by Steven Wolf, senior director of marketing and communications, Pompano Park
Hennessey, 47, a resident of Coconut Creek, Florida, is a native of Prince Edward Island in Canada from a family that has always been involved in the sport. His brother Dan is the trainer for the Hennessey Stable at Pompano Park.
“I guess you could say that I have come a long way from winning four races and $1,560 in my first year of driving in 1976.” Hennessey smiled in the winner’s circle. “This is a great achievement in my career. I am glad I could do it at my home track with my family and friends all here. And I am a catch-driver, not a trainer, and I must thank the many trainers and owners that have given me the drives over the years to reach this special mark. If not for their confidence in my ability, I would never had won 6,000 races!”
Over his career Hennessey has competed in 30,212 races with earnings of $41,459,200 by the horses he has driven.
The top horse of his career was Moni Maker, a trotting mare that Hennessey drove throughout most of her career and to Harness Horse of the Year honors in 1998 and three Trotter of the Year titles. She retired in 2000 with earnings of $5,589,000, making her the richest Standardbred of all time and the richest female racehorse of any breed. Moni Maker and Hennessey campaigned throughout North America and Europe, defeating many of the top horses in the sport.
Other champion horses Hennessey has driven were America’s Pastime, Cambest, Broadway Hall, Armbro Keepsake, Dee Magic Man and Fannie’s Champ.
From 1981 to 1983 Hennessey rewrote the record books in the Maritimes before heading south to compete in the United States. He has won driving titles at Pompano Park and continues to be one of the top drivers during the summer and fall months in the New York Sire Stakes.
Win number 6,000 saw Hennessey leave with Rusty B ($2.80, $2.80, $2.10) from the rail position in the first race and lead the entire mile race, holding off a late charge by Cherry Tree Belle ($2.80, $2.60) to win in a photo finish by a head. Bronze Sailor ($3.00) was third.
A four-year-old gelding by Rustler Hanover, Rusty B is trained by Brian Bellamy and is owned by Rory Coolbaugh of Royal Palm Beach, Florida. It was Rusty B’s third win this year a lifetime record.
Hennessey wasted little time resting on his laurels of 6,000 wins as he captured the very next race, also in a photo finish by a head with Good Feelings ($4.20 to win) in 1:56.4.