In Grade I races, Miller won the 1983 Sapling Stakes, 1984 Monmouth Handicap and the 1987 Hempstead Handicap. Apart from winning the 1982 Long Look Handicap as his sole Grade II win, Miller won the Barbara Fritchie Handicap four times during his eighteen wins as a Grade III racer. After retiring from horse racing in September 1996, Miller had received over US$37 million in prize winnings and had 2,856 race wins. After ending his horse racing career, Miller became a real estate agent. In 2012, The Baltimore Sun named Miller as one of the top 125 athletes of Maryland.
Early life
On June 11, 1963, Miller was born outside of Laurel, Maryland.[1] His father, Donnie Miller worked in horse racing as a trainer.[2]
Miller started his experience with horses at the age of five and became a thoroughbred rider at the age of fourteen.[3] While growing up with a hearing disability, Miller became partially deaf in one ear and fully deaf in the other ear by the age of sixteen.[4] When he was nineteen, Miller had already moved from Laurel to Jessup, Maryland and Columbia, Maryland.[1]
Career
Apprentice jockey
In September 1980, Miller began his horse racing career in Laurel.[5] As an apprentice jockey, Miller won his first race in November 1980.[2] In 1981, Miller appeared in his first graded stakes races held as Grade III handicaps. His best performance in graded races that year was a second-place finish at the Marylander Handicap.[6]
During a fall at Laurel in late November 1981, Miller experienced loss of consciousness while also injuring his shoulder and neck.[7] A few days later, Miller resumed his racing career in early December 1981 following his accident.[8] With 296 wins, Miller was the highest ranked apprentice jockey in 1981 and fourth overall of all jockeys.[9]
Journeyman jockey and later career
On December 16, 1981, Miller became a journeyman jockey.[5][10] By the end of 1981, Miller had received three separate suspensions during his racing career.[11] In the overall rankings for all jockeys in 1982, Miller finished the year in third place.[12]
Throughout his career, Miller primarily raced in Maryland while also competing in Kentucky, Arkansas and Delaware.[24] During the early to mid 1980s, Miller had the most wins in multiple seasons at Pimlico Race Course.[25] In June 1996, Miller lost all of his hearing in a horse racing accident. After his hearing was partially restored, Miller retired in September 1996 to prevent himself from "[losing his] hearing for good".[4] Overall, Miller received over $37 million of prize winnings and had 2,856 race wins.[26] Of his wins, Miller was a five time Jennings Handicap winner and rode Little Bold John during 21 wins in stakes races.[27]
After ending his horse racing career in 1996, Miller started working in real estate.[28] From the late 1990s to 2010s, Miller was a real estate agent.[29] During this time period, Miller started a website in 1999 about jockeys.[30]
Awards and honors
In 2012, Miller was named one of the top 175 athletes of Maryland by The Baltimore Sun.[26]
References
^ abMaisel, Bob (May 28, 1983). "Donnie Miller plays his biggest win low-key". Baltimore Sun. p. B1.
^ ab"Apprentice Miller is riding high". Evening Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. July 23, 1981. p. B6.