Harness Racing: Sam "Chip" Noble III, 60, dies

Sam “Chip” Noble III, 60, one of the top driver/trainers in the sport and a member of the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame, died Jan. 13, 2014.

Mr. Noble grew up in Xenia, Ohio, and learned about the sport from his father. Among the best horses he trained were Nobleland Sam, Concussion and Deal Direct.

He was one of the top percentage drivers in the sport, with over 5,000 wins to go along with 1,000 training victories. He won North American UDR crowns in 1978, 1981 and 1983, and he was perennially among the leaders each season.

Mr. Noble was chosen to represent the United States in the biennial World Driving Championship in both 2001 and 2003.

He was the first two-time winner of the Jerry Kaltenbach Memorial Award as the top trainer on the Ohio Sire Stakes circuit, having achieved that honor in both 1993 and 1998.

In 2003 he received the Buckeye State’s highest honor when he became the 30th inductee into the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame.

He was a director of the USTA and the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and a member of the Little Brown Jug Society.

Mr. Noble is survived by his wife, Debbie; and children, Sam, Dan (North America’s top dash-winning driver in 2011) and Meredith.

-edited release from USTA Communications Dept.