On Tuesday, April 6, Greg Merton drove in nine races at his home track, Monticello Raceway, as the track's publicity department watched diligently in order to present Merton with a memento upon reaching the 3000-win plateau. But the milestone triumph never came, as Merton failed to win a race in eight trips to post.
Merton, 36, who has won more 2,700 races at Monticello, was also scheduled to drive in three races at Yonkers Raceway that evening, and low and behold, didn’t he score his 3,000th career driving victory there.
“It’s funny how things work out,” Merton told Yonkers Raceway publicity chief Frank Drucker after the milestone victory was accomplished. "I had my son with me at Monticello this afternoon and thought I get my 3,000th win there and it didn’t come though -- I finished second five times.”
Merton, who lives in Monticello, began his career at the 'Mighty M' in 1989, but he didn’t become a factor locally until the mid 1990’s. Then, in 2000, he copped his first driving title at the Mighty M and then followed three years later with another driving championship.
“I felt bad on not having won my 3,000th race here at Monticello where I have called home since I started driving,” Merton said after the publicity department presented him with the blanket stating his accomplishment upon his return to the Mighty M on Wednesday, April 7. “I really appreciate that they recognized me even though my 3,000th (win) came at Yonkers.”
(Monticello)
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