He may be in the midst of a career season with nearly $5 million in purse earnings already, but Corey Callahan jokes that “you know you’ve finally made it when you get a bobblehead.”
Callahan, who recently was given the nickname “Captain” in a promotion at the Meadowlands Racetrack, will be honoured with his very own bobblehead doll at Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs.
The bobblehead giveaway coincides with the tracks’ 7th Annual Drivers’ Championship, billed this year as harness racing’s version of the All-Star Game. Callahan will compete against the premier drivers in the sport for more than $40,000 in prize money, including a $25,000 first place prize, the equivalent of a driver’s share of winning a $1 million race.
“I’m really looking forward to participating in the Drivers’ Championship for the first time,” said Callahan. “It’s the best of the best competing so to be included in that group is quite an honour.”
For the first time, the event will be contested at both racetracks. The opening leg will take place at Vernon Downs on Sunday, August 25 and share the card with the $700,000 Zweig Memorial Trot. The final round will then go to Tioga Downs on Labor Day Monday, September 2 and share the spotlight with the $400,000 Cane Pace, opening leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown.
This year, the Drivers’ Championship will pit North America’s top six money-winning drivers against the leading driver (by wins) at Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs plus a sponsor’s exemption. The qualifying cut off date is August 19.
As for that bobblehead, Callahan said the plastic version of him looks just as good as the human version.
“I was very surprised at how much the bobblehead actually looks like me. The people who made it are very talented.”
(Tioga Downs)