Ricky Macomber Jr. made Hoosier Park history on Friday, May 30 as he became the all-time leading driver, by wins, with 1,240 career victories.

The 43-year-old reinsman had a driving triple and it was a night to remember as he surpassed Don Irvine Jr. on Hoosier Park’s all-time leading driver list in the track's 21-year history of harness racing.

The victory with Hoosier Chinna in the evening’s sixth race, number 2,530 in Macomber’s career, tied him with Don Irvine Jr. for the top spot at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. After he guided A True Smerk to victory in Indiana Sires Stakes action just two races later, Macomber moved into the lead on the all-time driver standings with 1,239 trips to the Hoosier Park winner’s circle.

Macomber then went on to secure his position atop the list and won with Ahlbback Yankee in the very next race leaving him with 1,240 victories at Hoosier Park and counting.

All three of Macomber’s victories on the evening came from Hoosier Park’s leading conditioner, Ron Burke. Burke, who has won the leading trainer title at Hoosier Park for the past two seasons, currently leads all trainers with 27 wins while Macomber is fifth in the 2014 driver standings.

Raised in South Florida by a family rich in harness racing tradition, Macomber won his first race at Pompano Park in the spring of 1997 and never looked back. A few years later, he and his father, Dick, an accomplished horseman since the early 1970’s, ventured to Indiana with hopes of starting a new path to success. The Midwest move has paid off.

Macomber earned his first Hoosier Park driving title in 2007 and has finished among the top 10 leading drivers nearly every year to date. He has multiple stakes wins to his credit, including winning Hoosier Park’s signature race, the $250,000 Dan Patch Invitational, twice. He guided Royalflush Hanover to victory in the 2000 Dan Patch Invitational and returned to the winner’s circle in the 2002 Dan Patch Invitational behind E Dees Cam. Macomber finished second with Fred And Ginger in the 2013 installment of Hoosier Park’s most prestigious race.

Macomber is also part of the “Champions for Charity” promotion at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, a group of drivers selected to help promote the sport of harness racing through their unique personalities, life stories and sportsmanship. At the start of the season, each driver personally selected a charitable organization to support with fundraising efforts throughout the year. Macomber raises funds through his charitable work for the Indiana School for the Deaf, giving back to a cause that holds a special meaning to him.

“On behalf of Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, I’d like to congratulate Ricky on his accomplishment,” noted Hoosier Park’s Vice President and General Manager of Racing, Rick Moore. “And quite an accomplishment it is. Through his work with our Champions for Charity promotion, his professionalism, and attitude, Ricky is a great ambassador for our sport. We wish Ricky continued success for the remainder of this season and throughout his career. We look forward to watching him win many more races at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.”

Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino continues on Saturday, May 31 with a 14-race card highlighted by Indiana Sires Stakes action for three-year-old pacing colts.

(Hoosier Park)