figure growing up, trained and drove. Just about the time I was graduating high school in the 1980's the business went bankrupt for them and they were forced to get out. It was my dream ever since to get back in. You bought 18 horses at Lexington for $1.1 million, good for seventh among buyers. Was that the plan when you showed up? I certainly didn't plan to buy as many or spend as much as we did, however, my approach was to let the prices/value drive our decisions on buying/bidding. Erv Miller I believe is one of the best there ever has been and I spent a few days with him and John Butenschoen the week prior to the sale and they are meticulous in evaluating horses. I felt compelled to give Erv Miller Stables the best stock I could afford and see where the chips fall. I'm very happy with our selections and excited to see where we are a year from now. Another Million Dollar experiment one might say (laughing). ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter How did you hook up with Erv Miller? Erv Miller Stable is where 90% of our horses call home. I met Erv almost exactly one year ago at the Hoosier Classic Yearling sale and a friend (Rocco Ruffolo) introduced us. Watching Harness Racing from a distance for 30 years or so I certainly knew about Erv and his successes. I feel very blessed to now be friends and for a majority of my stable to call home at EMS. Can we expect to see you at Harrisburg buying more horses? I won't be at Harrisburg and I won't be as active but there are a few we would like to try and buy. Again, price/value and Erv's evaluations will drive those decisions. What is the best advice you've ever gotten about harness racing? In this business, much like life, there will be more lows than highs, so enjoy/celebrate the highs and don't get too low, and learn from both. You've only been in the sport for a couple of years, but which is the best horse you've owned? You are correct, we've really only been back in the business for two years and we have had some success but nothing on Grand Circuit level so it's hard to say the best horse. We've invested a lot in overnight race horses from Australia thanks to Jamie Durnberger-Smith of Summit Bloodstock. Some thrills have been: my first sub 1:49 winner Franco Totem N 1:48 1/5 at Big M thanks to the great hands of Marcus Miller; Breeze At Sunset, an Illinois-bred 3-Year-Old trotter swept Springfield, Duquoin and Night of Champions at Hawthorne this year - big thanks to Atlee Bender. Let's see what happens Friday night [10/15] at Hoosier we have two 2-Year-Old colt pacers in the Final. Bowie Rocks we paid $7,500 for at Illini sale last year and has been tremendous this year. He is trained by Jamie Macomber. Then The Longest Yard trained by Erv and co-owned by Rocco Ruffolo. While not the favorites, they should make their presence known Friday night at Hoosier in the Sires final. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Bowie Rocks finished third and The Longest Yard seventh on October 15 at Hoosier.] What lured you to the sport as an owner? I'm too old to learn how to train or drive so my only way in was to own. How many horses do you currently own? 70. Is Harness Racing a hobby or a business for you? At 70 horses it's no longer a hobby, it's a full-fledged business. That said, just because it's a business doesn't mean it's work. This is a dream come true and I'm blessed to have the opportunity to do it. I plan to enjoy the ride and have zero regrets. If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be? The easy answer is more testing. However, at the same time we must find a way to bring more spectators (younger) to our venues and drive revenue from more than just the windows and phone apps. How do you view the future of harness racing? The future is bright as long as we act and make changes for the better. Every business has to pivot/grow and change with the times. This sport is no different. But the time to act is now. What is your biggest disappointment in the sport? Those who don't realize it's a privilege to be in this sport, not a right. Time for the stretch drive. Best Horse you ever saw: Rambling Willie. Lasix -- Yes or No?: Yes. Favorite TV Show?: Survivor. Trotters or Pacers?: Pacers. I've always said trotters break your heart.