Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

The Cat Man is Back With A Vengence
January 5, 2005

When the Meadowlands opens Friday night, Hall of Fame driver Cat Manzi will be only four shy of 3,000 wins at the track.

When he ticks off that accomplishment it will add to the long list of milestones for the 54-year-old Manzi. Late last year he joined the $50 million club - drivers who have exceeded
those earnings at the Big M alone. The current members are John Campbell-$124 million;
Mike Lachance-$71 million; Bill O'Donnell $54 million; Ron Pierce $50 million. Manzi comes into Friday night's opener with $50,651,121.

Manzi, who has already surpassed 4,500 wins at Freehold Raceway--his daytime gig--is credited with 2,996 wins at the Meadowlands, trailing only Campbell [6,425], O'Donnell [3,280] and Lachance [3,250] in that category.

As for all-time stats, his 10,723 total career victories rank behind only Herve Filion and Walter Case. His $101,898,905 in career earnings is third behind Campbell and Lachance.
On Friday night, he will sit out only two of the 13 races on the first program of the 141-date Meadowlands meet, which runs through August 6.

"It is hard to put into words, to describe," he said of ranking among harness racing's elite. "A lot of it is timing, and I don't mean on the track, I mean the timing of getting to this point of your career and driving here at the Meadowlands for certain trainers and owners. A lot of it is feel. The top, top guys have it. Horses respond for them."

In 2004, he had his most productive year. He had his best earnings year ever with $7,693,362; his highest UDRS average of .324 and his second highest win production with 651 [second only to his 687 in 1989]. His 3,294 drives in 2004 were the most for anyone in North America and his highest total since 1992.

"Things just kind of clicked for me this past year," Manzi said. "Everything fell into place -- getting the drive and the trip on Mantacular in the North America Cup, staying healthy. I can't really explain it. I don't consider it any big deal. I feel good and try to take care of myself."

Another 2004 high point was driving the free for all pacer Life Source, with whom he won the $200,000 US Pacing Championship and was runner-up in both the $700,000 WR Haughton and $250,000 Classic Series Finals.

"He's an amazing horse," Manzi said of Life Source. "The first time I drove him he was lame, then a little sore, but he turns and goes with it no matter what, a special kind of horse. Trainer Richard Banca helped kick start my season in 2004 with Life Source."

Another high point was getting behind the recently retired pacing mare Bunny Lake.

"What a special horse," he said. "She could leave as fast as the starting car, and do so without any extended effort, a flawless gait. There was a race in Canada, she was parked to a 52.3 half, went around the horse parking her, and wound up fourth. She's an unreal mare. No mare that I've ever driven compares to her."

Over his long career, Manzi picks a horse from more than a decade ago as the best he has driven.

"When people ask me that, I have to say Artsplace, even though I only drove him once [June 20, 1992, in 1:49.2, then the track and world record in a Driscoll, now WR Haughton,
elimination]. It was kind of a chilly night, but there's no doubt he was a great horse. That race still sticks in my mind. I never had more fun driving a trotter than Winky's Goal," he
recalled. "She was something. I don't ever remember her having a bad race. Harmonious was very good. I drove Wesgate Crown several times, and he was right there with the top ones."