Kevin Detweiler thought he had a chance to win a couple races Wednesday, July 29 at the Fayette County Free Fair in Connersville, Ind.
He was wrong. He won them all.
Detweiler, an 18-year-old driver from Milroy, Ind., swept all eight races at Connersville on Wednesday. He won the opener with Sassytemper by a neck but there was little other drama in his remaining seven triumphs on the non-wagering card. All were by at least 2-1/2 lengths, and he capped the day with a 19-length romp behind Vel See You Later.
“I didn’t know if I would win all of them, but I thought I might have a chance in a couple of them,” said Detweiler. “I just couldn’t believe it. I never thought I’d do that in a day.”
Detweiler won the first four races with horses trained by Joseph Wagler – Sassytemper, Brookview Holiday, Bests Swans Rocker and Ritas Girl. He captured the final four with horses trained by Larry King – Velgetthisstraight, Vel Im Good, Vel Big Shocker and Vel See You Later. The fastest mile of the day was by three-year-old male pacer Vel See You Later, who triumphed in 1:57.4, one second off the track record.
“That last race, I didn’t expect to go that fast,” said Detweiler. “I figured we’d go around [1]:59, or so. But then they said [1]:57, and I was surprised. It didn’t feel like we were going that fast.”
Detweiler, whose father, Michael, also is a driver, has won 104 races since beginning his career last year. He got his first victory in June 2025 at Converse, with Chrome Rose, and in August notched his most lucrative triumph, winning a $22,014 division of the Dr. H.M. Parshall Memorial Stakes for two-year-old trotters with Dont Tell Anyone at Greenville.
This year, he has won 69 races, including three at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, and leads the Indiana fair circuit with 60. Twice prior to Wednesday he had won seven races in a day.
“It’s going pretty good,” said Detweiler. “This is what I always wanted to do. I like it, everything about it. I’ve worked with horses since I was young, around [age] nine or 10. I kind of want to be a catch-driver. That’s what I would like to do.”
Detweiler, who works on a construction crew when he’s not with the horses, said he doesn’t expect to get his next opportunity to drive until sometime next week. What could he do for an encore? Win nine of nine?
“I kind of doubt that day is going to come,” Detweiler said with a laugh. “But I hope.”
(with files from USTA)