In an exciting announcement for the Pryde’s EasiFeed Great Southern Star, Harness Racing Victoria revealed that star U.S. reinsman Corey Callahan will be in Australia for the international extravaganza on March 22.
In just its second year, the $400,000 Pryde’s EasiFeed Great Southern Star trotting series held across one sensational night at Tabcorp Park Melton has attracted some massive names and it continues with Callahan adding his name to the list of visitors for the richest squaregaiting event in the southern hemisphere.
Having only started his career at the age of 27, eight years later he has quickly become one of the leading drivers in North America and was the 2013 U.S. Rising Star Award winner at last weekend's Dan Patch Awards banquet.
Growing up under the tutelage of his father Nick, Callahan decided to turn his hand to college ambitions before returning to harness racing where he has driven thousands of winners.
In fact since 2010 he has never driven less than 500 winners in a season, an extraordinary statistic that proves just how prolific the talented driver has been.
He is also currently the leading driver in North America for wins with 121 so far in 2014.
And it’s not just his consistency that has him on top, he has also competed at the top level, winning the $500,000 Hoosier Cup with Mr Wiggles in 2009 and representing the U.S. in the World Driving Championship.
But 2013 was the year that put the 35-year-old on the world stage as he raked in over $9.7 million in purse earnings, placing him in the upper-echelon in North America.
He drove standout winners like Golden Receiver, Dorsay and Drop The Ball. Australian trot fans will know him for his association with Ma Chere Hall, owned by Australian interests. However, his win with Allstar Partner in the $260,000 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Championship was the highlight of his season.
Callahan has been a fixture of some of the best tracks in America, racking up over 100 wins at The Meadowlands last season.
Callahan will be involved during the week of the Great Southern Star and will compete in the Drivers Invitational on the all-squaregaiting night.
He arrives in Australia on March 18 and is available for drives.
(With files from Harness Racing Victoria)