Post Time is 7:15pm.
Gingras has firmly established
himself as one of harness racing’s rising stars, and at age 33, the Quebec-born
driver continues to soar at a record pace.
In 2012, the Green Hornet earned
more than $13 million in purses for the first time, ranking him second in the
nation.
Gingras also won his first
Meadowlands Pace with A Rocknroll Dance and earned his first Big M driving
title by edging Tim Tetrick in wins 125-123.
He passed 4,000 career wins,
winning over 400 races for the fifth time in six years, and also hit the $85
million mark in career earnings.
“2012 was absolutely a dream year
for me,” said Gingras. “I thought going in I could have a good year with
the stock I had coming back, and it actually went beyond expectations.”
Gingras had A Rocknroll Dance in
high gear in the $600,000 Meadowlands Pace, and the Dragon Again colt went down
the road from the rail in 1:48.1 enroute to a million dollar season.
“I thought A Rocknroll Dance had a
big chance to win the Meadowlands Pace, and he got the job done that night, and
really all year long,” noted Gingras.
He also won the Pace consolation
with Hurrikane Kingcole in a sizzling 1:47.4.
During the 2012 meet Gingras’ fast
start and strong finish earned him leading driver status at the Big M for the
first time.
“The Meadowlands driving title has
always been a dream of mine,” he admitted. “It was kind of surreal to get
that done because it was really my first driving title anywhere. When I
came to the Meadowlands in 2004 I was still young and was just starting to
dominate at Yonkers.”
Gingras capped off 2012 with a
natural hattrick in the Breeders Crown at Woodbine with Dan Patch Award winner
To Dream On, Maven and Rockin Amadeus. He also finished second with Drop
The Ball and Little Brown Fox.
“Fortunately, pretty much all the
horses I drove in 2012 are coming back,” he noted. The only one I’m not
sure of is Little Brown Fox. Horses like Foiled Again, Drop The Ball, To
Dream On and Rockin Amadeus certainly give me something to look forward to in
2013.”
Gingras and Foiled Again continued
to wreak havoc in the free for all ranks. The 2011 Pacer of the Year
roared back at age eight with another million dollar campaign and was voted the
sport’s top older pacer for the second straight year. The son of Dragon
Again also became the richest pacer of all time at $4.6 million with a dramatic
upset in the $794,870 Canadian Pacing Derby in 1:48.3 at Mohawk, the biggest
career win for horse and driver.
“What amazed me about Foiled Again
is he wasn’t quite as sharp going into that race as he was at other points in
his career,” recalled Gingras. “It was the first time he had a chance to
go for the money record, plus he did it from a spot where he usually doesn’t
win. He closed from eighth and was zig-zagging between horses. It
just defined his career. He’s an overachiever and an unbelievable horse,
and on that stage he gave me my biggest win ever. It was a great thrill
and I’m so proud of that horse. He’s not the fastest nor the biggest
horse out there, but he’s got a huge heart and makes money. If he stays
healthy the $5 million mark is well within his reach.”
It’s all about horse power, and
Gingras will continue to have plenty of it as the go-to guy for Ron Burke, the
Big M’s leading trainer in 2012.
“Ron Burke is a great person to
drive for,” said Gingras. “He’s not going to call you to give you a hard
time when you mess up. I feel I’m definitely still improving as a
driver. I was on top of my game this past year and I’m really confident
in myself. He sees that and I think we’re a great team. He likes
the way I race his horses. He wants somebody who gives his horses the
best chance to win.”
Gingras will be part of a driver
autograph session on the Paddock Level on Saturday, December 29 from 6 to
6:30pm when the Meadowlands offers a 2013 calendar giveaway. He will also
be an In The Sulky guest on the track’s pre-card broadcast.
