Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Tetrick Sharp as Ever

February 27, 2007

He was the first driver in harness racing history to have a million-dollar season before the age of 20. He was the youngest driver to reach 2,000 career wins. At the age of 25, he sits atop this year’s standings for both wins, with 167, and earnings, with nearly $1.7 million. His name might not roll off the tongue, but Tim Tetrick could add to his growing list of accomplishments this season.

“It’s been amazing; I keep waiting for somebody to pinch me and wake me up,” Tetrick said. “I guess it’s just a lot of luck, but it’s better to be lucky than good. Whatever it’s been, it’s been working and I hope it continues working. To be the leading driver for the first month and a half of the year is awesome. It’s been amazing.”

Tetrick, who now races primarily on the Delaware circuit after spending previous years in Chicago, is in his seventh full year as a driver. His win total has increased annually from one victory in 1998 to 11, 44, 194, 273, 300, 465, 563 and 678 in 2006. His earnings increased each year, too, from $5,032 in 1998 to $4.6 million last season.

If he wins at the rate of the past couple years, Tetrick will top 3,000 lifetime victories this season; he currently has 2,696. He could, theoretically, reach the mark sometime around his 26th birthday, which is November 22. Mark MacDonald is the youngest driver to ever record 3,000 wins, having accomplished the feat in 2006 at the age of 27.

Furthermore, Tetrick’s fast start this year has put him on track to challenge the sport’s single-season record of 1,077 victories, established by Walter Case Jr. in 1998. Tony Morgan made a run at the mark last year, but finished with 1,004. For comparison, Case had 174 wins by the end of February 1998. Morgan had 182 victories by the end of February 2006.

“It would be a great feat to even come close,” Tetrick said. “It might be farfetched to think anyone can break that record; you have to stay active and you can’t have a bad week. But if it’s possible, I’d like to beat that record. Maybe I can get lucky and have a great year. I’m trying. I’m a hard worker and I stay pretty active; I’m always out there trying to hustle up work.”

Should Tetrick lead all drivers in North America in wins this year – and, of course, there is a long way to go – he would supplant Buddy Gilmour as the youngest driver to do so. Gilmour led with 165 victories at the age of 27 in 1959.

Tetrick, who grew up in Illinois, headed to Dover Downs last October and has become the leading driver at the track.

“I thought I could compete, and maybe make some more money,” Tetrick said. “I thought I could do well wherever I went, I just didn’t think it would happen this quickly. I didn’t really have anybody to drive for here; I just packed my bag and came out. It’s been really good and I’d like to thank all the trainers for trusting me and giving me a shot. It’s more than exceeded my expectations.”

Tetrick notched his first major stakes win in 2002 when he drove Plesac to victory in the American-National for older trotters at Balmoral Park. The following year, he won the first of two consecutive American-Nationals for older pacers with Peruvian Hanover. In 2005, he won the Orange & Blue with Fox Valley Tribal and the Filly World Trotting Derby with Her Culese. Last season, he won a Kentucky Futurity heat with EL Mikko and was second to Glidemaster in the deciding heat.

“I love Chicago racing; it’s a very tough circuit and a lot of good horses and horsemen come from out there,” Tetrick said. “I don’t think it gets the credit it deserves.”

As for the future, Tetrick plans to race in Delaware and at Chester Downs near Philadelphia while making occasional trips to the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

“It’s hard to get drives at the Meadowlands when you’re not there every day of the week,” Tetrick said. “A lot of those guys who drive there are locked into stables and it’s tough when you’re new. It’s not a place you can win on a regular basis when you’re fourth or fifth choice. But I really haven’t thought that far ahead; I just take one day at a time.”

He does know, though, what he would ultimately like to accomplish in the sport.

“I just want to be talked about like Tony (Morgan) or Dave (Magee) or John Campbell some day,” Tetrick said. “I remember when I was growing up, watching Mack Lobell and John Campbell. I loved watching those guys. That’s been my goal since I was a little kid.”