by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Billy Dobson was a standout football player in high school and continues to earn accolades today in his career as a harness racing driver. Last year, Dobson was the leading driver at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, received the Johnny Page Award for the breakthrough driver, and was named the track’s co-Horseman of the Year, with Frank Coppola, Jr.

Geri Schwarz photo

Billy Dobson

A 26-year-old native of Michigan, Dobson finished 2010 with a career-high 390 wins and $2.38 million in purses, which followed his $2.64-million campaign the previous season. He got his first career victory in 2004 at Jackson Raceway in Michigan and has won 1,796 lifetime races and $9.85 million.

Entering Monday, Dobson had 159 wins and $731,893 this year. He was leading the standings at Saratoga, again, and was fifth at Monticello. Dobson recently took time to talk with Harness Racing Communications’ Ken Weingartner about his career in the sulky.

HRC: Let’s start with this year and how you feel the season has gotten started for you.
BD: I think it got started pretty strong. I’ve been lucky so far.

HRC: Lucky in what way?
BD: Catching good rides and stuff like that.

HRC: How much of that is luck, and how much of that is proving yourself and hard work?
BD: I’m sure a lot of them see it as hard work and being there every day. Just getting the good rides, that’s large in this business.

HRC: You’re the leading driver at Saratoga and were the leading driver there last year, as well as co-Horseman of the Year. What was it like to be honored that way?
BD: It was real good. It was my first time ever winning a driver’s title, so it felt good.

HRC: What about Saratoga do you most enjoy?
BD: It’s a beautiful place. It’s a good place to raise a family and I like racing there. It’s a nice track, with good people.

HRC: How did you settle there?
BD: I wasn’t getting a ton of work everywhere else. When I started racing at Saratoga, it sort of snowballed. It worked out.

HRC: Coming from Michigan, how hard is it to get reestablished somewhere?
BD: It’s hard, just like anything else. I grew up in Michigan, so it was a little easier to get work because everybody knew me. I started to race at Monticello and get established. If you get established, people are going to use you, I think.

HRC: Last year you had a career high in wins, with just under 400, and it looks like you’re well on your way to being around that number again this year.
BD: As long as the good mounts keep arriving, we’ll be all right.

HRC: What was the highlight of last year?
BD: It’s hard to say. Winning the driver’s title was probably the highlight for me. It’s every driver’s dream to be the leading driver.

HRC: What has been the highlight so far in your career?
BD: Just being able to race in big races and be successful. That’s a highlight every time.

HRC: What do you most enjoy about being a driver?
BD: The competition and the adrenaline rush. Winning races.

HRC: Were you always involved in sports growing up?
BD: Yeah, football, basketball, baseball.

HRC: Were you particularly good at any sport?
BD: I was voted the most athletic at my high school (Linden). In football I was first-team all league as a running back.

HRC: Are there things you learned as an athlete that translate to being a driver?
BD: I think so, like reaction time and the drive to win. Being able to communicate with people, I think.

HRC: Is being in harness racing something you always wanted to do?
BD: It was something I always thought I would be in, even if I wasn’t sure exactly what I was going to do. I went to college for a few months, but I realized I wanted to be a driver, so that’s what I did.

HRC: How did that come about?
BD: My parents have been involved in the business my whole life and I’ve been jogging horses since I was 10 years old. I drove in my first race when I was 19.

HRC: Do you remember what it was like that first time?
BD: You get a big adrenaline rush just sitting behind the car the first time. I still feel it. I’m a very competitive person, so I like it every time.

HRC: What do you like to do when you’re not racing? Do you have any hobbies?
BD: I don’t really have any time for hobbies. I like to hang out with my family, my kids. You don’t get to see them as often as you’d like sometimes.