Driver Scott Zeron made harness racing history on Thursday night at Woodbine Racetrack when he became the youngest driver to reach the 2,000-win mark .
Zeron steered the maiden-breaking three-year-old pacing filly Lark Seelster, trained and owned by Jeff Gillis, to a 1:57.4 victory in the fourth race to reach the special milestone. In doing so, the 23-year-old just eclipsed Matt Kakaley's 2,000-win record by one month. Kakaley reached the magic number one month before his 24th birthday in February 2012. Tim Tetrick was the youngest to 2,000 prior to that, having accomplished the feat at the age of 24 in 2006.
"I remember when my idol Tim Tetrick was smashing all these records and I thought they would be impossible to beat," the Oakville, Ont. reinsman, who celebrates his birthday in May, told Trot Insider. "All it takes is a great support system from trainers, owners, fellow colleagues, friends and family. I've been given amazing opportunities and I have been lucky enough to capitalize on them."
Zeron was the runner-up for Canada's Driver of the Year honours for the third consecutive season in 2012 and took home the United States' Rising Star Award during a campaign in which he won 351 races and earned a career-high $8.75 milion in purses. During that season, he also became the youngest driver to win the coveted Little Brown Jug when he guided Canada's Horse of the Year Michaels Power to the two-heat victory.
"Thanks to everyone for making this milestone possible," said Zeron. "Hopefully there are many more!"
Zeron, who drove four winners on the 11-race card, currently sits atop the 2013 driver standings on the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit for both wins and money, and ranks second in all of Canada for earnings.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click on the following links: Thursday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.