Rick Plano reached another milestone in his illustrious career as he recorded his 4,000th career training victory at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday (June 23).
Needing just one victory to secure win No. 4,000 heading into the evening’s 12-race card, Plano piloted debuting three-year-old Empressive Hill to victory in the ninth race on the card.
Plano sent the Muscle Hill-Slice Slice Baby filly straight to the front from post five. Empressive Hill set fractions of :28.1, :57 and 1:26.2 before using a :28.2 closing quarter to secure victory by nearly four lengths for the partnership of Derue, Soulsby, Weisenburg and Short. The 1:54.4 time equalled her seasonal best set last week in a qualifier at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s Race Marketing team, along with Plano’s wife and friends, were in the winner’s circle to congratulate and acknowledge his momentous accomplishment.
Plano, one of the few trainer-drivers in the sport with a combined total of more than 10,000 wins, has also recorded 7,136 driving wins and amassed more than $52 million in purse earnings throughout his career and reached the million-dollar mark in five of the last 10 seasons as a driver. Plano, a native of Frankfort, N.Y., began his harness racing career in 1973 and has since secured leading training and driving titles at tracks throughout the country. Currently, Plano is among the top 20 in both the leading trainer and leading driver standings at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Live racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will continue on Thursday (June 24). For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing schedule, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.
(Harrah’s Hoosier Park)