Looking Back: Our Trio of Champion Drivers (05/27/10)

Posted Thursday, May 27, 2010

By Mike Paradise

This is another in a new weekly feature exclusively on www.harnessillinois.com. Every week I’ll post a least one “Looking Back feature. Mostly they’ll be of the great horses who have competed in our state through the years. At times they’ll be pictures from the winner’s circle, special celebrations, and in some cases old memorable race track scenes. Some of these photos haven’t been printed or posted in decades . . . others have never been printed at all.

Just by right clicking your computer mouse, going to “Save Picture As”, you can make your own jpeg copy of any photo posted on this site. You can e-mail them and share with a friend or maybe start your own computer file of “Looking Back” memories.

To view Archived Notes and Quotes click here.

Looking Back

ILLINOIS TRIO OF CHAMPIONS

Three illustrious drivers who went on to win over a combined 22,000 races almost exclusively in Illinois posed for this picture at Maywood Park in the 1980s. On the left is Dave Magee, who has over 11,170 career dash winners. In the center is Walter Paisley who nailed down 5,716 dash triumphs, and on his right is the late Daryl Busse, winner of 5,651 events.

Horses Magee has driven have won over $91 million. Paisley’s horses had purse earnings of $34,679,380, and Busse’s $30,333,095.

In 1992 all three were among the 11 All-Stars named as “Sportsman’s Park’s Honor Roll of Driving Champions.” Daryl was joined by his father Don, the only father-son combination to win a national championship. Don in 1963 and Daryl in 1971. Another father-son combo on the Sportsman’s Park Honor Roll was Joe Marsh Jr. and his son Ron Marsh. Others on the Cicero, Illinois Honor Roll included Howard Bessinger, Harry Burright, Jim Dennis, Bob Farrington and Del Insko.