By
Michael Carter, for Buffalo Raceway
Hamburg,
NY-- When Drew Monti started driving at Buffalo Raceway in April, 2013 he was
following in the footsteps of 3 generations of his family in the
business. Drew picked up the niche from his father Darrin Monti and his
grandfather Carl Monti who both are still in the game training and owning.
Monti
was born in October 1994 in Western New York and was also raised here. He
currently attends Canisius College where he is studying Management and had been
studying veterinary science. Monti received his provisional license in
2012 where he started racing in the NY fair circuit and qualified horses.
His first pari-mutuel win came in September 2013 at Batavia Downs aboard Right
Back At You trained by his father Darrin Monti. Monti (Drew) says of his
dad “He has been in the sport all of his life and drove for 25 years before
me.” Monti continued “I really look up to him and my grandfather, and we
still review races to this day after my drives.”
Currently
Monti sits at 96 career victories and is very quickly approaching 100 wins as
he already has 19 victories in 153 starts this season. Since beginning
his career in pari-mutual races he has raced all over New York and he credits a
lot of his success to not driving emotionally, being clear minded and also
being aware of what is going on around him as his strategy. He said “I
love the long stretch at Buffalo, but also enjoy racing at Batavia.”
Monti continued by saying “Batavia is a lot harder if you do not have a lot of
power.” Based on his driving so far here at Buffalo he loves the rail
almost as much as Calvin Borel does is thoroughbred racing.
When
being asked about his favorite horse so far that he has driven, he said that he
had a couple, but the one who sticks out in his mind was Spender Hanover (7, G,
Cam’s Card Shark-Special Beauty-Rustler Hanover). Recently, Spender
Hanover gave driver Tim Tetrick his 8,000th career victory at The
New Meadowlands Racetrack. Monti said he knew this horse was different
and loved driving him while he was in Western New York as Monti drove for owner
Howard Ouriel and trainer Don Rothfuss.
When
asked about his future in driving about possibly going to the Grand Circuit or
even the sire stakes, Monti was very open to the idea, but is taking his
time.
Racing
at the Hamburg Oval continues throughout the month of March on Wednesday and
Thursday with a first post of 5:00pm, Friday and Saturday 6:40 pm.
Racing
in April will take place Wednesday at 5:00 pm, Friday and Saturday at 6:40 pm.
Located on
The Fairgrounds in Hamburg, NY, Buffalo Raceway hosts harness racing January
through July. Simulcast wagering is available Wednesday through Monday from the
top harness and thoroughbred tracks year round.
