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By Kimberly Rinker
Times Correspondent | Tuesday, March 20, 2007 | (No comments posted.)
Dan Plesac has turned his lifelong dream into reality. The one-time major league All-Star relief pitcher has made harness racing his new passion after retiring from 18 seasons of playing professional baseball.
"Harness racing has been a love of mine since I was old enough to walk," Plesac said. "This is what I've really wanted to do my entire life."
Retired in 2004, Plesac, a youthful 45, has turned his hobby into a full-time profession. His Three Up Three Down farm, located in Crown Point, has produced 12 winners who have earned $37,408 under Plesac's watchful eye. Plesac's Major League Baseball career started in 1986 with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was a three-time all-star and finished his career ranked fourth for the most pitching appearances in baseball history with 1,064 games.
"I always hoped to have a career that would lead me to be secure enough to train and have my own horses," Plesac said. "Training horses is a very difficult job. I just want to start at the bottom and get a feel for what I need to do."
Plesac's 40-acre, Hoosier State facility includes a six-stall barn and a half-mile training track.
Plesac's family -- mainly his father Joseph Sr., and his brother, Joseph Jr. -- have been involved with harness horses for four decades. The family's first horse, Baby Hoey, was born in 1968 and earned nearly $100,000 during his career.
In April of 2004, Plesac scored his first training victory when his filly Holistic Hanover won. Plesac also had owned the filly's sire, Ball And Chain.
"To win a race with a horse that I bought, who was sired by a horse that I owned, was just the greatest thrill imaginable," Plesac said. "That was very special for me and I was more nervous before the race than I ever was when I was pitching."
More recently, Plesac's Philly Phanatic, a sophomore daughter of Cole Muffler, scored her maiden victory, while his gelding Caputo earned more than $10,000 for him in 2006.
"I was in second or third grade when we had him," Plesac said. "Once the horse bug bites you, you're bit for life."
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