Washington, PA — Dan Charlino collected career win 3,000 when he piloted 15-1 Troycen to victory in Thursday’s ninth race at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

Dan Charlino collected career win 3,000 when he piloted 15-1 Troycen to victory in Thursday’s ninth race at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Chris Gooden photo.

A Philadelphia-area native, Charlino became involved in harness racing in an unusual way. His father was a pari-mutuel clerk at long-defunct Liberty Bell Park and occasionally took young Dan to the track. Once he got up close with the horses, 14-year-old Dan was hooked.

“I went to work for Duncan McDonald and Herb Holland, who was a trainer in McDonald’s stable. I mucked stalls for those guys,” Charlino recalls.

Out on his own, Charlino operated as a trainer/driver; he has 161 training wins in addition to his 3,000 driving victories, with combined trainer/driver purses exceeding $19.6 million. Among his most memorable horses is the filly Sky Incognito.

“In her first lifetime start, I trained and drove her to a stakes win at Calgary,” he says. “She went on to win the Northlands Filly Pace. I had to put up a catch driver for that race because this filly hated me. I made her do things she didn’t want to do.”

Charlino’s progress to 3,000 was slowed by a 2016 race injury.

“I fractured an ankle. Once I snapped that ankle, I didn’t think I was getting to 3,000. The first 2,000 wins came pretty quickly, but as recently as last year, I never thought I would make it to 3,000.”

These days, Charlino, 59, works full time for the Ron Burke stable. He drives some of Burke’s horses and is able to drive in other races so long as he’s not competing against Burke. His goal for the future — continue that arrangement.

“My career is winding down, so I’ll just plug along as is — continue working for Ronnie, train the babies in Florida. I’d like to be South more rather than up here. I want to keep driving as long as I’m healthy and strong. It keeps the belly off so I can zip up the colors.”