Miamisburg, OH — Longlive Rocknroll (Rock N Roll Heaven-B Intensified), owned and trained by Roy Murphy Jr., scored a victory in the 14th race, a conditioned pace, at the Washington Court House (Ohio) Fair on Sunday (July 21). The mare was driven by Murphy’s daughter, 23-year-old Elizabeth Murphy, from Middletown, Ohio, who also scored her first career driving win.

What made the win even more special? Murphy earned her first victory against two of Ohio’s leading drivers in Tyler Smith and Jeremy Smith.

When asked what she was feeling when she crossed the finish line first on Sunday, Murphy replied, “After I won I was so relieved. I’ve been snapped at the wire a few times and Tyler (Smith) was breathing down my neck most of the mile. I was worried about him catching me at the end. My dad told me before the race to be the first one to the gate and roll her (Longlive Rocknroll), so that’s what I did. It was a pretty even-rated mile and easy on the mare.”

How did Elizabeth get into harness racing? Murphy said, “Horses run in my blood. My great Grandpa Ora “Jack” Murphy and my Grandpa Roy started the family stable. My Dad and Mom have their own stable, so I was around horses my entire life. I jogged my first horse named Mega Pixel, by myself at 13 years old. She was a big, beautiful, red trotter. My Dad didn’t let me jog until I read The New Care and Training of the Trotter & Pacer. He was big about making me understand the barn fundamentals, and how to take care of the horses before I could hit the track. Both him and my Grandpa taught me most of what I know today.”

Elizabeth’s father was a driver and her mother, Keely Moore, also drives. In fact, Keely won her first driving start back in 2008. So it became inevitable that Elizabeth would catch the driving bug right away.

Elizabeth began driving in June, in the Spring Haven Farm Ladies Driving Series. She made her debut behind Emily Hay’s 7-year-old pacing mare Royal Delta (Royal Art-On A Dare) at the Circleville (Ohio) Fair, where the duo finished second, beat only three-quarters of a length.

“I love the Ladies Driving Series. It gives us girls a chance to drive,” Elizabeth added. “Someday, I’d love to drive with the guys. We need more females out there. My goal this year is to just stay in top eight of the Ladies Series and make it to Delaware. It would be awesome to drive there. Also, I can’t thank Emily and everyone that has given me the opportunities to drive for them. It has helped fulfill a lifelong dream.”

When Elizabeth is not driving in races, she paddocks for various horsemen and women and she also works at the YMCA in Lebanon, Ohio.

Murphy said, “In addition to loving horses, I love working with children and spending time with my 3-year-old daughter, Evelynn.”

Something the harness racing industry needs more of are younger participants with new ideas and the desire to bring new technological advances to the sport. On Monday (July 22) at Tiffin, Ohio, Elizabeth was donned, by NAHUPicks.com’s Rod Allums Jr., with a 360° helmet cam for her drive behind 14-year-old pacing gelding Noah’s Shark (Shark St Partners-Pawlonia Hanover), trained by Casey Wolfe, in that day’s Spring Haven Farm Ladies Driving Series race.

Murphy concluded, “It is really neat and gives an amazing viewpoint to the audience, one that isn’t normally seen by our patrons and fans. I think videos like that could help us gain interest and new fans.”

The 360° helmet cam video can be viewed here.

Be sure to stop by your local Ohio fair and say hello and cheer on Elizabeth and your other favorite lady drivers this summer.