Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Driver of the Month
for November 2008

Luc Ouellette

Driver Luc Ouellette was born on July 22, 1965 at St-Augustin, Quebec into a harness racing family.

Luc's interest in the sport started at a young age from the influence that spending time with his grandfather Gedeon, and his uncles Gilles and Michel Lachance gave him. Luc began driving after receiving his "A" license in 1986 after working as a groom for his Uncle Mike in Quebec and the States. He started driving at Roosevelt and Monticello in New York in the mid 80's and enjoyed moderate success there.

Luc Ouellette in the winner's circle

Luc's career took off in 1992 when he won the United States Harness Writers Association Rising Star Award. He split his time between several tracks, including Freehold and Yonkers, where he was a 3-time track champion (1993-95). While he was driving at Yonkers, Luc became the first driver ever to post a 9 win night on July 22, 1995. Luc was also awarded the Harness Tracks of America Driver of the Year Award in both 1995 and 1996.

Ouellette then took Dover Downs by storm, where he was the leading driver during the 1996-97, 1997-98, and 1998-99 meets. He then shifted his colors to the Meadowlands where he captured four driving titles (99/00/02/03).
LucOuellettepaiting

Luc didn't miss a beat as the newest member of the driving colony at WEG following his move there as he won the Mohawk Spring and Fall Meet driving titles, the Woodbine Summer Meet Driving Title, and the overall WEG Driving Title for 2004. Luc backed up his domination of the Mohawk oval in 2005 when he took home the inaugural summer meet driving title and he also repeated as the top overall driver at WEG.

Luc has also won many major races in his career. These include the 2007 Woodrow Wilson with Dali, the 2006 Elegantimage Stakes with Bee Line, the 2004 Roses Are Red Stakes with Bunny Lake, the 2003 Mistletoe Shalee with Armbro Amoretto, the 2002 Little Brown Jug with Million Dollar Cam, the 2002 North America Cup with Red River Hanover, the 2002 Fan Hanover with Worldly Beauty, the 2001 Three Diamonds with Worldly Beauty, the 1999 William R. Haughton Memorial with Red Bow Tie, the 1998 Meadowlands Pace with Day In A Life, the 1998 Hambletonian Oaks with Fern, the 1998 Woodrow Wilson and Metro with Grinfromeartoear, the 1997 New Jersey Classic with Arturo, the 1996 Three Diamonds with Michelle's Jackpot, and the 1994 Jugette with Electric Slide. Luc has also won nine Breeders Crowns.

Luc currently sits fith on the all-time list of harness drivers in money earned, trailing only John Campbell, Mike Lachance, Cat Manzi, and Ron Pierce. In 2005, he joined these four other drivers along with Jack Moiseyev as the only members of harness racing's $100 million club.

Luc's most successful year on the track was in 1999 as he led the entire continent in earnings with $10.8 million dollars. In addition to his phenomenal earning power, Luc is in the top 15 amongst drivers in number of career race victories with over 7,900 wins.

Luc is one of harness racing's most generous drivers, donating his time and attention to many causes. He regularly has the "Luc Ouellette Challenge" where he donates 5% of his winnings to the Standardbred Retirement Fund and the Harness Horse Youth Foundation. He was the District 12 Representative in the USTA in 2003, representing New Jersey horsemen and their concerns. Luc was also the 1999 recipient of the Stanley Dancer Award, which is given in recognition of an individual who exemplifies Dancer’s spirit of cooperation and rapport with the media. Since moving to Canada, Luc hosts an annual barbecue and get-together at his farm during the HHYF camp at Mohawk, and also has helped raise funds for the Toronto Star Santa Fund by donating his earnings on Monday and Tuesday nights during December.

Currently, Luc, Anita, and their children "Little" Luc and Isabelle live on a 44-acre farm near Campbellville, Ontario. Their farm is currently home to their riding horse, Red; two broodmares, Armbro Virtuoso and Camae, and two race horses who are recovering from injuries, Smithsonian and HR's Miller Gold. Their farm also has been a home to other equine guests such as Armbro Proposal, Turnpike Token, Balagar, Shipps Pinnacle, and Cheyenne Tony Abbs.

Luc Ouellette's Career Statistics Through November 3, 2008
Year     Starts   Wins   2nds    3rds     Earnings
2008      1238      163      123      132      $3,828,753
2007      1850      223      200      224      $4,814,086
2006      1945      245      230      228      $5,477,177
2005      2170      312      270      255      $6,310,425
2004      2191      370      284      262      $7,185,998
2003      2169      316      244      252      $8,120,602
2002      2240      373      298      263      $9,440,669
2001      2211      377      286      234      $9,979,934
2000      2383      410      323      267      $9,567,454
1999      2688      528      402      336      $10,834,745
1998      2633      591      396      318      $9,753,857
1997      2467      458      356      334      $6,179,474
1996      2418      620      406      315      $4,883,021
1995      2613      726      448      328      $5,011,003
1994      2313      551      363      291      $3,301,646
1993      2311      441      379      345      $2,514,171
1992      2480      447      387      342      $2,608,368
1991      2059      353      328      277      $1,898,883
1990      1407      217      217      224      $1,215,355
1989      1202      151      217      181      $1,142,588
1988      652        82        88        84      $707,215
1987       136        21        15        18      $137,128
1986       226        22       28        28      $67,934
1985      102        13         9         15      $31,271
Total                 8,010                          $115,011,757