by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Without the benefit of hanging chads or Supreme Court intervention, driver Jeff Gregory has to wait at least one more evening for a shot at 5,000 career driving victories.

Gregory, back after attending the United States Trotting Association directors’ meeting over the weekend, escorted two winners on Monday night (March 19) at Yonkers Raceway, bringing his career total to 4,999.

He prevailed with Quantum King Leo ($6.30), going wire-to-wire in the $6,500 second race trot, and the Cal-Expo invader Hippity Hop N ($9.20), winning a blanket photo in the $15,000 ninth race pace.

Gregory finished second and third in his final two drives of the evening, thus delaying the pomp, circumstance and presidential phone call.

The 40-year-old Gregory, a native of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and the son of well-respected horseman Gary Gregory, won his first race with his first drive — his father’s trainee Rambling Roxie — at Buffalo Raceway in 1984. His career purse earnings exceed $38 million.

Yannick Gingras was the star of the proceedings, winning four races on Yonkers’ 13-race Monday night program.