McNair To Make Meadowlands Debut

With plans to make his debut at the Meadowlands Racetrack this weekend, 20-year-old Canadian driver Doug McNair may find himself celebrating a major milestone away from home

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The countdown continues for the resident of Guelph, Ont., who is only six wins away from making harness racing history. McNair, who was featured this evening on London, Ontario's 'A' Channel as Athlete of the Week, is expected to become the youngest driver to reach the 1,000-win milestone any day now. Matt Kakaley currently holds the record, having reached the milestone three months past his 21st birthday.

McNair, who will turn 21 on December 29, is listed to drive in nine races at Western Fair on Thursday afternoon and another four at Woodbine Racetrack during the evening before he crosses the border for a weekend of racing at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey. McNair confirmed he will be driving on both the Friday and Saturday night cards at the Big M.

“I’m going to see a good friend, [trainer] Tom Shay, and he thought I should maybe drive some there. I've always wanted to drive there and it's a slow week this week in Ontario so I thought this was my opportunity to go,” McNair told Trot Insider this afternoon. “I'm really excited to drive at the Big M, it should be a great experience for me. It’s kind of like putting a cherry on top of the icing for the dream year I've had.”

One year ago, someone suggested to McNair that he might be able to reach 1,000 career wins as a harness racing driver before the end of 2010. McNair’s reaction? He laughed.

“It’s a great feeling to be chasing after something like that,” McNair told Harness Racing Communications. “I figured I’d need to win more than 500 races this year, and that would be tough to do. Last night, I won my 500th. It’s exciting. I’m excited to go to the track every day, that’s for sure.”

McNair, the son of trainer Gregg McNair, won 110 races his first year as a driver in 2008 and became the youngest driver to record a million dollar season. He then added 384 more wins to his record in 2009. This season, he ranks No. 9 in North America – and No. 2 in Canada behind fellow youngster Scott Zeron – for victories.

No one has won more races in a calendar year prior to the age of 21 and only two drivers, Zeron this season and Jordan Stratton in 2008, have won more than 500 in a campaign prior to turning 22.

McNair is the leading driver at Western Fair, and was the top driver at Woodstock and Grand River. He ranks No. 26 in North America in purses with $4.55 million U.S. ($4.69 million CA) in earnings. Among his wins this year were the Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs and the Windy City Pace at Maywood Park with Aracache Hanover.

“Everything has just worked out great,” McNair said. “It’s been kind of like a dream. It’s been a great year.”

McNair began thinking he could reach 1,000 career wins about midway through this year.

“I thought I might have a shot at it,” he said. “About three months ago, I told my dad that I wanted to get 500 wins this year and he told me I should aim a little bit lower. He said he didn’t think I would get to 500. I was determined from that point. I’ve been thinking about him saying that ever since.”

Was it his father’s true feeling, or did he say it to inspire McNair?

“He’s pretty crafty,” McNair said. “He might have done it to motivate me.

“He’s taught me everything, really,” McNair added about his father. “He’s taught me patience and attitude. There’s no pressure [being his son]. He’s a great guy to learn from.”

Western Fair sponsored a Facebook contest in which fans selected the day and race in which McNair will reach win No. 1,000. The day and race should meet soon, but McNair is in no hurry.

“It’s a lot of fun having people watching and cheering for you,” McNair said. “The support of the fans is great. It makes it exciting. There’s no pressure. It’s fun chasing it. Once you get it, you’ve got nothing to chase after.”

Nothing until he gets near 2,000.

(With files from HRC)