This year, back home on the familiar turf at the Mighty M,
Aldrich has a big command in races won and leads the local colony with 138
winners. But he also among the driving leaders—currently third—at Saratoga
Raceway with 41 wins.
Aldrich had called the Monticello home for many years but
over the past few seasons he has switched his home base to Saratoga Raceway;
even bought a farm near the Spa City.
However, as usual Monticello opened this season before
Saratoga and Aldrich began winning here with regularity so he decided
that year he’ll do double duty, and sort of the hard way, racing nearly full
time at both Monticello and Saratoga Raceways.
And no, the distance between both tracks is not 90 miles
like the Monticello-Yonkers connection; it’s more like 165 miles from the
Mighty M to Saratoga, and not an easy trip.
“I started the season here at Monticello and got off to a
real good start. So when Saratoga opened in March I thought I’d try to
race at both tracks since for the most part they race on different days,”
Aldrich explained.
“Monticello goes in the afternoons Mondays through Thursdays
and Saratoga usually races Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. But
there are a few Thursdays along the way during the springtime , like one
yesterday where the distance between both tracks makes it hard for me.”
Although Aldrich has been on fire all season here, over the
past few weeks he’s been winning four and five races on many programs but
yesterday (May 1) wasn’t his day at least at the Mighty M.
He not only got skunked on the 10 race card but in a morning
qualifying race he was in an accident and was unseated and thrown
to the ground.
“ I wasn’t hurt bad(ly) but they took me to the local
hospital to get checked out and the doctors there OK’d me to drive on the
afternoon program,” Aldrich explained. “I didn’t do much good, even had
to take myself off the horse in the last race who I won with last time so I’d
have enough time to make it to Saratoga.
“Honestly it’s a grueling trip because Saratoga starts at
6:45pmand it’s not all Thruway there from Monticello. But I won three races at
Saratoga last night so that made the day worthwhile.”
Presently with 178 seasonal driving victories
Aldrich is tied for seventh in wins-- with Tim Tetrick-- on the North
American leaderboard
