Matt Kakaley, who turned 21 on March 19, entered Wednesday needing 10 wins to become the youngest harness racing driver in history to reach 1,000 career victories. Kakaley won 14 races last week
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Walter Case Jr. was the first driver to reach 1,000 lifetime wins prior to the age of 22, but Case was several months older than Kakaley will be when he hits the mark. Jordan “The Kid” Stratton, who turns 22 on June 30, was the second driver to accomplish the feat. He reached 1,000 wins on February 20.
Kakaley has 268 wins this year and won 499 in 2008.
“It’s crossed my mind,” Kakaley said about reaching 1,000. “People tell me how many I need to go, so it’s in the back of my head, but I don’t really think about it too much while I’m racing. All my family and friends are excited about it. They’re going to try to be there. I never dreamed it would happen this quickly.”
In 2007, Kakaley was honoured with the Peter Haughton Memorial Award, which is given to an up-and-coming star by the Ohio chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association. He also received the Terry Holton Youth Award from the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association. Kakaley, who grew up in Michigan, lived in Florida for seven years prior to moving to Ohio. Kakaley’s parents, John and Linda, are a successful driver-trainer combo at Pompano Park in Florida.
On Friday, Kakaley will drive 14 times at Northfield. He will have another full slate of races on Saturday at Northfield and then race at Tioga Downs in New York on Sunday.
“The people at Northfield have given me great opportunities,” Kakaley said. “Things are going really well in Ohio. I’m hoping I can stay here.”
Although it might be difficult for Kakaley to reach win No. 1,000 over the weekend, it will not be impossible. Last June, he won seven races on a single night at Northfield; another big performance would put him near the mark.
“It was a great feeling going through the night, winning all those races,” Kakaley said. “It does feel like you’re in a zone. It feels like you’re making all the right moves; you’re doing everything right. Just like on a bad night, it seems you can’t do anything right.”
As Kakaley gains experience, he gains confidence.
“I think I’m getting more comfortable with the flow of the race,” Kakaley said. “It’s got to be your second nature to make the right move. If you think about it, you over-think it or it’s too late. The more you drive, the better you’re going to get at it.”
(Harness Racing Communications)