Michigan-based Hall of Fame horseman Lee Elmer Sattelberg died Nov. 3, 2025. He was 82.
A gathering to celebrate Mr. Sattelberg’s life will be held Sunday, Nov. 30, from 1-4 p.m. at Da Shoe bar (formerly Horseshoe Lounge) at 10100 W. Grand River Ave. in Fowlerville, MI 48836.
Mr. Sattelberg’s career in harness racing started while he was attending high school in his hometown of Caro, Mich. After expressing a desire to be in the Standardbred business, Mr. Sattelberg found work with some local trainers, and he also purchased a pair of horses when he was 16.
Mr. Sattelberg was just 15 at the time but changed his year of birth on documents so they would show him one year older than he actually was. Thus, at the time of his passing, records showed that Mr. Sattelberg was 83 instead of his actual age of 82.
Throughout his early years racing Standardbreds, the Sattelberg stable was among the largest in Michigan. He became known for his ability to find the proper classification of his horses and spots to race at the numerous racetracks in the Wolverine State back in those days.
“The best thing you can do to help yourself in this business is to work hard, all day and all night,” Mr. Sattelberg was quoted as saying in his early years.
Mr. Sattelberg’s most successful years came in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including a stretch of 11 years where he surpassed 100 driving victories in nine of those years. Over his career, Mr. Sattelberg drove the winners of 2,883 races. According to the USTA, Mr. Sattelberg also trained the winners of 366 races since it began compiling stats in 1991.
Among Mr. Sattelberg’s more well-known horses were: King Kate, Lightning Mick, Patriot Lobell, Hickory Courier, Brewers Chips, Super Viking, Got It All and Sferic Kash.
His career was winding down when in 2012 tragedy struck and a barn fire killed the last four horses he and his wife, Denna, owned as well as destroyed their farm equipment. That put Mr. Sattelberg out of business as he never raced another horse.
In 1988, Mr. Sattelberg was honored with the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association’s (MHHA) prestigious Dan Rathka Memorial Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to racing in the Wolverine State. In 2004, Mr. Sattelberg was inducted into the MHHA Hall of Fame.
In addition to his wife Denna, Mr. Sattelberg is survived by a daughter, Tracy Poole; a son, Jerry Sattelberg; and three grandchildren. He is also survived by stepsons Brandon and Travis Root and numerous nieces and nephews, and former wives, Carol Cramer and Meegan Sattelberg. He was predeceased by his parents Elmer and Marie and a sister, Dorothy Lobdell, and a brother, Don.
According to his wishes, Mr. Sattelberg was cremated.