Aaron Merriman, who ranks fifth on North America’s all-time win list, collected victory No. 14,000 on Wednesday (July 13) at The Meadows. The milestone win came with Maching Me Zilly in Race 10. Merriman notched 14,001 the very next race.
Milestones and awards have been coming fast and furious for Merriman, a native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and harness racing’s seven-time reigning dash champion whose mounts have won more than $98.5 million. In fact, it’s been only a little over 13 months since the 43-year-old recorded career win No. 13,000. Although he recorded his first win in 1998, more than half his victories have come since 2014 — testament to Merriman’s talent and breakneck schedule as he drives at both The Meadows and Ohio tracks.
Merriman has been trying to reduce that grind; the figures show that he has, although modestly. He had 4,397 starts in 2021 but is on pace for about 4,200 this year.
“I’m trying to cut 10 percent per year and make sure I take one day off per week,” he said. “That’s very important to me. I’m definitely a day-to-day guy, but I would like to take a week or two off the beginning of next year. The road is definitely tiring me. Harness racing has given me so much, but it’s taken something from me, too.”
Asked what has helped him achieve such great success, Merriman pointed to his ability to compartmentalize, to keep his professional and personal lives apart in his mind and approach.
“I don’t hold grudges at the track, don’t carry them race to race, don’t get mad at people,” he said. “There may be little wars on the track, but I don’t get involved in them. I want to do the best I can for every person I drive for. It wouldn’t be fair to my owners or trainers to get involved with that other stuff.”
Still, Merriman allows that this milestone, this year, is more meaningful.
“I’ve had a tough year personally, with my mom being sick. So this one does feel a little different.”
But he also offered: “Every race is a milestone to me. Each race means something to somebody. People count on us, so I always have to try my best and bring my best attitude — even if I have to fake it.”
(MSOA)