by Ayers Ratliff

Northfield, OH — North America’s leading driver, Aaron Merriman, drove eight winners on Thursday (December 11) at Northfield Park, winning over half of the 15-race program. Merriman’s eight scores included Vision Of Glory ($12.60) in race one, Snuff Box ($6.80) in race two, Wild Ride ($3.60) in race three, Noble Fitch ($3.40) in race four, Brown Titan ($2.40) in race seven, Chievous Dan ($3.80) in race 10, Loconotion ($12.00) in race 12 and Cause To Smile ($7.00) in race 15.

Merriman, 36, began driving in 1997 and has since garnered 6,923 career victories. He is approaching $37.5 million in total purse earnings. Merriman has posted 447 victories so far this year over Northfield’s Flying Turns, placing him second in the local driving ranks behind Ronnie Wrenn Jr. (597). However, Merriman splits his time primarily between Northfield Park and The Meadows, as well as a multitude of other racing venues. He has amassed an impressive 799 total wins so far this year. That win tally is more than any other driver in North America.

Becoming the 2014 National Dash Champion would be icing on the cake for the unbelievable year that Merriman has experienced. “I have worked hard and hustled for a long time,” explained Merriman. “Winning races is great and that it what racing is about, but the experiences I have had this year are indescribable.”

This year has put Aaron Merriman behind the starting gate of the Hambletonian, an elimination of the Little Brown Jug, the Kentucky Futurity, the Canadian Trotting Classic as well as a host of other Grand Circuit and major stake races. In August, Merriman became the youngest inductee into the Northfield Park Wall of Fame.