by Dean A. Hoffman, for Scioto Downs

Columbus, OH — Aaron Merriman’s 30th birthday present came just a few weeks late as he scored his 3,000th career driving victory on Saturday night (July 19) at Scioto Downs.

Merriman celebrated his 30th birthday on June 30, and is looking forward to the second half of the best season in his career. Thus far in 2008, he’s won 304 races and more than $1.5 million in purses. He’s on target to top his 2006 totals of 557 wins and $1.7 million in earnings. He currently ranks as the eighth leading driver in wins in North America.

A regular at Northfield Park, Merriman’s horses have earned more than $9.7 million in his career and his 3,000 driving wins have come mostly in the last decade. He won five races in 1998 and then compiled 80 wins in 1999. Since then, he’s won at least 100 races each season.

Merriman’s 3,000th win came in an Ohio Sire Stakes for trotters behind Looking To Score. They hit the wire 6-1/2 lengths ahead of their foes in 1:57.1.