{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox horseracing personality |name = Gene Riegle<ref>[http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Grant-Riegle&lc=6945&pid=154206923&mid=4855217 In Memory of Grant E Riegle]</ref> |image = |caption = |occupation = Harness racing horse trainer |birth_date = {{birth date |1928|06|3}} |birth_place = Greenville, Ohio |death_date = {{death date and age|2011|10|17|1928|6|3}} |death_place = Greenville, Ohio |career wins = |race = Adios Pace (1972)<br/>Little Brown Jugette (1982, 1988)<br/>Governor's Cup Stakes (1990, 1991, 1992)<br/>Metro Pace (1990)<br/>New Jersey Classic Pace (1992)<br/>Hambletonian Oaks (1992)<br/>Art Rooney Pace (1993, 1996)
'''Breeders Crown wins:'''<br/> Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Pace (1987, 1996)<br/>Breeders Crown 2YO Colt & Gelding Pace (1990)<br/>Breeders Crown 3YO Colt & Gelding Pace (1993, 1984)
'''U.S. Pacing Triple Crown wins:'''<br/> Messenger Stakes (1984, 1992)<br/>Cane Pace (1992)<br/>Little Brown Jug (1993) |awards = Dan Patch Trainer of the Year Award (1990) |honours = Little Brown Jug Wall of Fame<br/>(1992)<br/>United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame (1992) |horses = Artsplace, Jay Time, Life Sign, Troublemaker |updated = }}
'''Grant E. "Gene" Riegle''' (June 3, 1928 – October 17, 2011) was an American harness racing driver and trainer. He was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1992.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/10/sports/harness-racing-western-hanover-appears-to-be-the-steadiest-shot.html Harness Racing; Western Hanover Appears to Be the Steadiest Shot]</ref>
Riegle started his harness racing career in 1950.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19740720&id=gWQwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YW0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7250,2615699&hl=en Ohioan Riegle seeks no repeat of harness history.]</ref> His father, Roy Riegle, was also a driver and trainer. Roy Riegle and his wife were killed in a 1957 auto accident.<ref>[http://www.mi-harness.net/SBreds/Memor71.html#Riegle Roy Riegle And Delila Riegle]{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
At the 1972 Little Brown Jug, Riegle drove Jay Time who was the odds on favorite before the race.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19720921&id=6LEiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TLMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6452,1275878&hl=en 'Jay Time' is favorite]</ref> Jay Time, who finished in a dead heat with Strike Out one month earlier in the Adios Pace,<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19720814&id=DgsyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=w6EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2090,3054295&hl=en Dead heat by pacers in Adios]</ref> was scratched after the first heat due to a high temperature.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19720921&id=6LEiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TLMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6452,1275878&hl=en Strike Out winner]</ref>
During the 1981 Woodrow Wilson Pace held at Meadowlands Raceway, Riegle was thrown from his sulky while driving Andre Hanover in the process of trying to avoid a fallen horse. He suffered minor abrasions.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=19810804&id=8MUxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jo0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6901,626226&hl=en Haughton wins Wilson Pace]</ref> 1992 Harness racing horse of the year, Artsplace, was trained by Riegle.<ref>[http://www.thehorse.com/articles/17340/artsplace-champion-pacer-and-sire-euthanatized Artsplace, Champion Pacer and Sire, Euthanatized]</ref>
In 1990, Riegle along with Bruce Nickells, were awarded the Glen Garnsey Trophy as United States Trainer of the Year.<ref>[http://www.worldclasstrotting.com/TravStatistik/WCT_STATISTIK/Usa/Awards.htm Awards]</ref>
Riegle trained 1993 Little Brown Jug winner, Life Sign.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19930924&id=y4JeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AGINAAAAIBAJ&pg=1332,7824561&hl=en Life Sign is Jug winner]</ref>
Riegle died at his Greenville, Ohio home on October 17, 2011.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170208073412/http://xwebapp.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/templates/article.aspx?articleid=45275 Gene Riegle, 83, Hall of Fame driver/trainer, dies]</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.harnessmuseum.com/content/gene-riegle Gene Riegle at Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Riegle, Gene}} Category:1928 births Category:2011 deaths Category:American harness racers Category:Dan Patch Award winners Category:People from Greenville, Ohio Category:United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame inductees Category:Sportspeople from Ohio