Sears Barred From ‘Pace’ Elim Drive

Published: July 4, 2018 03:55 pm EDT

The Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey has commented on a developing situation in the Garden State, which has seen Hall of Fame pilot Brian Sears barred from driving in this coming weekend’s Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace eliminations at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

The eliminations for the Meadowlands Pace were drawn on Tuesday. Trainer Jimmy Takter had listed Sears to steer Bettors Delight colt Thinkbig Dreambig, a $180,000 yearling purchase that has drawn into the first of the ‘Pace’ elims. When the official post position draw results were revealed Tuesday, each of the horses featured a listed driver, as per usual, except Thinkbig Dreambig.

“It was brought to our attention last night that Brian Sears was not permitted to be listed on the Jimmy Takter-trained Meadowlands Pace elimination entrant Thinkbig Dreambig, scheduled for the sixth race this Saturday night at the Meadowlands,” SBOANJ President Mark Ford said via release on Wednesday.

“After speaking with both parties, it is apparent that this is a personal issue. We strongly disagree with the Meadowlands’ decision and the SBOANJ will continue to work toward a resolution.”

Trot Insider spoke with Sears Wednesday morning, at which point the decorated reinsman respectfully declined the opportunity to briefly comment on the situation. Trot Insider has also reached out to the Meadowlands Racetrack, but has yet to receive the track’s official position on the matter.

This is not the first time that the Meadowlands Racetrack has made the decision to bar Sears from driving at the ‘Big M.’

In the summer of 2014, Meadowlands Racetrack operator Jeff Gural announced that Sears was the target of severe driving restrictions at the Meadowlands and his other two tracks, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs. The situation stemmed from a personal matter between the two individuals, which was ultimately resolved days later (for background information, click here, here and here). The clearing of the air had paved the way for Sears to again have full driving rights at all three of Gural’s tracks.

Sears, who is one of the most respected and decorated drivers in the industry, has steered horses to more than $186 million in purse earnings and is closing in on his 10,000th career driving win.

In 2016, Sears was elected to the sport’s highest honour, the Hall of Fame, in balloting conducted by the United States Harness Writers Association.

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