The DePaulia

Issue date: 2/1/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Marcus Miller Marcus Miller has earned over $2 million in winnings since starting his harness racing career.

Marcus Miller, a marketing major, is a student by day and harness racing driver by night.

Marcus Miller isn't your typical college student. The 20-year-old isn't spending his nights watching replays of Snooki getting punched in the face on MTV's Jersey Shore and he isn't hanging out at local bars.

Instead he spends his evenings harness racing, and he is good at it.

"Not only am I a participant of the sport, but also a huge fan," Miller said. "It's my lifelong goal to have harness racing become more mainstream."

Harness racing is a sport where a special breed of horses -- Standardbreds -- race around the track while pulling a skilled driver in a sulky, a small two-wheeled cart. Unlike in regular horse racing, the driver does not have a weight and height restriction. The sport is viewed in more than 30 countries by millions of fans who wager more than $3 billion annually, according to the United States Trotting Association.

This sport requires a lot of skill and practice. Miller's daily routine is jam-packed with classes, homework, and racing 8 to 12 times a night for five nights a week.

"Watching Marcus harness race is very interesting," said his roommate Evan Levine. "We're all used to seeing the funny, outgoing basically normal college student side of Marcus.

"So seeing him professionally harness race is almost like looking at a different person. Not to mention he's a great racer; I've even won some money off his races."

Miller's horse Power Of A Moment won every major stake race in Illinois last year and was named the Illinois 2-year-old Colt Pacer of the Year.

After driving in 1,794 races in 2009, Miller tied for fifth in driver standings at Balmoral and sixth at Maywood race tracks. He won 242 times, coming in second 223 times and third 213 times.

Track photographer David Baum describes Miller as an "outstanding driver" who is devoted to both the sport and his schoolwork.

"Whether he comes in first or last, he never gives up on a horse and races that horse to its fullest potential," Baum said. "He is a smart driver, which is no easy task."

But how does anyone get into such a sport? It helps that your father is nationally prominent harness trainer Ervin Miller, who was voted Trainer of the Year twice and has trained many champions over 20 years.

Growing up with more than 150 horses, it should be no shock that Miller was drawn to them.

"Horses are the fittest athletes in the world. You can't help but admire their abilities," he said.

After two years of commuting, Miller recently transferred to DePaul from Eastern Illinois Univ. in Charleston because of the proximity to the race tracks -- Balmoral and Maywood Park.

On moving to the city, Miller admits a drastic difference between living in Chicago to the small town he grew up in. With a graduating high school class of about 100 to currently living with eight roommates, being flexible is key.

"People who just meet Marcus will learn about horse racing, but they'll also learn about him," said another roommate Kyle Cornille. "He's a fun guy to hang out with and is always in a good mood. It's interesting having him as a roommate."

While he is a marketing major, he insists that is nothing more than a backup plan.

"This is definitely what I see myself doing 'til I'm in my 50s. Having a desk job just isn't my calling," Miller said.

From the start of his career, Miller has won upwards of $2 million. Miller insists he is a saver, but admits he splurged on a flat screen T.V. for his apartment.

"My roommates love it," Miller said.

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