As a former hockey player, driver Todd Ratchford understands that an increase in minutes may just be what's needed for an athlete to blossom.
That proved to be the case for Ratchford on the racetrack as well, as the Caledonia, Ont. resident took home Future Star honours at the O'Brien Awards Gala after completing his first full season on the racetrack and just his second year as a driver overall.
"It's like being a fourth line player that barely got any time playing on the ice, then you moved up the line up, were able to get a little bit of power play time, score a couple big goals during the season, and at the end you were able to win a trophy and have a good year."
After his first year of driving in 2023 when Ratchford visited the winner's circle 26 times in 340 starts while racking up $304,617, the young reinsman surge into the spotlight in 2024. Ratchford drove 95 winners from 854 drives, earning seven figures on the year with $1,066,031 banked.
Among Ratchford's many highlights last year included being the regular pilot of Winning Alliance for trainer Matt Bax, driving the sophomore trotting filly to five consecutive victories in 2024 including a win in New York Sire Stakes at Vernon Downs as Ratchford etched his name to an impressive list of winners in the Future Star Award that includes such prominent names as Travis Cullen, Tyler Borth and Louis-Philippe Roy.
"I was just talking to Louis [Roy] saying I hope to follow in his footsteps, he just won the biggest race in Canada." Ratchford continued, "A lot of the guys that have won this award have gone on to have huge success, so hopefully I can follow in their footsteps."
In an interview with Standardbred Canada's Jeff Porchak, Ratchford discusses what it meant to him to celebrate his award with his family, those who have supported him during his start as a driver, and what goals still lie ahead for the young reinsman as he prepares to build off of his award-winning season. The interview is the sixth in a series of interviews sponsored by Horse Racing Alberta.
(Standardbred Canada; photos courtesy New Image Media and FotoWon)