After a day where Jimmy Taggart Jr. was a bridesmaid three times and also had a trio of third-place finishes at Monticello Raceway, the reinsman wasted no time Wednesday, July 24 to record his 3,000th career driving win.

It came in the very first race on the afternoon card. He ground-out a first-up trip after the half with Always Right to finally wear down the pacesetter (Jazz Band, driven by Bruce Aldrich Jr.) to notch a 1:57.4 triumph by the shortest of noses.

“I really wasn’t sure that we won it. It was real close,” was about all that one could get out of Taggart after his milestone victory.

Taggart was asked if he was happy now that he has 3,000 wins.

“Yep,” was all the quiet, unassuming and well-liked reinsman added, as he was joined by throngs of drivers, family and friends for a blanket presentation in the winner’ s circle after his victory.

Besides his family, among those helping Taggart celebrate his 3,000th win was longtime friend and fellow driver, Mike Merton.

“Although he is a few years older than I am, Jimmy, George Brennan, my brother Greg and I were all friends in (Monticello) High School, and we started together driving in the amateur races here in the late ‘80s,” Merton said after the winner's circle ceremony photos were taken.

“Jimmy’s always been a good guy and well liked by everybody.”

That was surely evident by the amount of people who joined Taggart in the winner’s circle.

However, just as happy as anyone was the horse’s owner, Gary Matises, who proudly held his pacer in the winner’s circle as the photos were snapped.

Always Right will get a beer again tonight when I feed him,” Matises shouted. "He loves beer and I always give him one after he wins or finishes second.”

Assuming Matises is telling it like it is, and since this was the pacer’s fifth seasonal triumph, Always Right has enjoyed eight beers thus far this year.

(Monticello)