Columbus, OH — Ethel Ann Milby, 91, a matriarch of harness racing and the wife of the late Franklin Milby, died March 9, 2025.
Born on Aug. 21, 1933, at her home in Hillsboro, Md., she was the daughter of the late Howard Warren Burr and Louise S. Geib. She was the stepdaughter of Milby Geib.
Mrs. Milby and her husband campaigned such star standouts as world champions Miss Conna Adios and To Ri Boy until his untimely death in 1977.
But their legacy in harness racing was not done there as all three of their children entered into the industry of harness racing. The eldest son, Dale Milby, recorded 286 wins as a driver and 22 as a trainer. Dale is currently the starter at Dover Downs and several tracks in New York. The second son, Don Milby, recorded 407 driving wins and is still currently training with 405 victories. Don notably trained the great Pilgrim’s Fiery who amassed over 100 wins. And the third child is daughter Dolly Milby Callahan, who along with her husband, Nick, have trained the winners of 1,291 races.
And her story continues on as five of her seven grandchildren are actively involved in the sport. The first grandchild, Corey Callahan, ranks 25th in all-time driver earnings with $115 million and nearly 8,000 wins. Grandson Frank Milby has 3,157 wins as a driver and close to $20 million in earnings. Frank also trains and has 486 wins with over $3.5 million in earnings. Grandson Shaun Callahan has 407 training wins and close to $5 million in earnings. Dolly’s youngest son, Aaron, had a brief stint in the business and still remains active as a breeder. Ethel Ann’s youngest grandson, Joel Milby, is an associate Judge in Maryland both at Rosecroft Raceway and Ocean Downs.
Her other two grandchildren, Holly Lenz and Katie Milby, are not actively in the harness business but are very much in tune with the “family business.”
Mrs. Milby’s roots run deep in the harness racing world. Through her family and many friends, you would see her at the track for many years. When she got older, she watched her family race right from her TV at home. She would have her sheets printed out with the horses she wanted to watch highlighted. And even when she moved into assisted living, the family had to make sure RTN was available on her TV. Harness racing made many new fans through Mrs. Milby as all the staff knew what time each track started and they would watch races with her. And they loved it. Mom-Mom was her family’s biggest cheerleader.
There was never a more selfless person to roam this earth. If you were at her house, you left full and took food home. If you had a game or event, she was there (early and saving seats). And if you needed a place to stay, she was your bed and breakfast. She truly “lived for others.” Anyone who came in contact with her was “touched” even until her last days. She truly was “one of a kind.”
Mrs. Milby is survived by her three children, Dale Franklin, Donald Earle (Candy), and Dolly Milby Callahan (Nick); grandchildren, Corey Franklin (Joanna) Callahan, Franklin Donald (Ashley), Holly (Adam) Lenz), Shaun Callahan, Katie (James), Aaron (Laura) Callahan, and Joel; great-grandchildren, Makenna (Carter) Pinske, Zachary (Molly) Amiss, Emerson Amiss, Christian Smith, Taylor Elzey-Meadows, Ceira Callahan, Jackson Callahan, Ella Callahan, Blakely Callahan, Adeline Callahan, Weston Callahan, Bentley Ford, Laine Callahan, Sloane Callahan and Madison Callahan; and great-great grandsons, Callum Pinske and Worth Pinske. She was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin; parents; stepfather; brother, Warren Burr; and sisters, Helen Ewing and Faith Mayhew.
Being the selfless person that she was, Mrs. Milby donated her body to science and requested that there would be no funeral. There will be a Celebration of Life on April 12 at the Cordova Fire House in Cordova, Md., from 1-4 p.m. Everyone is invited to share their countless stories about an amazing woman and share light refreshments together.