by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — George Brennan, who captured the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks on the same afternoon in August, ended his year with another big win.

For the second consecutive season, the 44-year-old Brennan was named the Driver of the Year by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. Brennan won 754 races and earned $14.53 million, totals that both rank second among all drivers in North America this year. Both also better his previous career highs of 622 victories and $12.61 million in purses established last year.

Brennan capped his campaign by winning four times Tuesday night at Yonkers Raceway, where he was the leading driver with 697 triumphs. Brennan, who entered Wednesday trailing Dan Noble by only one victory for the North American driving championship (he is now seven behind), will spend the remainder of the year relaxing on the sidelines.

George Brennan

“It’s really unbelievable,” Brennan said of his honor. “You always hope to win it one time, and to get lucky enough to win it one time and come back and win it again in consecutive years is a really great achievement. I’m really proud of it.”

Brennan’s top moments this year were separated by only 35 minutes. On August 6 at Meadowlands Racetrack, he won the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old filly trotters with Bold And Fresh and then followed that triumph with his win behind Broad Bahn in the $1.5 million Hambletonian for 3-year-old trotters.

With that double, Brennan joined Brian Sears as the only drivers to win the historic trotting races on the same day.

In October, Brennan got career win No. 7,000. He finished the year with 7,121 victories lifetime, to go with $117 million in purses. He ranks ninth in earnings among all drivers in history.

“I knew last night (Tuesday) was going to be my last night, and just winding down and thinking about some of the things I’ve achieved this year, I thought it would be really cool if I could be back-to-back Driver of the Year,” Brennan said. “I just thought the Hambo Day would cap it off.

“Everything worked out better than I could have hoped. Staying healthy, getting through the whole year unharmed, that’s a big part of it there. I always have to mention the owners and trainers, who put me down on a lot of very good horses. Without their support, and the support of my family, none of this would be possible.”

Now Brennan can recharge and prepare for a run at a third Driver of the Year title.

“That would be OK,” Brennan said with a laugh. “Right now I’m just enjoying it. It was a great year.”

Burke excited to try to repeat Trainer of Year success

Ron Burke on Wednesday was named the Glen Garnsey Trainer of the Year by the U.S. Harness Writers Association, joining his father, Mickey, on the list of trainers to win the award. Ron Burke is the leading trainer in North America in wins, with 795, and purses, with a record $18.5 million. It is the third consecutive season his stable has topped both statistics.

USTA photos

Ron Burke

“To win it when he has too makes it extra special,” said Burke, referring to his father’s honor in 2006. “There were a lot of barns that did really well, but not a lot that had done what we did this year. We had stars and the overall picture covered this year. I thought that might help us.”

Burke’s top moment came in winning the $650,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old colt pacers with Sweet Lou, who captured the race in a world record 1:49 at Woodbine Racetrack.

“It was maybe my best win ever,” Burke said. “It was very satisfying.”

He also trained multiple-stakes-winner Foiled Again, who at the age of 7 became the oldest pacer to have a million-dollar season, finishing 2011 with $1.40 million.

Other top horses included stakes-winners Hugadragon, Westwardho Hanover, I’m Feeling Good, Dream Kid, Foxy Lady, and Rocklamation. He also saw older pacer Won The West add $441,012 to his career earnings, which at $3.92 million are No. 3 in harness racing history, before being sidelined by tendon inflammation. (Burke expects him to return to action in 2012.) Three-time defending Trotting Mare of the Year Buck I St Pat was retired in the fall after winning $203,550 this season.

Burke is looking forward to the challenge of trying to repeat as Trainer of the Year. No trainer has won the award in consecutive years since USHWA began handing it out in 1985.

“That will be a driving factor, knowing that if you get it another year you’re going to have to do something really extraordinary,” Burke said. “That is the exciting part. It’s not something I shy away from. When we do something, I want to top it the next year. Come January 1, everybody is tied and you’ve got to prove yourself all over again. I like that feeling. I’m excited.

“The Meadowlands is opening (in January); I’m hoping that does great. I’m hoping it’s a good year for the business; in turn, hopefully it will be a good year for us.”