Stephen Trites Becoming Fixture On NB Racing Scene

New Brunswick has been fortunate to gain another driver among the colony this past season, as Stephen Trites returned home after a number of seasons spent outside the province.

With an already dwindling population among drivers in NB, Stephen has been a welcome addition to Exhibition Park over the last few months and his talents will be called upon this coming season.

After notching his 500th career victory this winter, the quiet spoken Trites continues to be in high demand by a number of trainers on the backstretch including Bob MacNeil and Earl Fram, to name a pair.

In 2008, he has recorded 27 victories in 272 starts, along with 24 seconds and 45 thirds. In his career, the older brother of this year’s Frank Daniels Award winner, Todd Trites, has just over $1 million in career earnings.

Stephen's output this year versus last is a huge indication of just how well he is doing since returning home to New Brunswick. Last year, in 137 starts, Stephen had three wins, seven seconds and six third-place efforts.

His first-ever win came back in 1978 with a mare called Magnetic Missy. His first win was pedestrian in today’s world with a 2:16 clocking.

Presently, Stephen has a couple of horses stabled in Fredericton in his care and would like to add more to his public stable, as his 2009 plans include staying in the Maritimes and being part of a reviving industry. After spending some 20 years in the sunshine state of Florida, his family urged him to come home.

Brother Todd says he is excited that his brother is home and hopes that the two, along with their father will be able to make some family road trips to Maritime tracks. As sibling rivalries normally fire up the competitiveness, there’s no shortage of it between the Trites brothers. “We’re both enjoying racing together again, we have a lot of respect for each others ability and hope each other does well but just love to give each other a hard time when one beats the other,” Todd explained.

Todd told EPR that 'Team Trites' will be hitting the ground running in 2009 and to watch for them coming to a track near you. “So this coming year he is going to keep dropping the hammer and I’m going keep rocking! Fasten your seat belts and put your seat in the upright position."

(EPR)