Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Welcome Back, Mike Lachance!

April 28, 2008

"It was the best winter of my life. I got to visit 5-6 places, spent a lot of time with my family, every Saturday we all did something together. Michelin and I went to dinner a few times every week, and I got a chance to relax and enjoy life. If I felt like sleeping a bit more, I could. Remember that it's been 40 years-STRAIGHT-that I've been out there driving all the time. 1967-2007. It's the first extended break I've had."

That was Mike Lachance talking-the second leading $$-winning driver in the sports history, and #8 in wins all time. $174.7 million and 9,930 victories. He's coming back Thursday morning to qualify a few-ironically-it was 20 years TO THE DAY-May 1, 1988-when he started at The Big M full time.

"I didn't realize that. 20 years, time goes by fast. I remember it well." Matts Scooter was Mike's 1988 upset winner in the Meadowlands Pace that first year here-and he helped catapult him into the national stakes scene. "Prior to that year-I wasn't driving a lot on the Grand Circuit. But a horse like Matts Scooter and a filly like Peace Corps (Mike won the Merrie Annabelle with her that year-oddly-he never drove her again) sure help. They get you noticed for sure."

Mike came to the Big M in 1988 after leading all of North America in wins four STRAIGHT seasons-1984-1987-the LAST driver to do this. Believe it or not, there were some people back 20 years ago who weren't sure if Mike was a 'mile track' driver. He proved them wrong in a hurry.

Now 57, "I'm feeling very good. I get to the gym a few times every week. I'm in pretty good shape. But I'm getting a little antsy. To get back out there. I know I've got the respect of the other horsemen, and I'm looking forward to driving some of the young horses, some of the trotters for Ronny Gurfein, and some others. It'll feel good to keep up with it, to get back out there. I deal with the horses almost every day at my farm, but it's different in competition."