Shively, Bion
Harness Racing
b. 1878, Goodland, IN
d. Feb. 23, 1970
Shively was best known as the trainer and driver of Rodney, the harness horse of the year in 1948. A 4-year-old trotter, Rodney won every race he entered that year and lost only one heat. He began the season by setting a world record of 2:31 3/5 for the 1 1/4 mile in the Golden West Trot at Santa Anita, winning $50,000.
In a time trial that year, Shively drove Rodney to a record 1:58 in the mile. The horse later tied that mark twice. Rodney was retired to stud in 1949. At his death in 1963, he had sired more $100,000 trotting winners than any other horse in history.
Shively drove Sharp Note to victory in the 1952 Hambletonian. At 74, he was the oldest driver ever to win the race.