by Victoria Howard

Thank God for outriders; these courageous, dedicated people who put their life on the line every time they bring their 4-legged sidekick to work with them to the races.

What exactly is an outrider? In simple words, an outrider is a guardian angel for both the horse and driver on the track. Although the outrider and their horse provide the valuable service of helping to maintain a safe environment during warm-ups and live racing, they are the most unadorned and undecorated people in our sport.

Devan Miller is one of those talented, hardworking outriders who risks her own wellbeing for the safety of others.

Born into the business in Ohio — the Buckeye State — Miller currently resides in New Holland, OH. Besides her father, Hall of Fame driver David, her mother Carol Winters, was also involved in the sport, as well as Devan’s maternal grandparents. Carol drove in many races herself when she was younger, so it was no surprise that their daughter Devan would inherit her parent’s passion. In fact, mother and daughter drove against each other in Devan’s very first race when she was 12 years old. Who won? Of course, Devan did.

“I never wanted to do anything else in my life,” Devan said, adding with a laugh, “I don’t think I would know how to do anything else. A typical day in my life is getting up before the sun rises to care for my own horses. After I’m done, I get ready for round 2, either riding or catch paddocking at the races. This has been my routine for the last three or four years.”

Devan said she wanted to be an outrider because she has always been fascinated with that person who parades the horses and retrieves one when a horse is loose.

“Someone I admire and look up to is horsewoman Cindi Johnson,” Devan said. “She’s a legend and one of the very best outriders who worked at Scioto Downs, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton, and Lebanon Raceway. She and her horse Beau are my all-time favorite for their teamwork amazed me.”

Devan currently has two “partners in crime” that she works with.

“Bullet is my main man. In fact, I guess you could say he’s my ‘beau,’ and the other horse is named Uno.

Currently stabled at Virgil Morgan’s training center in Ohio, Devan has worked as an outrider at several tracks.

“I’ve worked at Pompano Park, Shenandoah Downs, Buffalo, Northfield, Miami Valley, Hoosier, Scioto and The Meadowlands,” she said.

Her most scary experience as an outrider, was her first high-speed catch.

“It was my horse’s first catch as well, and I couldn’t get either of them stopped,” she said.

In addition to her outriding horses, she does own another horse.

“I have one horse named Seeing Eye Single who really is just my pet,” she said. “He tries to race, but would rather be my pet.”

Since women have come a long way in the sport of harness racing as trainers, drivers, veterinarians, caretakers and outriders, does Devan have any in particular that she looks up to besides Cindi?

“That’s a tough one to answer for there are many women in the sport that I admire,” she said.

Naming an all-time favorite horse was difficult for Devan.

“That’s a tough one also for I’ve had a lot of horses in my life and each one has taught me something different,” she said. “I can’t pick a favorite, I loved them all.”

Many will remember that sweet hug between Devan and her dad when she won at The Meadowlands in an International Women’s Day event. It was hard to tell who was smiling more in the photo, Her or her dad. So, what is it like for her being the daughter of a Hall of Fame driver that some call “Purple Jesus?”

“I am very, very blessed,” she said. “It is astounding the respect and adoration people have for my father. Dad is a great driver who has a great reputation, on and off the racetrack. I hope he is as proud of me as I am of him.”