from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Dave Rankin, 65, a longtime trainer-driver and a member of the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame, died March 15, 2012.

USTA photo

Dave Rankin

Mr. Rankin was the son of the well known Ohio horseman Scott Rankin. He drove in his first race on his 16th birthday, and it was a rude awakening to the sulky sport as he was involved in a wreck with Harry Richardson. But he picked himself up to win five of his remaining 15 starts that year, and a successful career was launched. He won 2,646 races as a driver and his mounts banked $12,567,810.

Mr. Rankin’s best horse was Barefoot Hanover. The 3-year-old colt won 10 of 20 starts in 1989 and banked $380,769. The son of Albatross was at his finest in winning his elimination of the Little Brown Jug and finishing second to Goalie Jeff in the Jug Final. Other big wins for Barefoot included an elimination of the Adios; a straight heat triumph in the Review Stake; the first heat of the Hayes Memorial; and a division of the Little Brown Jug Preview. Rankin’s outstanding season with Barefoot Hanover resulted in him being honored with the Achievement Award by the Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers’ Association.

In 1990 Mr. Rankin became the first dual winner of the Jerry Kaltenbach Memorial Award, which is presented annually to the leading driver and trainer in the Ohio Sires Stakes program. Horses that were both driven and trained by Rankin led all others in total monies earned, which was the criteria set forth by the Ohio Standardbred Development Fund Committee in 1988 when it announced the creation of the award. Rankin drove two OSS champions that year, steering Touch Of Silk from his own barn to the 3-year-old filly pacing title, while also enjoying a catch drive triumph behind Poodle Party in the freshman filly pace.

Always a force on the Ohio Sires Stakes circuit, Mr. Rankin drove 16 champions in his career.

Mr. Rankin was selected as the 37th inductee into the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2011 by the Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.

Arrangements will be posted when they become available.