Tyler Smith is Big M bound

from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department

East Rutherford, NJ — “Home free. Tyler Smith. Big night. That’s five on the card.” That was the race call from the 13th race on June 28 last year. A skyrocketing career had its biggest night as Tyler Smith won five races at The Meadowlands. Now, Tyler Smith is back.

With his sights set on the Mecca of harness racing, Tyler Smith took time to reflect on the biggest night of his career.

“Winning one race at The Meadowlands is something special,” said Smith, “but winning five races was unbelievable. It was beyond a dream come true.”

In 2014, Smith made 39 starts at The Meadowlands, winning seven races, or 18 percent, a more than respectable figure.

Winning five this Saturday may be a challenge, but Smith did pick up seven drives on the 12-race card while making his return to East Rutherford. Smith said a text message was the catalyst for his return to the New Jersey oval.

“Sam McKee sent me a text message and asked if I wanted to come out and drive with some of the drivers heading to the Levy at Yonkers. I said absolutely. Any opportunity I can get to drive at The Meadowlands I am going to take. Hopefully I can get lucky and win some races.”

It will be a busy weekend coming up for Smith.

“I’ll be in Ohio on Friday, then heading to The Meadowlands to drive Saturday night before I have to be back in Ohio for a 3 p.m. post time on Sunday.”

Smith will be looking to pick up as many drives as he can in the coming weeks.

“I am not coming out to drive for any one trainer, I am just looking to pick up whatever I can. Hopefully in the coming weeks I get lucky and pick up some good horses along the way.”

Smith appears to be aboard several win contenders on the Saturday program. Perhaps none more so than Diamond Said in the 11th race, who looked like an easy winner last week before he went off-stride in the stretch.

Smith has won 1,650 races at the age of just 22 and has already amassed nearly $12 million in earnings in his career. He is expected to drive at The Meadowlands on Saturday nights through the end of April if things go well.

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