by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Tony Morgan and Tim Tetrick have made 2006 “special seasons.” Morgan tops all drivers in the sport in wins while Tetrick won a driving title at one Chicago track and finished second at another while enjoying a comfortable lead during the 2006 portion of the on-going Dover Downs season.

It didn’t take Tony Morgan long to make an impression on Dover Downs fans after arriving at the Delaware capital city raceway a little more than a year ago. In the span of that 132-day race meet, Morgan completed the 2005-06 season by obliterating the former track record for driver wins in one season, making the winner’s circle on 447 occasions.

During the 2006 season, adding his Dover Downs record totals to those at Harrington Raceway, where he set the Spring and Fall meet marks, plus an occasional drive at Rosecroft Raceway and Chester Downs, and with occasional trips to Chicago and a short two night trip to Northfield Park, Morgan, who took a one-day vacation on New Year’s Eve, completed the season with 1,004 victories.

While Morgan’s first year at Dover Downs has been a roaring success, the track and sport’s defending champion is in the midst of a battle for his Dover Downs title. Newcomer Tim Tetrick has vaulted into an impressive lead after the first 47 programs of this 132-day 2006-07 meet. Tetrick has driven 123 winners and boasts a .358 driver rating similar to a baseball batting average. Morgan is second in the standings with 94 winners and a .292 average.

Tony Morgan piloted 1,004 winners in 2006.

Morgan, whose dad, Ed Morgan, is a longtime successful trainer-driver well known at Midwestern raceways, arrived at Dover from the tough Chicago-area circuit where he led all drivers in the sport in winning seasons three times — 1995 (794), 1996 (852), and 1997 (788) — and won a trio of Harness Tracks of America Leading Driver awards.

Not long ago, Morgan, now 48, reached five figures in wins, and now has driven 10,860 winners during his career. Morgan has driven winners of more than $73 million in purses lifetime. His 1,004 wins in 2006 are second only to Walter Case, Jr., who won 1,077 races in 1998.

Ironically, Morgan won six races last Thursday, and then his 1,000th race at Northfield Park, where he raced when Dover Downs was closed during its annual Christmas Week break, Dec. 22-29. Morgan, a native of Troy, Ohio, was able to win his seasonal title with a large contingent of family members on hand. Morgan donated his driver’s fees those two days to the Northfield Horsemen’s Paddock Party on Jan. 8.

Recently turned 25, Tetrick also arrived at Dover Downs from the Midwest where he blossomed as a rising star in Indiana and then Chicago racetracks. Tetrick was first or second leading driver in 2006 at the Chicago tracks. Tetrick also took New Year’s Eve off, completing his 2006 season with 679 wins, which ranked fourth among North America dash-win drivers.

Fotowon photos

Tim Tetrick has 123 winners during this meet at Dover.

Tetrick also is from a prominent harness racing family. Tetrick began driving horses on the Illinois Fair circuit at 16. His father, Tom Tetrick, a longtime trainer-driver, and brothers Tom Jr. and Trace, are well known in the midlands. Trace, 20, completed a good season at Hoosier Park, Indiana and has continued his success by taking over for his brother Tim at Chicago raceways.

Day in and day out, both Morgan and Tetrick compete against a strong driver roster at Dover Downs headed by regulars including former track leaders Brad Hanners and Jim Morand, along with Ross Wolfenden, Eddie Davis, Jr., Tim Curtin, Roger Plante, Jim King, George Dennis, Steve Warrington and Brandon Givens, who are often joined by Ron Pierce, Brian Sears, David Miller, Cat Manzi and other prominent talents.

Two others are timeless wonders, who still know their way to the winner’s circle — Eddie Davis, the all-time leading driver in the Delaware Valley and Herve Filion, who has won more races than anyone in North America.

The current Dover Downs live racing season continues for four more months. The only non-racing days on the schedule are on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 4, and Easter Sunday, April 8. The track’s 38th season draws to a close in mid-April with the DSBF three-year-old trot and pace prelims and $100,000 finals, and the opening round of the 2007 Classic Series as highlights of final weeks of the meet. All four $85,000 Classic Series events are on April 9 and closing day, April 12.

$30,000 Delaware Special is the New Year’s Day feature

High Calibre N attempts to defending his recent victory in the $30,000 pace at Dover Downs on Monday, Jan. 1. A $25,000 Open Handicap and three $18,000 Winners Over paces also headline the stellar New Year’s Day program.

Greg Simendinger’s High Calibre N and Steve Warrington leave from the rail with Wendy Crissman and Wayne Pryor Estate’s Gold Rocket A and North America’s reigning dash-win champion Tony Morgan starting alongside. Elmer Fannin’s Make A Success, piloted by David Miller and Nick Callahan’s Cool Flying Fun with Corey Callahan, finished second and third, respectively, last time. Kovach Stable’s Art Director and meet leading driver Tim Tetrick have been close-up in recent starts.

Green Racing’s Dreamfair Titan steps up in company after a pair of sparkling outings of late. The other starters are Jim Cane and Tim Fisher’s Wardog Hall with Ross Wolfenden and Erika Paradee’s Black Cat Bone, with Eddie Davis, Jr.

Super sharp Next Flight drew outside post eight in a field of nine in the $25,000 Open Pace. Jim Morand drove the star pupil of Shotgun Scott to consecutive 1:51.4 victories in his last two outings for owners Henry Faragalli Jr. and III, Bell Bauman and trainer Del Cote.

Even more impressive has been the last six outings from Gary and Barbara Iles’ homebred Lather Machine and Tim Tetrick. The 4-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding has won his last two in 1:50.2 and 1:50.1, including the Battling Brad Final at Chester Downs, from among three wins and three seconds. Bo Collins’ Hincapie Hanover, with David Miller, burned up the racetrack with a wire-to-wire 1:50.1 score last time out.

Emerging youthful standout Brandon Givens will direct Fred and Anita Fialkow’s Nvincbl Artist, a winner of two of his last three, from the rail. Mildred Ventriglio’s Quick And Deadly has been a steady performer in this event for Tony Morgan, while Ross Wolfenden will steer Midnight Walk for owners Rodney Long and Tim Hundertpfund. Former Michigan standout Thin Blue Line, owned by Paul McDougall and WJ McDougall Racing, will have the services of former track leading driver Brad Hanners. Tom and Dan Courtemansche’s Bobnoxious, the track’s Horse of the Meet two seasons back, will be driven by Tim Curtin. Ken Wood’s Ross The Boss N, and Roger Plante, drops down from the Preferred and cannot be overlooked.

Live racing Monday through Thursday begins at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday post times are 5:30 p.m. There is no charge for parking or admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call (302) 674-4600.