There are stars in all sports, and there are superstars. With 35 Breeders Crown titles, three Hambletonians, two Hambo-Hambo Oaks doubles, and over $216 million in purses, Brian Sears is the latter. That’s why, when he disappeared from driving, without a peep, following the 2023 stakes season, people in the sport were a bit dumbfounded. Was Brian retiring? Was he just taking a break? Nobody seemed to know. Now, almost a year-and-a-half later, Brian Sears has broken his silence, and he decided to do so in TROT. By John Rallis
‘Letting something go’ is considered one of life’s greatest challenges. Whether it be personally or professionally, the prospect of stepping away from something you love is often met with a heap of emotions that are difficult to grasp. But how does one know when - and if - it’s time? That very dilemma is what Brian Sears was faced with, when deciding upon his future in harness racing. With 10,423 trips to the winner’s circle, $216,830,670 in earnings, 35 Breeders Crown titles and three Hambletonians, the 2017 Hall Of Fame inductee boasts a resume that puts him in the conversation as one of the sport’s all-time greats. On November 18, 2023, after finishing fifth with the aptly named, I Did It Myway, little did any of us know that would possibly be the final time we’d ever see the ‘White Knight’ don a set of driving colours; especially with him still near his peak in terms of ability. Having basically stayed out of sight for the past 15 months, since his departure from driving, many have raised the question if a return to racing could be in the cards for Brian? Greats like Michael Jordan and Tom Brady will be the first to tell you that stepping away - and staying away - from the game they love isn’t easy, and that‘s been no different for Sears, who still may have plenty to offer. After 55,381 pari-mutuel drives, and having accomplished just about everything there is to in this sport as a driver, the 57-year-old now breaks his silence, with TROT, to discuss his journey, his decision to step away, and to remind us all that there’s more to life than just racing.
As he laid poolside on a beautiful, sunny morning in Paradise Island, Bahamas, Brian Sears couldn’t help but feel appreciative for what the sport of harness-racing has done for him.
A third-generation horseman behind his father Jay and his grandfather Gene, it seemed like a career driving Standardbreds was destined for the Fort Lauderdale, Florida native.
“I guess you could say that, but I know if you asked my dad at the time, he definitely wanted otherwise for me back then,” says Brian with a laugh.
“Wherever I was growing up, which was back-and-forth between Florida and upstate New York, there was always racing [in my life], and it never quite left.
“My dad raced a lot at Pompano, so that’s where we’d spend our winters, while the summers would be spent racing in upstate New York at Vernon Downs. It was a grind, of course, but it’s what made you appreciate everything that much more.”
Sears’ early exposure in racing only heightened his interest, and at 18-years-old the future Hall of Famer first got to experience what it was like visiting the winner’s circle as a driver - something that would eventually happen with great regularity for him over the next four decades.
The series of events that helped him secure that first milestone victory was what made him appreciate the moment even more, which is emblematic of his career as whole.
“When I was 12-years-old, I looked after a fair-colt for my dad, and he gave me 5% of whatever the horse made. With that money, I ended up purchasing a mare by the name of Mickey Wayne, from my dad and one of his owners, Vincent Vangura.
“She was 26-years-old and barren, but she produced foals in back-to-back seasons for me… two fillies. And I’ll never forget what came of it afterwards.“
Those two fillies, out of the old barren mare Brian had scraped his money together to buy, were the two horses the young man would cut his teeth on, driving them on the fair circuit and learning his trade.
It was partially what he learned from sitting behind them that led him to the Vernon Downs winner’s circle at age 18, with Alicia Blue Chip, his first-ever, pari-mutuel driving win. The two homebred fillies were the start of it all for the aspiring reinsman.
“I don’t remember how many drives it took me to get that first win, but I can assure you that it would’ve come sooner had my dad let me drive some of the better stock,” jokes Brian. “He had me drive the bad ones, but it helped me appreciate sitting behind the good ones even more.”
Sears’ dad was trying to do his best to teach his son about the challenges that came with driving. There’s plenty of failure before reaching the top, and oftentimes, a lot of drivers don’t get the opportunity to reach the pinnacle of racing. That however, didn’t deter Brian from chasing his dream.
“My dad didn’t want me driving horses because he knew how challenging it was, especially for him,” admits Brian. “He wanted me to go to school and pursue an education, so I did exactly that out of respect to him… or at least I tried to (laughing).”
Sears attended Auburn University, where he studied to be a veterinarian, but a college degree wasn’t going to satisfy his desire to compete, a fire that was strong enough to put off any thought of failure.
“I remember my dad not being too thrilled about my decision to leave school to pursue driving horses. He called Joe Pavia, who was married to my sister, and urged him to get me to stay in school.
“The next day while they were jogging horses on the track, Joe told my dad that he had, in fact, spoken to me, and my dad responded by saying ‘Ya, great job, he’s still on his way home right now (laughing).’”
Through his first six years of driving full-time (between Pompano Park and Vernon Downs) Sears saw an uptick in production every year, in every statistical category. Then, after setting career-highs in 1993 with wins (108) and earnings ($248,541), he decided he was ready for more.
“I loved racing at Pompano because the vibes were always extremely high. Everyone always looked forward to racing there because there were so many people enjoying themselves. As far as racing, you weren’t going to be sitting behind any superstars, but I learned so much and had a great time while doing so. It’s really sad to know that it no longer exists.
“As for Vernon, things were going really well for me there… I won the Rising-Star Award in 1991 and I felt pretty good about how I progressed the two years following that. From that moment, I felt like I was ready for a bigger opportunity.”
After the Vernon Downs meet came to an end in 1993, Sears didn’t make his way back to Florida for the winter like he normally did. His next destination was set for Pittsburgh, where he would take a crack at competing at The Meadows.
“Gates Brunet, who is family to me, dropped me off at The Meadows that winter on his way to Florida,” recalls Brian. “It was obviously a big change for me, given it was my first winter not being in the Sunshine State, but I felt it was a necessary step [in my career].
“I remember him saying, ‘I’ll come back and get you at any time, just give me a call’. Lucky for me, that call was never necessary (laughing).”
It didn’t take long for Sears to make an impact in his new surroundings, as he picked up three wins in his first eight drives at The Meadows, making his presence felt early.
“I knew there would be opportunities to pick up drives [at The Meadows] because of who was driving there,” states Brian. “Dave Palone would be listed on four or five [horses] per race, which meant there were opportunities for guys like me to pick up some drives.
“Fortunately for me, I developed a great relationship with a woman named Cricket, who worked in the race office at The Meadows. She knew I was eager to drive and helped push my name out there for additional work. She played a big role there too.”
In 1994, his first full year at The Meadows (he stayed there all summer as well), Sears saw his number of drives and wins nearly triple. He set a career-high in victories for the seventh consecutive year (321), and his earnings multiplied five-fold, with his purses eclipsing $1.2 million on the year.
Sears had made his mark; everyone there knew exactly that, most notably, the kingpin of the track, Dave Palone.
“Dave [Palone] was ‘the guy’ [at The Meadows], there was no doubt about that, but I was out there to prove that I was going to be there every step of the way with him as well,” smiles Brian.
“I won’t try to downplay the rivalry because you could see how competitive we were out there. Heck, there were times where we’d forget that we were competing against horses, not people… It became a one-versus-one battle at times, solely between the two of us (laughing).
“The competition made me a lot better, and that only grew once Dave [Miller] entered the mix there too. Not only was it another budding star who had entered the fold, but it was another guy who was out there trying to f@#k you (laughing).”
Aside from just sharpening his craft, Sears enjoyed many other great thrills racing at The Meadows, including multiple sires stakes victories. The memory from there that stands out the most for him though, was the first time he captured their signature race, The Adios (the first of three in his career). He accomplished the feat with Pine Valley [p,1:51.2; $392,651].
“That was an incredible moment for me. That was my first big stakes win, and meeting my family in the winner’s circle following the victory made it even more special.
“I remember sitting third, which I figured wasn’t the best spot,” admits Brian. “Instead of moving first-over, I decided to sit in [he was 25/1]… Lo-and-behold, Ron Pierce, who was in front of me, popped the two-hole halfway around the turn, which gave me a direct path up the passing lane…. And I got up. Somehow, it all worked out (laughing).
That split-second, winning decision in a major race was a microcosm of Sears’ driving career. The moment was never too big for him, and it seemed like every horse he sat behind was always in the right spot.
“One thing I always took pride in was how hard I studied a program and a race,” emphasized Brian. “It’s imperative that you’re aware of your surroundings, to know which horses you’re up against and the people that are driving them. You can’t just know your horse, there’s a lot more to it.”
It’s that kind of attention to detail, coupled with his talent level, that helped Brian Sears to emerge as a star during his ten-year, driving tenure at The Meadows. Just like his stints at Vernon and Pompano, however, the reinsman always aspired for more.
“I had met Jim Campbell during my time in Pittsburgh,” shares Brian. “He played a big role when I raced at The Meadows, and I drove for him quite a bit.
“I remember winning a two-year-old [Pennsylvania] Sires Stakes for him and Jules Siegel at Pocono Downs, in 2002, with Whatanartist [p,3,1:49; $918,099]. After being at The Meadows for about a decade, I was contemplating my next move, and Jimmy was one of the people who sort of urged me to make the transition to The Meadowlands… and thank goodness for that.
“He told me that if I went, I could drive Whatanartist in The Meadowlands Pace that year. It was my first time being part of that race… We won the elim, but things didn’t work out in the final, unfortunately.
“Without a doubt though, if you wanted to be a household name in the sport, you had to be at The Meadowlands. That was the place to be and I knew that.”
When Sears arrived in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 2003, it didn’t take long for him to see just what he was dealing with.
”That place just oozed with talent, and you felt it immediately in the driver’s room,” states Brian. “I remember lining up behind the gate against nine other drivers who had over 5,000 wins each, and many of the best horses in the world… As soon as the gate rolled it was multiple guys shooting out of there, like ‘boom, boom, boom’. That’s when I really knew that I was going from Triple-A to the big leagues.”
Once he became situated at The Meadowlands, the hope for Sears was that he’d get an opportunity to sit behind a few superstar-level horses, and that opportunity presented itself in 2004, courtesy of a rookie pacing colt by the name of Rocknroll Hanover [p,3,1:48.3; $3,069,093].
“I sat behind him in his first lifetime start at The Meadowlands [in a non-betting race] and he was solid. The start after that, he raced poorly, and I didn’t drive him in his next start [a third-place finish in a 2YO maiden race at Woodbine for Jack Moiseyev].
“I remember I got the call from Brett [Pelling], asking me to drive him in Canada in the Metro Pace final at Woodbine. Ronnie [Pierce] booked off him [after his elimination] for another rival and I couldn’t say ‘Yes’ fast enough.”
Lining up from PP#7, at odds of 31/1, Sears launched the son of Western Ideal-Rich N Elegant off the wings of the gate, and took a brief lead before securing a two-hole trip to the race favourite, Village Jolt, who Ron Pierce had chosen to drive over Rocknroll Hanover. After the three-quarters popped-up in 1:22.2, Sears and his charge angled out of the pocket and sprinted by, scoring a major upset in record-clocking of 1:49.4, marking the first ever sub-1:50 mile by a two-year-old.
“That win was surreal, and that was one of many horses who have given me so many thrills… But he was one of the first ones too. I had a lot of confidence in that horse that night [regardless of his odds]. To be a part of a record-breaking mile in the process was just a great added touch for what was my richest win at the time.
“Funny enough, I had been contemplating going back to The Meadows [that summer] because I didn’t really have anything to drive as far as Grand Circuit horses were concerned, and then came that phone call from Brett [Pelling], which was a blessing. Timing’s everything, and that sure came at a good time.”
The victory in the Metro Pace was one of three races that Rocknroll Hanover and Brian Sears captured together for a purse of $1 million or more (along with the North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace), making them the only horse and driver combination in the history of North American racing to accomplish that feat. Two of the three seven-digit purse wins came on Canadian-soil as well, where Brian has enjoyed his fair share of success, but before he experienced those major triumphs here in Canada, he was humbled in what was one of his first major blemishes as well.
“I was driving Gordons Jin Ms [p,3,1:51f; $516,234] in the 2002 Breeders Crown final at Woodbine for Ray Van Dreason,” recalls Brian. “I was super-pumped up because we were coming off a second-place finish in the elimination the week prior, and I felt strongly about that horse that night.
“I made the trip down with my girlfriend, at the time, Jamie, and I had the entire following day planned at Niagara Falls and everything. I figured I didn’t want to get there [to the races] too early, so we got there around the first [race].
“So I got there for 7:40, but because it was the Breeders Crown night they must’ve moved post-time to 6:40… I wasn’t aware. When I showed up, they told me I couldn’t drive her… I was too late. I was still there two races prior to when the race would go off, but I was denied.
“I remember walking back to the grandstand, seeing Jamie, and she just started crying. I said ‘Ya, let’s just get the f@#k out of here’. I was frustrated, of course.”
Eric Ledford picked up the drive on the pacing filly, and the pair finished second, beaten only a ¼ length in the $829,047 final. Sears couldn’t help but feel guilty.
“To get a drive in the Breeders Crown and to have that happen, really pissed me off. It’s funny to look back at now, in some ways, but at the time, it was an awful feeling”
Sears did, in fact, get another opportunity to drive in a Breeders Crown in Canada, just a couple of years later, and on that night, he made sure to make it count.
“My next visit to Canada for the Breeders Crown finals was in 2004, and I won three of them that night [Yankee Slide, Western Terror & Housethatruthbuilt]. I went from a low point in that other visit, to winning three Breeders Crowns the very next time I stepped foot there, so I made amends in that way… Most importantly, I made sure to get there on time (laughing).”
“Even though one of my not-so-proudest moments came on Canadian-soil [with Gordons Jin Ms], I always loved racing in Canada. The crowd was always amazing, the track was always in good shape, and everyone there knew how to put on a show. There are true racing fans there, and it shows.”
Those three Breeders Crown victories were the third, fourth and fifth of the 35 that Sears has captured throughout his career - second-most all-time to John Campbell (46).
A few of those Breeders Crown victories came courtesy of superstars like Muscle Hill, Broadway Schooner and Bee A Magician, all of whom were synonymous with Brian during the course of his career, but add the name ‘Royalty For Life’ into that mix, and you get a group of four who were all able to accomplish something very special for Brian, on two Saturday afternoons, in early August of 2009 and 2013.
“We all know the caliber of horse that Muscle Hill was, and he was definitely one of the greatest horses I’ve ever sat behind,” states Brian. “Look, as drivers, we all aspire to have success, and we dream of driving horses like him, because not only do they make our jobs easier, but they give us opportunities to win [big] races.”
One of those races that every driver dreams of winning is The Hambletonian, a race that Sears has been fortunate enough to capture three times. Muscle Hill was the one who helped secure the first one of those for the Florida native, something he says he was confident he’d win since the year prior.
“I’m grateful to have made a living racing horses and I’m extra grateful to have won The Hambo a few times - a race everyone dreams about. Truthfully, in 2009, in my mind, I had already penciled ourselves in as Hambo winners the year prior, because when you sit behind a trotter like him, that’s the type of horse you win a Hambo with (laughing).”
“Hambletonian Day is the equivalent of the Super Bowl; it’s the biggest day in harness-racing. I remember going to the track that day [in 2009], knowing that I had a legitimate shot to sweep both the Hambletonian and the [Hambletonian] Oaks… and when it was all said and done, I did just that.
“I remember after I won the [Hambletonian] Oaks with Broadway Schooner for Jimmy [Campbell], I was back in the drivers room with just a total buzz,” recalls Brian. “I think they had put up about 35 minutes [to post] or so before the Hambletonian final, but next thing you know, all I could hear is the paddock judge paging me [for the Hambo post-parade], so I sprinted over… so much for keeping my heart rate down before the one of the biggest races of my life (laughing).”
The 35 MTP may have zipped by in the moment, but shortly afterwards, another moment was created when Sears became the first driver in the history of the sport to pull off the Hambletonian/Hambletonian Oaks double on the same day, when he and Muscle Hill romped by six lengths in a stakes record 1:50.1.
George Brennan would match Brian’s feat in 2011, before Sears did it again in 2013, with Royalty For Life and Bee A Magician. Since then however, no other driver has accomplished the rare double.
With so many signature wins starting to accumulate, Sears was building a legacy - and everyone who watched racing took notice… especially his peers.
When asked, a few years back, who he would list on a horse of his own in a big race, if he were unable to drive it himself, Canadian Hall Of Fame Driver, Chris Christoforou answered immediately:
“Brian Sears. In every big race I drove in against Sears, or watched him drive in, he ALWAYS seemed to have his horse in the perfect spot. And not only that, but he always brought the horse back so it would be ready to race the next week too. Brian would be my top choice for sure.”
Christoforou’s not the only driver in Canada to have high praise for Brian Sears either. 2020 O’Brien Award winning Driver Of The Year, Bob McClure, idolized the Hall of Famer growing up, and says he attributes his driving style to the all-time great.
“Watching him, growing up, he was an absolute legend,” states Bob. “For me, he’s on the Mount Rushmore of drivers, and is arguably the greatest of all time.
“He had this patience about him that I try to emulate in my driving… to a much lesser degree of course (laughing). Brian was so unique because he wasn’t a power driver… that’s not to say he wasn’t capable of being one, but everything he did out there was extremely calculated.”
There’s a moment that stands out to McClure the most about Sears, when citing Brian’s instincts, and ironically, it came at Bob’s expense in 2019.
“I remember my plane got cancelled on the runway [in Toronto] the day of The Meadowlands Pace elims,” recalls Bob. “I was set to drive Best In Show for Linda Toscano and I couldn’t make it, so Brian Sears got the nod.
“He finished second in his elimination and we agreed it was only fair that Brian drive him in the final. Best In Show was a bit on the lazy side, and I remember Brian was sitting fourth on the rail turning for home [in the final], and had a chance to angle out in the stretch.
“Instead, Brian rode [the] wood the whole way and won by a nose. I’m telling you, there’s no way I win that race, because if I was in that spot turning for home, in The Meadowlands Pace, you better believe I’m moving him to the outside and giving him a clean shot. That’s why Brian Sears was a genius at his craft… he won so many races with his mind.”
Like professional athletes getting to compete against their favourite stars that they watched growing up, it was no different for McClure when he lined up in any race that involved Brian Sears. Even cooler for McClure, was getting a chance to steal a Hambletonian title from his hero, in what is by far, the biggest win of Bob’s career.
“It’s still surreal to know that my biggest hero in the sport is outside me in the most important win photo of my career [the 2019 Hambletonian with Forbidden Trade],” shares Bob. “And if you want to know what kind of guy Brian is, I’m pretty sure he looked over just before the wire to say ‘Congratulations’… that’s the type of guy he is.”
“It’s really cool to hear that kind of praise from many of those who competed against me throughout the course of my career,” shares Brian. “My main focus was to be the best at my craft every single day, and do everything in my power to accomplish just that. It was a grind, but it was required.”
‘A grind’ is a perfect way to encapsulate the life of a Grand Circuit driver. The travel is grueling and the days are long, and for Sears, the weight of it all eventually caught up to him.
That’s when he began to ponder ‘What’s next?’
“In 2019, after I won the Breeders Crown with Bold Eagle at Mohawk, I remember that night being such a high,” recalls Brian. “What I also remember is me telling Jenn [girlfriend, Bongiorno] after the night was over: ‘Let’s enjoy this, because it could be the last night we have like this… there might not be many of these left.”
The following year, Sears made his return to the races in late April, and finished that season with 426 drives, his lowest total since 1990. From 2020-2023, the number of drives remained between 359 and 484, and the purses stayed between $3 million and $4.7 million, but things had definitely slowed. Brian still drove in six of the 12 Breeders Crown finals at Hoosier Park that year for example, but with limited success.
As babies began to qualify in 2024, and the Grand Circuit season got underway, Sears’ name was not listed on any overnight sheets at The Meadowlands for the first time in 20 years. Which then sparked the question:
‘Where is Brian Sears?’
“There was part of me that felt like it was time to step away, but I wasn’t 100% certain,” states Brian. “Look, I’ve done this my entire life, I’ve been grateful for every single opportunity I’ve gotten, and I’m especially grateful for what this game has given me… Stepping away from basically the only thing I knew my entire life was one of the hardest things, believe me.
“I stepped away quietly because it was the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do, and to be quite honest with you, I was still trying to cope with everything,” he admits. “I didn’t want to speak with any publication because I didn’t want to say the wrong thing, and the thought of a ‘retirement speech’ just didn’t sit well with me.
“I’ve had my fair share of sleepless nights over the last several months, and I felt like now it was the right time to discuss everything, and reflect.”
Around the time of his departure, when trying to speculate, some unjustifiably questioned Sears’ desire when it came to racing horses. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
“It’s funny, people had this conception that I didn’t love racing horses, and that I was just good at it,” says Brian. “The reason people got that impression is because I treated this like a job and I took it very seriously… but believe me when I say, I loved it!
“I wanted to succeed and I wanted to do well for the people affiliated with each and every horse as well; it wasn’t just about me, it was about paying it back to the people that gave me the opportunity.”
As Sears quietly navigated through his new life without racing, he certainly hasn’t been dealing with the challenges alone. His girlfriend, Jenn Bongiorno, has been by his side throughout his new chapter.
“Racing has been Brian’s life since he was a kid, so stepping away from the game was extremely difficult - without a doubt,” shares Jenn. “Everyone deals with situations differently, and for Brian, he felt it was best to step away quietly and just reflect on it all.
“People were caught off-guard not having seen Brian return to the races [in 2024] and we’ve received so many messages from everyone involved in racing because of it,” she says. ”It’s very cool to see how respected Brian is within the industry, because he’s deserving of it.
“Brian never wanted any fanfare; he truly approached being a driver as a job. He knew the amount of money and time that every trainer, owner and groom invested in the horses, and all he wanted was to do as good of a job as possible for them… It was always about pleasing the people involved, and never about himself.”
Having grown up in the industry herself, Bongiorno understands how grueling this sport can be, and appreciates not only Sears’ decision to step away, but his perspective on life as a whole.
“This business is stressful and demands a lot out of one’s self,” reasons Jenn. “There’s no blueprint on how to handle stepping away from something you love, but Brian is starting to appreciate a new lease on life… I’d say he’s pretty happy with his decision [to not be driving] at this time.”
What became most shocking to many about Brian’s departure from racing, was not just how quietly he did it, but the fact that he was still one of the best drivers in the sport when he stepped away - and the Hall of Famer still believes in himself.
“Oh, I know for certain I can still drive at a high level,” states Brian. “That wasn’t the issue. I just started to ponder everything as a whole. I realized that sometimes there’s more to life than just racing… I thought it was time for me to start appreciating what the sport has provided me, and start enjoying the fruits of that labour.
“It’s funny you mention whether I feel I could still compete [at a high-level], because I was asked to come off the bench and drive one of Marcus Melander’s trotters in the Breeders Crown final [in 2024],” shares Brian. “One thing’s for certain, I think I would’ve done as good a job, since he ended up going off-stride anyway (laughing).”
“In all seriousness, it wouldn’t be fair for me to just show up and drive a horse in the final, because then people would try to make it all about me, when that shouldn’t be the case. If you’re going to do this [drive horses] you have to be all-in.
“Speaking of Marcus though, both he and Anders Strom [Courant Inc.] played a big role near the end of my career. In 2016 and 2017, you could see my driving totals start to dip a bit. Truthfully, that’s around the time when I was starting to get worn out… when you’re travelling all over to drive horses that can really happen. Sometimes when you let the fatigue really set in, you start to lose a bit of motivation… but that all changed when Marcus approached me in 2018.
“He asked me to drive his horses in the New York Sires Stakes program and I obliged. That’s where I picked up Gimpanzee, one of my favourite horses that I’ve driven, and it got the juices flowing a little bit more. Because of that relationship with Marcus and Anders, I was able to drive horses like Joviality, Iteration, and Hypnotic Am, just to name a few.
It was a perfect situation for me… I got to work less and make more, while having a lot of fun in the process, and doing it for amazing people. Marcus and Anders are the reason I prolonged my driving career for another five-plus years at the end.
“Believe me when I say that nobody would love to win a big race for Marcus and Anders more than me… Those two have been a big part of my driving career and we’ve got a great relationship to this day… I still wish we could’ve teamed up for a Hambletonian together.”
For now, Sears is just enjoying some travelling, working out, a lot of nice dinners and plenty of golf. He’s separated himself from watching too many races - and although he’s not driving, he’s still got something to look forward to at the races, in the near future.
“I own parts of two yearlings… A Papi Rob [Hanover] filly and a Gimpanzee filly,” shares Brian. “They’ll be broke this fall, so I’m definitely looking forward to that.”
When asked whether his involvement in his pair of fillies would spark an itch to sit behind either one of them, he didn’t rule it out.
“Maybe I’ll qualify them, or something,” he says with a laugh. “But all of that is to be determined.”
As for a return to driving horses again, is there a chance we’ll ever see Brian Sears back in the bike?
“Look, there’s been so many instances where people have done what I did [step away] and they’ve returned. We’ve seen it in professional sports with so many athletes coming out of retirement.
“You know, I drove for Marcus and Anders for years, so while watching them have such a great year with a colt like Maryland, did it ever cross my mind that maybe I stepped away too soon? Absolutely.
“But then I think of all the travel and stress that comes with driving horses like that, and I’m reminded that I’m happy watching from afar.
“Harness-racing has given me so much, and I’ve been so fortunate to have met so many people that I can call lifelong friends. A guy like George Brennan really stands out to me, because I’ve competed against him for thirty years, at just about every stop of life… at The Meadows, The Meadowlands and Yonkers. He’s a friend for life”
There are plenty of people and horses who Sears is thankful for, in terms of what they’ve brought to his life. His entire career has been a dream, one that he will hang onto forever.
“Despite being on the sidelines for the last year or so, I still haven’t gotten over the buzz from the last twenty years of racing horses,” admits Brian. “The highs are what I miss the most, and I’m going to hang onto those for as long as I can.
“As far as this next chapter, I’m just going to leave a page blank for now (laughing).”
This feature originally appeared in the March issue of TROT Magazine. Subscribe to TROT today by clicking the banner below.
What class!!!
What class!!!