Ken Weingartner

Hightstown, NJ — When driver Hunter Myers looks at the calendar, he knows a lot of work remains to be done this season. When he looks at the sport’s leading dash-winners, he cannot help but feel good with the job he has done so far.

Myers sits No. 2 in wins among all drivers in North America. Entering Wednesday, his 70 victories trail seven-time defending champion Aaron Merriman by eight and put him eight triumphs ahead of third-place Trace Tetrick.

In addition, Myers is sixth in purses, with $542,807.

Hunter Myers had his first million-dollar season in 2019 and last year established career highs with 349 wins and $3.20 million in purses. USTA/Ed Keys photo.

“Everything so far has been excellent,” said Myers, who drives at Northfield Park and The Meadows. “I couldn’t ask, nor did I think, that I would be sitting second behind Aaron at this point. I know it’s still early, but to me, that’s a pretty cool thing to be sitting second behind the leading dash driver of the past seven years.

“I hope I can keep it up. It’s a good feeling. When you think of where you were when you started off, and then look at it now, it’s an accomplishment. It’s hard work. It’s a lot of dedication. When you look at it, from my perspective, it’s hard work and dedication that is paying off for my future.”

Myers began driving at the age of 16 in 2014, when he traveled to 29 different tracks in making 110 starts. He tied for 16th on the Ohio fairs circuit with 19 wins. The next season, he made it to 38 tracks and won 55 of 272 starts. He was No. 5 in victories at the fairs.

“As soon as I turned 16, I pretty much gave up my free time,” said Myers, who turns 24 on Feb. 16. “Anywhere I could be seen, that’s where I was.”

In 2016, he continued racing at the fairs, finishing fourth in victories, but branched out to compete more often at tracks such as Dayton, Miami Valley, Northfield, and Scioto Downs. He had his first million-dollar season in 2019 and last year established career highs with 349 wins and $3.20 million in purses.

He was still hustling, too, with his 2,923 starts in 2021 ranking behind only Aaron Merriman and Jason Bartlett.

“All the drives, I just take them as more opportunities to better myself,” Myers said. “The more times you can be behind a horse or at a racetrack, it’s more time learning and experiencing different outcomes in a race. When you’re in a race, you’ve got maybe a split-second to make a decision. The more you can be out there and see things, the better you’re going to be in the future.

“I don’t care if you’re 20 or you’re 80, every day in this business is something new.”

Highlights for Myers last year included getting his first Ohio Sire Stakes win, with Smothastenesewisky in June, and capturing the consolation division of the Ohio Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old female trotters with Cash N Chips in October. Two months later, on Dec. 1, he notched career victory 1,000.

Hunter Myers celebrated career victory 1,000 last Dec. 1 at Northfield Park. Angela Casalinova photo.

“Last year, I had really nice horses to drive and got to be in races that I didn’t get to be in much the years before,” Myers said. “(Getting win 1,000) was pretty cool. It’s that first mile-marker down. On to 2,000 now.”

Myers said he has matured over the years, helping fuel his development and ascent in the sport.

“When you’re starting out, at least it was this way for me, you want to do anything and everything you can to be at that (top) level you see yourself,” Myers said. “But in reality, you have to take it in steps. You can’t start out and think you’re king man. That’s not how it works.

“I think over the years I’ve learned to calm down. Starting out, I was a little rambunctious. I wanted to be too much too soon. Over the years, and having other drivers talk to me, I’ve learned to relax and take it day by day. If one day is not the best, focus on the next day. I’ve learned to take it in and go with it.”

Myers’ goal for this year is to continue to work hard and improve.

“I have a lot of motivation,” Myers said. “I’m motivated by myself and other people, family and friends. These are wins that are hard earned going up against the best in the business. It’s a lot of dedication, and it’s working out. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”