Daryl Thiessen; Racing and Rodeo

Growing up on a ranch in the Canadian province of Manitoba, Daryl Thiessen had two passions — rodeo and harness racing.

Thiessen first had a nearly 10-year career as a rodeo professional, but in 2016 began to find himself pulled to the races, in good part because of the battles between that season’s group of older pacers highlighted by Always B Miki, Wiggle It Jiggleit, and Freaky Feet Pete.

In the summer of 2019, he launched a career as a harness racing driver. He moved to Ontario and started to enjoy success in his new profession, but when racing in the province was halted last year because of COVID-19 concerns, he headed to Alberta’s Century Downs. In May, he was involved in an accident that sidelined him for almost two months. When he returned, he made 49 starts before putting his driving on hold in October.

The time away, though, only reaffirmed to Thiessen that racing was where he wanted to be. In February, he headed to Florida to work for trainer Jonas Czernyson, and reignited his career in the sulky.

“Racing and rodeo are all I ever wanted to do,” the 32-year-old Thiessen said. “I grew up around the (harness racing) fairs; dad and grandpa owned some horses, kind of a hobby horseman thing. When I began watching racing more than rodeo, I had to follow where my heart was going. It was time to get to the driver’s seat.”

Thiessen had won 77 of 798 drives heading into 2021 and started that season with 19 triumphs in 111 starts. He suffered injuries to his femur, knee, hip, and collarbone in his accident, which left his future in doubt.

“I had kind of given up on racing because my body just wasn’t healing like I thought,” Thiessen said. “I was really discouraged. I didn’t want to race just to race, I wanted to do it at a high level if I was going to do it. So, I just stepped away and worked at a buddy’s ranch. We rode horses, roped, worked cattle every day. But I started watching races and I got the bug again.”

After working with Czernyson in Florida this past winter, he was invited to join the stable at its base in central New Jersey. He accepted without hesitation.

“I love it,” Thiessen said. “I don’t plan on going back to Canada. I almost have to pinch myself when I look around here and see Dexter (Dunn) and Timmy (Tetrick) and (Brian) Sears and (David) Miller, and all these trainers. Just to be a small part of it is humbling. I’m beyond grateful.”

Tetrick was an inspiration to Thiessen when he was deciding to become a driver.

“I loved watching him,” Thiessen said. “Now, becoming friends with him and stuff, it kind of seems surreal.”

So far this season, Thiessen has driven in 75 races and posted six wins, eight seconds, and 15 thirds. Lifetime, he has won 112 times and earned $552,410 in purses.

On Wednesday, Thiessen won two qualifiers and finished third in another at Magical Acres training center for Czernyson’s Team JC Stable. All three drives were with 2-year-old male trotters, with Templeton and Smooth Landing posting wins and Devilish Hill being third.

“We’ve been high on Devilish Hill all winter,” Thiessen said. “He had some steering issues (Wednesday) but, man, he’s got raw speed. I’m not concerned about him.

“Templeton impressed me the most. I’ve gone back and forth with him, between liking him and not liking him, but he showed that he really wants to move forward. He was awesome.

“Smooth Landing also impressed me a lot. He seemed to get a little weak late when we were training, but (Wednesday) I put him on the front. I wasn’t really planning on it, but he wanted to get out of there a little bit, and I didn’t want to fight him, so I let him settle on the front. Horses came to him, and he dug in. I never even asked him, and he fought them off. He seems to want to be a racehorse. I was very happy with the day.”

And happy with his decision to resume his driving career.

“My short-term goal is to drive as much as I can, try to get more experience,” Thiessen said. “Long term, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want Grand Circuit. It’s what I dream about every day. I think it’s attainable; I believe I can do it. I just have to keep working hard and take my opportunities every day.

“Just being around these (Grand Circuit drivers) makes you want to be that; makes you want to be better. They just bring out the best in you. It’s addicting, it really is.”

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA