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With a hoard of fans cheering in the grandstand, and horseman in the paddock urging him to the wire, Ronnie "Boom Boom" Marsh guided his 5,000th winner under the wire Saturday night at Balmoral Park. He joined his father, Joe Marsh Jr., as one of the elite members of the "5,000 win club" and together they became the only father-son team in harness racing history to achieve that elite status.
"This was a goal that I had set for myself many years ago," Ronnie said. "Having my Dad here tonight beside me has made this victory even more special. And to win with a small stable's horse just adds even more to the feeling. I came from small stable beginnings, and I've always had pride in trying to do something good for the little guy in the sport." [Ron Marsh-1 4-19-04] Marsh's 5,000th came with the Gary Kreisher-trainer Cold Cold Heart for owners Paul and Mary Liakos of Dyer, Indiana in the evening's seventh race. Marsh had 11 drives on the 12-race program. Interestingly, Kreisher's father had trained one of Ronnie's all-time favorite horses years ago, the multiple stake winner Gold. "We're very proud of Ronnie," Patti Kreischer (Gary's wife) said. "It's great to see someone like Ronnie achieve this kind of milestone with any horse, but to have it be one that we train is even more special." The 50-year-old Marsh was born in Findlay, Ohio and raised under the wing of his father Joe, and wears similar red, blue and gray colors when driving. "My Dad was instrumental in my success all through the years," Ronnie noted. "He taught me so much about horsemanship and about driving. Things that he taught me at an early age have really stuck with me through the years, like patience, giving a horse a good trip and safety. He always told me that the racetrack wasn't a place for hot-rodding. I've tried to always follow his advice, and I think it's paid off." "I couldn't be any prouder of Ronnie and what he's accomplished here," father Joe Marsh, Jr. stated. "He deserves to be here and I knew it was only a matter of time before he reached this goal. He's certainly worked hard enough for it over the years." Ronnie received his "Q" license in 1973 and piloted Femme Fatale in his first qualifier at the now-defunct Sportsman's Park. He went on to garner his provisional license in 1974 and made his first drive at the East Moline facility, Quad City Downs. Later that summer he raced at Balmoral.
The copyright of the article Ronnie Marsh Scores Win Number 5,000 in Standardbred Horses is owned by Kimberly Rinker. Permission to republish Ronnie Marsh Scores Win Number 5,000 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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