by Kelly Spencer, Manager of Marketing & Communications, Grand River Raceway

Elora, ON — Grand River Raceway saluted the 1,000-win milestone achieved by driver Michael Whelan during its Wednesday (Sept. 12) card.

Iron Horse Photo

Michael Whelan was congratulated after winning his 1,000th career race.

Whelan, 34, reached the mark on Sunday (Sept. 9) at Flamboro Downs while driving Autodynamic in race four. The 5-1 shot is trained by William Walters.

Hovering near the milestone for the past week, Whelan was just one win shy on Saturday (Sept. 8) when, agonizingly, he drove a total of five second-place finishers.

During an on-air interview at Grand River Raceway, the Dundas, Ontario, resident fondly recalled his first drives at the 1997 Ancaster Fair, and his first win at Flamboro Downs with his father’s horse, On Top By Two, in May of 1998.

Whelan has driven horses to earnings of nearly $6.8 million.