In fact, as of this past weekend, Beecher, Illinois resident and trainer Ken Rucker became the leading trainer in North America, both in wins and earnings. The 41-year-old conditioner has built a solid stable that he maintains in both the Windy City and on the East Coast, and has been doing so since 2003.
Rucker is currently second in the trainer standings at The Meadowlands, with 50 winners and $899,573 in earnings. Nationally he has a 117-94-82 record from 599 starters and $1.3 million in earnings. In Chicago he's the leading trainer overall on the Windy City circuit in the earnings tally, although he sits second at Balmoral and third at Maywood in terms of winners. He came into 2005 fresh off his best season ever, when his charges earned $3 million in purses nationally. Career wise, Rucker is nearly $9 million in purses and 1,000 lifetime training victories.
What do all these figures say about Illinois trainers and horses? Ten years ago it was rare to see an Illinois trainer venture out of state to compete, unless it was for a big name stake for a rare open horse that happened to be owned by an Illinoian.
As well, it was then commonplace for most Prairie State trainers to send their charge to an established trainer at any given venue. Declining purses, a shortage of horses and horsemen overall, and a strengthening in the Illinois breeding program have changed the state of the harness racing business forever in Illinois. "The last five to six years, I think it's been proven that the Illinois-breds can go pretty much anywhere and hold their own," Rucker noted."That didn't used to be the case."
Case in point is Rucker's charge Prince Vince, who won for a $125,000 claiming tag this past weekend at the Big M in 1:50.3. The four-year-old son of Illinois sire Sportsmaster earned $113,578 racing in Illinois in 2004, taking a mark of 1:52.3 at Balmoral Park. He's not a standout of the Rucker Stable-in a barn that includes horses such as Sagebrush, Shu Hanover and Dink Adoo-but he's the latest in a slew of Illinois-breds to venture away from the Prairie State to race.
"Last year this horse was one of a dozen really good sophomore in Illinois, but there were probably half a dozen or so that were better than he was. This year he's much more filled out and is a top horse-a horse that is able to compete at the top levels at any track."
