Jody Jamieson joined the elite company of harness racing drivers that have steered horses to over $100 million in purse earnings on Friday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
Jamieson surpassed the career milestone with a victory in the evening's opening $18,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots event aboard the favoured three-year-old pacing colt Panpero Firpo.
Jamieson sent the David Menary trainee around the early leaver before the half-mile mark and cruised home for the open length victory in 1:51.1. The No Pan Intended colt is owned and bred by the Peter Pan Stables Inc.
"I remember when John Campbell went to over the $100 million mark," commented Jamieson, referring to harness racing's richest driver of all-time. "He set the bar. We've all, as drivers, dreamed of somewhere, someday attaining something comparable to him. Obviously he's gone into the stratosphere with over [$280] million made.
"John Campbell set the bar and he's still going. He's just a model of consistency and his professionalism is really second to none."
The 36-year-old Moffat, Ont. reinsman has driven winners of more than $3.7 million in purses this year and is currently the leading money earning driver in Canada this season. His victory with Panpero Firpo was his 234th in 2013 and 6,628th lifetime.
"A 36-year-old with a $100 million career is just unbelievable to me," said Jamieson, who went on to recall some of his favourite moments so far in his career. Among his highlights are victories in the 2007 Little Brown Jug with Tell All and the 2011 North America Cup with Up The Credit for his father, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Carl Jamieson.
"I've had some great memories in races I've won on my own and with my dad," said Jamieson, adding that he would be truly grateful if he could stay competitive for another 15 to 20 years.
In other Grassroots action, Menary and Peter Pan Stables teamed up for another victory with Panongahela (1:51.2, Billy Davis Jr.). Trainer Ben Paquette also doubled up with 30-1 upsetter Pointsman (1:51.2) and Sea Harrier (1:52.3), who are both owned driver James MacDonald, Floyd Marshall, and Peter Porter. Icr Racing's Champagne Phil (1:52, Chris Christoforou) won the last division for trainer Ken Oliver.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.