Just a day after celebrating his 57th birthday, veteran reinsman Tim Curtin had reason to celebrate again on Saturday, Dec. 27 as he guided Wings to a convincing score in the co-featured seventh race, giving the Crete, Illinois resident his coveted 3,000th driving victory.
A longtime fixture at Balmoral and earlier in his career at Fairmount Park, Curtin headed East in 2002 putting together five straight years with earnings of more than $1 million. His biggest year win wise came in 1997 when he visited the charmed circle 219 times while campaigning on the Illinois circuit. That season also marked the first time Curtin eclipsed the $1 million mark in earnings.
Horses driven by Curtin have currently earned more than $21 million.
Friends, family and members of the Balmoral Park driving colony joined Tim Curtin in the winner's circle
to celebrate the veteran reinsman's 3,000th career victory on Saturday night.
(With files from Balmoral Park)