Jim Dennis Explained

Jim Dennis
Occupation:Harness racing horse trainer and driver
Nationality:American
Birth Date:9 May 1923
Birth Place:Rexburg, Idaho
Death Place:Solana Beach, California
Career Wins:2,677
Race:Review Futurity
American Trotting Classic
Awards:Harness Racing Hall of Fame (2002)
Horses:Adios Vic
Sir Dalrae

Jim Dennis (May 9, 1923 – February 22, 2004) was an American harness racing driver and trainer. He was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2002.[1]

Dennis was born in Rexburg, Idaho. His father and five Uncles drove Standardbreds. Dennis drove his first winning horse at age 13.[2] Prior to his serving in the United States Air Force, Dennis considered a rodeo career.[3]

One of the top horses Dennis drove was Sir Dalrae.[2] Sir Dalrae, who had been bred to trot, was the 1973 Harness Racing Horse of the Year.[4]

Dennis also drove Adios Vic. Adios Vic defeated Hall of Fame horse Bret Hanover four times. Dennis was a leading driver at Roosevelt and Yonkers Raceway plus Hollywood Park but also campaigned out of Chicago, Illinois from 1963 to 1971. By the time Dennis finished his harness racing career in 1991, he had won 2,677 races and the horses he had driven had earned 12.9 million dollars.[5]

Dennis died at his Solana Beach, California home on February 22, 2004.[6]

Notes and References

  1. http://www1.gmnews.com/2001/10/17/freeholds-manzi-is-newest-harness-racing-hall-of-famer-freehold-driver-heads-the-2002-inductees/ Freehold’s Manzi is newest harness racing hall of famer Freehold driver heads the 2002 inductees
  2. http://www.harnessmuseum.com/content/jim-dennis Jim Dennis page at Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame
  3. http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1977/07/24/page/72/article/harness-driver-dennis-sets-own-pace Harness driver Dennis sets own pace
  4. http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/MPL/MPL002496083pf_0340.pdf Sir Dalrae retires at Argyle Farms
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20160821231530/http://xwebapp.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/templates/article.aspx?articleid=1178 Jim Dennis, 79, dies
  6. http://www.harnessracing.com/news/halloffamerdennisdies.html Hall of Famer Dennis dies