Driver Aaron Merriman made harness racing history on Saturday, December 2 at Northfield Park when he became the fourth driver ever to win 1,000 races in a single season.

Merriman entered Saturday one win away from 1,000, and, after a shut-out afternoon at The Meadows, scored his 1,000th victory aboard 1-2 favourite Official Kisser in the sixth race at Northfield Park, following being beaten a nose in the fifth with even-money favourite M E Radar Girl.

The three other drivers to win over 1,000 races in one season are Anthony Morgan, winning 1,004 in 2006, Walter Case Jr., winning 1,077 in 1998, and Tim Tetrick, setting the record for most wins in a season with 1,189 victories in 2007. Aaron Merriman is also the first driver to win over 800 races in four-consecutive years, with Anthony Morgan holding the previous record of three-consecutive years.

Aaron Merriman, 39-years-old and stationed in Ohio, was the second-youngest driver to surpass the 9,000 win milestone, with Tim Tetrick reaching the mark when he was 34. He also leads for the 2017 dash title, with George Napolitano Jr. in second with 600 wins this season. This would be Merriman's third dash title, winning last year with 890 wins and in 2015 with 874.

To date, Aaron Merriman has won 9,729 races, which ranks him 16th in North American harness history.