With the 2012 harness racing season now half complete, the standings atop the leaderboard for wins and earnings are as fierce as the battles on the track.
Driver Scott Zeron of Oakville, Ont. is neck and neck with Randy Waples atop the earnings column. Zeron's horses have earned more than $3.58 million in 2012, putting him just ahead of Milton, Ont.'s Waples at $3.56 million. Moffat's Jody Jamieson rounds out the top three with $3.1 million.
The best percentage driver in Canada is Saint John, N.B.'s Gilles Barrieau, who boasts a stellar 0.433 UDRS. Barrieau is followed by Quebec-based Simon Allard (0.381) and Arthur, Ont.'s Trevor Henry (0.366).
Billy Davis, Jr. of Cambridge has been the pacesetter since January, leading Canada in wins with 268. Henry follows with 229 with Guelph's Anthony MacDonald in third with 220.
On the training side, Robert McIntosh of Lasalle, Ont. tops all Canadian trainers with stable earnings in excess of $1.7 million. Puslinch, Ont.'s Richard Moreau sits just behind the Hall of Famer with $1.6 million and 2011 Trainer of the Year Jeff Gillis of Hillsburgh, Ont. in third spot with $1.3 million.
Strathroy, Ont.'s Dan Creighton produces quality over quantity year after year and 2012 is no exception. The veteran trainer is connecting at a sharp 0.436 UTRS, good for the best in the nation. Creighton is followed by two Quebecois trainers: Corey Johnson (0.404) and Rene Allard (0.401).
Moreau just trails in the money race but not for wins. His total of 134 is Canada's best for trainers, with Allard in second with 126 and Cambridge, Ont.'s Joe Pereira in third with 79.