Daryl Thiessen says he feels most alive when he gets his adrenaline pumping. As a professional harness racing driver, he fills his days with speed, action and community spirit.
Born and raised in Elm Creek, Man., Thiessen now races nearly every day of the year on some of Ontario’s biggest circuits.
“I’m a huge sports and horse guy,” he said. “Those are two things that make my world go round, so harness racing is the perfect fit.”
In harness racing, drivers reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) in a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, pulled by standardbred horses. Unlike thoroughbreds, which gallop, standardbreds trot or pace and are known for their stamina and speed.
Thiessen was introduced to standardbreds at a young age and learned to ride by the time he was five or six. His first exposure to harness racing came through his grandfather, who swept tracks at local events.
“I would sit in the tractor with him, completely glued to the horses because I always wanted my own,” he recalled.
Although his family couldn’t afford a racehorse, he learned from doing farm chores with teams of horses and riding retired animals. He credits Ricky Rey and his wife, Janet, of St. Claude, for teaching him the finer points of riding and racing.
“They did everything for me growing up and are the real reason why I’m here today,” he said. “Ricky is the hardest worker I have ever met and the reason why I have such a strong work ethic — he truly paved the way for my career.”
Thiessen officially began training to drive in 2019 and earned his racing licence in 2022 at age 27. Since then, he has racked up more than 730 career wins, including 300 victories this year alone.
“This year has been such an absolutely successful season. I thought last year was great with 182 wins and $1.2 million in purses, but 2025 has been the definite highlight with my 300 wins and over $2 million in purses,” he said.
Thiessen can race up to 10 horses per event and compete in as many as three events a day. Travel between tracks can take up to eight hours, but he thrives on the fast pace.
“I am not wired to go work a nine-to-five job each day. I tried that and I know it is not for me.”
A few years ago, he stepped away from racing after breaking his femur and collarbone and dislocating his hip in a race. While helping a friend with drywall work during recovery, he realized how much he missed the sport. Five weeks later, he was back on the track.
“I’m not ready for an adult job yet because I love what I do — I want to avoid growing up,” he said. “When I am down I always think, ‘you could be doing drywall,’ and that motivates me to keep trying and find the joy and passion of the little kid I still have left in me.”
Despite his success, Thiessen says the job comes with sacrifices — the biggest being time away from family.
“It sucks not seeing your family who have given their all to support you. But when you race seven days a week in another province, you rely on their support from afar.”
Another challenge is the physical and mental toll on both drivers and horses.
“It’s safe to say horses are stronger than us and there’s no way around it. Injuries are just expected with the intensity and action you have with the horse — it wears you out more than you think,” he said.
“It’s hard not to think about racing when you do it all the time. It’s a lot of pressure, it’s dangerous — there are lots of things on your mind. From the owners, trainers, spectators and yourself, it’s a lot to deal with.”
He added that the rhythm of racing leaves little time to reflect.
“There is no time to dwell on the slumps or celebrate the good times. It’s a consistent cycle of race, sleep, wake up and reset every single day. You quickly learn that yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.”
Thiessen stays motivated by reminding himself, “if I need to do it, I can do it.”
His career goal is to race full-time on the Woodbine Circuit — Ontario’s premier racing track — while improving his own well-being.
“I think all drivers would agree it’s a tough sport and we all take better care of our horses than we do ourselves,” he said. For him, self-care includes building a more balanced life with his girlfriend.
Eventually, he hopes to retire comfortably, support his parents and train young racehorses in a warmer U.S. state. With a six-figure income from winnings, tips and bonuses this year alone, he shows no signs of slowing down.
“Right now, my horses are keeping me busy and sharp, and as long as my mind stays fresh, I’m going to keep living out my childhood dream.”
Fans can watch Thiessen race on the HorsePlayer Interactive (HPI) satellite channel, through the Racetrack Television Network streaming service, or on YouTube.
