Simon Allard reached a career milestone over the weekend, celebrating his 5,000th career driving win at Pocono Downs.
Allard hit the milestone on Saturday, Aug. 12 at Pocono in the 13th race when he guided 10-year-old pacer San Domino A to a mild 7-1 upset over favourite Burnham Boy N.
After following in fifth through a contested opening half in a $14,500 conditioned pace, Allard sent the Ron Burke trainee first-over to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:51 flat, paying $16.60 to win. The Somebeachsomewhere gelding, who is a 47-time career winner with eight victories achieved this season, is owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.
Born in Quebec, the Pennsylvania-based Allard had 247 wins on the season at the time of his milestone victory on Saturday. In 2012, he won a career-best 468 races and topped the 400-win mark again in 2012. He's driven horses to more than $51 million in purse earnings and his top money-earning season was in 2019 when his mounts earned more than $4.7 million.