It’s safe to say that a driver has a good day at the office when he/she wins six of the dashes on a single program of racing. Although it’s not easy to achieve, the feat is accomplished with relative regularity across North America. It is uncommon, though, to see two drivers record ‘six baggers’ on a single card of racing, which happened on Wednesday, August 19.
Drivers Don Irvine Jr. and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. each won six times during Northfield Park’s 15-race program on Wednesday. Irvine’s triumphs were aboard Un Poco De Loco ($4.40) in Race 1, Cautious Optimism ($9.80) in Race 3, Happy To Scoot ($7.20) in Race 7, Endless Desire ($7.60) in Race 9, Star Studded Gun ($8.00) in Race 11 and A Million Thanks ($3.80) in Race 14. Wrenn posted wins with Let Loose Hanover ($6.40) in Race 2, Iwilldowhatido ($2.20) in Race 4, Bonnies Beach ($2.40) in Race 8, Y Mach Me ($2.40) in Race 10, Roca Rei ($6.20) in Race 13 and Charlie B ($2.10) in Race 15.
Irvine, 64, has been a fan favourite at Northfield for decades. He has 6,985 career wins and is approaching $35 million in total purse winnings. He currently sets ninth in Northfield’s local driving ranks with 71 wins so far this year. Throughout his long and successful career, Irvine has competed in nearly 40,000 races and has six local dash titles to his credit. He was the leading driver over ‘The Flying Turns’ in 1975, 1976, 1980, 1982, 1983 and 1984. Irvine’s success gained him the honour of being a Northfield Park Wall of Fame inductee in 1991.
Wrenn, 28, began driving in 2008 and has since garnered 2,679 career victories and is approaching $12 million in total purse earnings.
Wrenn leads Northfield’s local driving ranks with 390 wins posted thus far this year. Aaron Merriman (327), Jason Merriman (167), Ryan Stahl (126) and Kurt Sugg (114) complete the top-five drivers over the Flying Turns so far in 2015.
Wrenn holds the 2013 and 2014 U.S. dash titles for posting more wins than any other driver in North America in each of the last two years. He is currently second in 2015. Wrenn has won 507 races so far this year, trailing Aaron Merriman by 31.
(With files from Northfield)