Late last month driver Tony Dandeo made headlines for winning a race at Freehold Raceway at the age of 86, becoming the oldest driver to win a race in the state of New Jersey. On Sunday (Sept. 5), 87-year-old driver Bill Megens of Guelph, Ont. one-upped his fellow octogenarian by winning a race at Flamboro Downs.
Megens took no prisoners in Sunday's second race, guiding homebred Opas Faith to victory by going gate-to-wire and holding off Smashing Success and driver Travis Henry by a head in 2:04.2. The win was the first for Opas Faith and the first for Megens since July of 2019 aboard trotter Willyorwonthe.
According to track announcer Gary Guy, Megens is the oldest driver to win a race in the history of Flamboro Downs. The longtime horseman, who turns 88 in November, still maintains a small stable of horses and has trained a number of winners since his last driving win but has handed over the lines to other drivers for those victories.
The win gives Bill Megens 1,188 wins as a driver over a career that spans more than six decades.
To view the full results from Flamboro's Sunday card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.
What a great guy. Modest,
What a great guy. Modest, unassuming. Just a really wonderful man. I think I helped, well actually, ruined his rest times. He did such a wonderful job patching my horses feet over the years that I had to tell everyone I knew. In fact he did one horse for me that beat him the same night at the Greenwood. It's so nice to be able to write this while he's still alive and active. CARRY ON!