Ken Weingartner

Hightstown, NJ — Juan Franco enjoys the thrill of winning, but what pleases him more is sharing that feeling with others.

Franco, a 44-year-old native of Guatemala who has lived in the U.S. for more than two decades, drives regularly at Hawthorne Race Course in Illinois. So far this season, he has won 13 races — sixth most at the track — and $140,441 in purses.

For his career, which began with 146 drives in 2016, Franco has won 249 races and $2.38 million. Franco, who since 2016 has averaged 522 drives per year, was surprised when he learned his next triumph would be No. 250.

For his career, which began with 146 drives in 2016, Juan Franco has won 249 races and $2.38 million. Photo courtesy of Juan Franco.

“I didn’t know that,” Franco said. “I don’t even think about it, I don’t ever count my wins. But that’s good. I’m happy. That made my day.”

Making the day of others, though, is what he called the best part of racing.

“My favorite thing is to make the trainers and owners happy,” Franco said. “That is my favorite thing. I’m happy when I win a race for them, but also when a horse does well, maybe better than it did before, and then the owners and trainers and grooms, everybody is happy. When they’re happy, I’m very happy for them.”

There was no racing in Guatemala, but Franco grew up on a farm and rode horses. When he came to the U.S., California was his first stop, where he spent several months on the Thoroughbred side before a brother-in-law working at Balmoral Park convinced him to move to Illinois and give Standardbreds a go.

“He said they were looking for people for jobs,” Franco said. “He said he thought it was a good idea for me to try it and if I didn’t like it, I could go back (to California). I got a job, I liked it, and I stayed.”

Over the years, Franco worked his way from groom to second trainer to driver. It was trainer Nelson Willis who got Franco started in the sulky in 2016, and Franco’s first time out in a qualifier resulted in a win with Willis-trained pacer Control Tower.

“We trained horses together,” Franco said. “I did a pretty good job, so Nelson asked me if I wanted to drive a horse. I told him I didn’t know how. He said I trained horses good, it is the same thing to drive. He said he would help me out.

“He put a big show of faith in me. He’s the man.”

Juan Franco’s first pari-mutuel win came with Parklane Dragon at Hawthorne. Four Footed Fotos photo.

Later that year, Franco got his first pari-mutuel victory with pacer Parklane Dragon, also trained by Willis, at odds of 25-1 at Hawthorne.

“That was very exciting,” Franco said. “Nelson Willis had another horse in there, a good horse (1-2 favorite Parklane Indy) with Casey Leonard, and I didn’t expect to beat that horse, but we drove to the wire and got it done. I think it was lucky.”

The following year, Franco began to get opportunities on the Illinois stakes circuit, and in 2019, he got his first win in a six-figure race, capturing the Plum Peachy championship by a head with Willis’ Fox Valley Halsey.

“In the winner’s circle, everybody was talking to me, and I couldn’t talk,” Franco said. “My emotions came. I was in shock. I was very happy.”

Franco’s victory paid off in more ways than one. He had purchased a new helmet recently for around $800, and Willis said he would pay for it if Fox Valley Halsey won.

“The first thing he said when he came in the winner’s circle, was dang, now I have to pay for your helmet,” Franco recalled with a laugh. “So, he paid for the helmet.”

Last year, Franco began to branch out and drive some at the county fairs. He had never driven on half-mile tracks before, but he won 10 of 26 starts on the circuit.

“I liked it,” Franco said. “When you are a competitor, you don’t care where you go, or who you compete with. You go and you hope that things go good.”

In addition to his triumphs at the county fairs, Franco got his first victories at Hoosier Park and Oak Grove.

“I have been lucky so far,” Franco said. “I have to thank God for meeting very good people, very good trainers. I’m happy for all that.

“I have memories everywhere. I think each one is important. I just want to stay happy and healthy and be competitive with the good drivers here and Ohio, and Indiana, and Kentucky. That’s it. We’ll go from there.”