Joe Holloway recorded his 1,000th career training victory on Wednesday afternoon (May 1) when the regally-bred Voyager broke his maiden at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:52.2.
Holloway, who will be part of the Hall of Fame’s incoming class at Goshen this July, began his career in the harness racing business when he was an altar boy for Father Francis Tierney in Delaware.
Holloway worked as a groom while in Delaware after Father Tierney decided to take up a field in which many of his parishioners participated. Holloway was already an established record-maker in training partnership with stable manager David Rovine, having set a then-Meadowlands-record 106 victories in 1987 – which was well before this count to 1,000 started, as the USTA’s records begin in 1991.
Holloway’s milestone victory came via Voyager, a three-year-old gelded son of Captaintreacherous out of Shebestingin, who is still the world’s fastest mare (1:47). Andy Miller brushed Voyager to the top in front of the stands during what was his career debut. Voyager then went on to a one and a half-length win for Brittany Farms LLC and Val D’Or Farms.
(With files from PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)