Bruce Aldrich Jr. the beat goes on. Monticello
Raceway’s driving leader reined four more winners on the Wednesday (July 31)
program and now has 229 for the current meet. When that total is added to
his seasonal resume Aldrich now has 340 wins thus far this season which ranks
him tied for sixth in wins on the North American leaderboard.
“I’m having the best season of my career,” Aldrich said.”
Now that I’ve given-up training I can concentrate more on my driving.”
For many years Aldrich had the biggest stable on the
grounds at The Mighty M and for the first decade of the 21st Century
–through 2009-he won more races than any other driver although he only
registered one driving title driving that period. He did, however, win top
honors here again in 2010 and in 2011 and in his illustrious career he has
currently reined 4445 winners.
With five months remaining before the curtain comes down on
this season Aldrich has a very good chance to top his most prolific season
which was during 2010 when he won 451 races.
Although Aldrich had on many races every year , and of
course its early, but previously he never cracked the top- ten
nationally in driving victories.
“I’m very lucky to be able to drive ‘live’ horses for some
of the top trainers at both Monticello and Saratoga,” he said. But, let me tell
you, it’s hard work racing at both tracks, many times on the same days.”
For Aldrich to drive horses in the afternoons at Monticello
Raceway and then head north to Saratoga Harness for night time action he puts
plenty of miles on his car.
“ I try to stay on the Interstate as much as possible and
although the route I take from Monticello to Saratoga is a little
longer I’m always on four- lane highways the way I go, “ Aldrich
explains.
Aldrich figures his one- way trip is almost 180 miles.
“With each tracks racing schedule I only have to travel that
distance two or three times a week. But let me tell you, it wears you down,” he
added.
Aldrich hustles up the highways when he’s driving on
both cards sometimes cutting out from the Mighty M before the
entire program is completed.
“I have to do that sometimes,” he said referring to
occasionally not driving in the late races at Monticello. “ It takes me well
over two hours to get to Saratoga and they start at 7:30(pm) so I don’t have
much down time.”
Yesterday (July 31) both Monticello and Saratoga had racing
cards and Aldrich stayed until the 13th race at Monticello to
drive Jazz Band to a 1:56.1 victory –his fourth on the card--for trainer
Bob Lounsbury.
“I got a late start but Bob puts me on all his horses so I
wanted to stay and drive for him yesterday even though it would make me late
getting to Saratoga,” he admitted.
Aldrich didn’t drive at Saratoga until the fourth race last
night and he did win a race there.
“The judges work with me as long as I keep them notified as
to where I am and what time I’ll be there,” he added.
“It’s a grueling schedule but I’m doing what I love to do;
drive horses.”
