Nice guys do finish first. In fact, Jeff Gregory has now done it 6,000 times sitting behind standardbred

racehorses.

Known as one of the nicest and cordial people ever to put a foot on a racetrack, 43-year-old Gregory won with Montana Steel in the third race Wednesday afternoon at Freehold Raceway and racked up his 6,000th career driving victory while doing so.

Ironically, Gregory drove his 5,000th winner for trainer Richard Norman, who is the trainer of Montana Steel.

For the Saratoga-born and Western New York-raised horseman, Gregory gleefully said that winning all of the races was truly a thrill.

“I have been driving horses professionally for 25 years and since graduating high school this is all I ever wanted to do,” he said.

“I drove horses for my father, Gary, at Batavia and Buffalo when I was starting out, and, in fact, my father still trains in Western New York. I know he is proud of me and I am thankful to him.”

Gregory drove from 1989 to 1999 between Vernon Downs, Freehold Raceway and Pompano Park.

He met his wife Helene in Florida and married her nine years ago.

Gregory's most memorable moment is when he steered Jalopy to victory in the 2002 Hambletonian Oaks for trainer Jonas Czernyson.

Gregory drives both day and night but added, “it was a lot easier when I was younger.”

(With files from Freehold Raceway)