Tetrick Hits Harness 1000 Win Mark

While Tim Tetrick continued to chase the career wins record in harness racing, he passed the 1,000 victory mark for one season and has hauled in $15 million this year.

Harness racing driver Tim Tetrick hit the 1,000 win mark for a single season on Oct. 9, and broke that sport's single-season purses earned record on Nov. 6 at Dover Downs, Delaware.

His winning partner in earnings that day? A mare named Price Check. Isn't life funny that way? There are always connections. Words that connect events in ways no one could really plan, or imagine.

Price Check helped Tetrick break the money record of $15,085,992 for one year's racing, a mark that has been surpassed by only four Thoroughbred jockeys.

Tim Tetrick is nomadic, he says. His pickup, purchased in April, has logged 50,000 miles as he vagabonds from track to track, earning his way around. A rewarding life in its own character. One doing what one wants to do, and getting paid, earning a living at one's desire in a free society. You can't beat that.

Tetrick is also chasing the all time win record for a single season. Walter Case, Jr. set the benchmark figure of 1,077 wins in 1998. Tetrick stands at 1,043 as of the week of Thanksgiving. Only three drivers have ever won 1,000 or more harness races in one season.

Trainer George Teague, Jr. has worked with Tetrick on several occasions and calls the ambitious redhead a natural for harness racing. Not surprising. Tetrick has two brothers, Trace and Tom, Jr., besides his father, Tom, who have preceded him in the sport.

The redhead's goal is to surpass Case, Jr.'s career win total of 4,000. The young Tetrick has 3,562 victories already. He is just 26-years-old, and has been driving for ten years. Looks like immortality is just around the corner.