Tim Tetrick went into Tuesday’s card of racing at Dover Downs just three wins shy of a major milestone, and he did one better by manufacturing a grand slam performance.
Sitting at 8,997 wins going into the program, he didn’t find his way to victory lane until a wire-to-wire triumph in Race 8 with Sage N. The mare halted the teletimer in 1:52.2 to give Tetrick his first of four wins on the program.
He later clicked with even-money favourite Lady Beth (1:55.3) in Race 12 before achieving the milestone with Duneside Chella (1:53.3) in Race 14. Tetrick had the public’s top choice parked and pressing at the quarter pole, and after working their way to the lead before the half they kept on trucking en route to the neck decision. A victory in the last dash with Bubbaslittlesister (1:58) was a great way for the ‘Bionic Man’ to cap off the memorable night.
With the milestone victory last night, Tetrick, 35, has reached the 9,000 win plateau faster than any driver in harness racing history. Before Tetrick, the youngest driver to hit 9,000 wins was Walter Case, Jr., who didn't hit that threshold until he was 39.
The New Jersey resident, who is one of the most sought after reinsman in the sport, has stashed away more than $12 million in purse earnings in each of the last nine seasons coming into 2016. He’s racked up more than $166 million to date.