At the age of 18, driver Doug McNair has burst onto the harness racing scene and become the youngest driver to record a million dollar season.
McNair, the son of veteran horseman Gregg McNair, says he didn't expect to have such a strong debut season. The young talent says he was hoping for 20 wins this year.
"That was my goal this year and that changed throughout the summer so my new goal is to get to 100," McNair told Trot Insider. "I'm at 91 right now."
This summer the resident of Guelph, Ontario picked up the biggest win of his blossoming career in the $300,000 Battle Of Waterloo with his father's trainee, Trail Boss.
"It's a major stake and my dad has always wanted to win in it. It was the first year he won it with me driving so that was a bonus."
McNair attributes his million-dollar season in large part to the win and his fellow horsemen.
"The Battle of Waterloo really helped and great trainers like my dad. I drove a lot of really good horses for Duane Marfisi and a lot of the top trainers. They helped me out a lot. I get to drive for some of Canada's top trainers like Joe Stutzman and Bob McIntosh so that helps you out a lot when you get that. I just want to thank everyone for giving me a shot."
McNair says he is hoping to keep at it next year.
"I'm going to try to keep doing what I'm doing, keep winning races," says the young reinsman. "It would be nice to try to get as many wins and as much money made and go from there I guess. It's just nice getting a lot of drives everyday or six days a week. So I just hope that keeps on going."
Before McNair, who turns 19 at the end of December, the youngest driver to accomplish the milestone was Brandon Givens - who had turned 19 before hitting the million dollar mark in 2005.
(Photo courtesy of Norm Files)
doug you are an amazing
doug you are an amazing driver who has so much talent... Your gonna be the next jody j...plus you're extremely HOT!!!...are you single:-)
Way to go Doug! This is
Way to go Doug! This is excellent, positive publicity for the industry and could make an excellent marketing tool to get younger people out to the races. Doug is sociable, polite and interesting. Keep up the hard work and you will reach your goals!
Doug McNair is truly one of
Doug McNair is truly one of a kind. I've know this young man since he was 9 years old and his poise & maturity was evident even at this young age. He is the type of guy that will excel at anything he chooses to do in life & our Standardbred Racing industry is lucky to have a young man with Doug's character & integrity. Congratulations Doug on your rookie season... I am very happy & proud to see you reaching your goals in life. Gregg & Terri did a wonderful job.
well done doug.it was a
well done doug.it was a pleasure working with you throughout the year and i hope you achieve your goal for the year and many more goals you set yourself in the future. you come from good stock so i am sure when you need some guidance at some stage you have the best mentor in the business to turn to.................good luck for the future
Looks like a real smart
Looks like a real smart driver for sure. Take notice to the stretch drive, he didn't whip the hide off his horse, in fact I don't think he touched him and it was a close finish. This kids is going places.
Congratulations to Doug on
Congratulations to Doug on his excellent efforts. It is great to see new talent successfully develop within our driving ranks. Greg has done a great job helping him integrate in the driving colony.
Congratulations, Doug. What
Congratulations, Doug. What a wonderful way to make a debut in the sport. Your UDRS is very good too (.244), so as long as the trainers 'classify them right' ;-) my bet is you'll hit 100 well before Christmas. Way to go.
Kudos to the Sr. McNairs and to the supporting cast of trainers.