BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Wednesday, August 14, 2013--It's official...George Brennan is,
ahem, slowing down.
Tongue and cheek both firmly to the side, a man whose career is based on
sitting, is once again sitting...
...this time on another milestone. Brennan, who like Yonkers Raceway has
Wednesday night off (save for the author), enters Thursday's program with 7,997
career driving victories. He is listed to drive in all 13 races.
As for the "slowing down" part, well, after needing just over 16
months to go from 6,000 to 7,000 wins, the quest from 7,000 to 8,000 is taking
all of 22 months, give or take a night.
Slowing down? Try three wins Monday night and four wins Tuesday.
Since moving his base of operation to Westchester, all the 46-year-old Brennan
has done is the lead the locals twice (2011–697 wins, single-season record
$11.1 million in purses, 2012—580 wins, $8.8 million in purses). This season,
he sits (there's that word again) second to Brian Sears in both categories,
with 247 wins and $5.1 million in purses through Tuesday evening.
“Every number is special, and I think each one defines a stable career,”
Brennan said. “When I first started driving in this (New York/New Jersey) area,
I didn’t even have a thousand wins. I reached that number at Freehold, so I’ve
won nearly all of my races competing against the sport’s elite drivers.
“I think that says something.”
Brennan, with nearly $134 million in purses,
has reached seven figures in that category ($10-, $14- and $12 million) in each
of the last three seasons.
Among his career highlights are wins in
the 2006 Yonkers Trot with Glidemaster (subbing for an injured John Campbell
and completing that colt’s Triple Crown), 2011's final of the George Morton
Levy Memorial Pacing Series (Real Nice), that season's Hambletonian/Hambo Oaks
(Broad Bahn and Bold and Fresh) and this season's Art Rooney Pace (Doctor
Butch).
“But I get as much of a thrill winning with a cheap claimer,” he said. “Every
race, you try to get there first.”
Brennan, a native of Monticello, NY, began his career at his hometown
track. As for his first trip to the winner's circle? "Rob Ron
Romper," he said, recalling the name of his first Catskills winner.
"I was a junior in high school, and I remember it like it happened
yesterday."
The Raceway's five-night-per-week live schedule continues, with first post
every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening
simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting
available around the NYRA schedule.
