With multiple Hall of Fame honours, an illustrious career, and having recently surpassed $80 million in lifetime earnings, Wally Hennessey’s driving resume is nothing short of spectacular. The reinsman added another accomplishment to that list as he passed 12,000 career driving wins on Tuesday, July 22 at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
His first drive was with Serge Nadeau’s Jk Party in the opener. The son of Jk Endofanera-Street Party, trained by Eve Bergeron, was heavily backed at the windows from post five in the field of eight in the $11,233 conditioned event.
Hennessey wasted little time in sending Jk Party to the top, chasing the car out as they raced towards the first turn. He opened up by 2-1/4 lengths at the quarter in :28.2 before cruising to the half in :58.2. Jk Party kept a two-length lead through the half and to the three-quarters in 1:27.2. A final quarter in :28.2 put Jk Party and Hennessey in victory lane by four lengths in 1:55.4. Bobby White Socks (Brett Crawford) finished second, followed by Heza Spoken Lad (Jim Devaux).
“I remember that feeling I had when I won my first race. I’ve been searching for it ever since and still haven’t found it,” said Hennessey. “Today was special, but it wasn’t like number one.”
Hennessey, a native of Prince Edward Island, began his career in 1974. After finding success in the Maritimes, Hennessey moved to the United States and became a mainstay at both Pompano Park and Saratoga, earning most of his wins at those tracks. He is a member of both the Harness Racing Hall of Fame and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, as well as the Florida and P.E.I. sports halls of fame. He has driven in more than 56,000 races for earnings of more than $82 million. With Tuesday's victory, he became the 10th driver in North American harness racing history to reach the 12,000 win plateau.
Hennessey swept the early double to take win number 12,001.
Trainer Andy Gardner enjoyed a hat trick on the Tuesday card. He won with Kims Choice ($17.80), Choiceofthetown ($3.10), and Exotic Dragon ($23.80). He is now third in the trainers' standings, though well back of leader Melissa Beckwith.
Racing at the Spa resumes on Saturday, July 26, with a first post time of 6:45 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)