by Lynne Snierson, publicity director, Rockingham Park

Salem, NH — Jim Hardy and Slim Down have won a lot of races together, but none was sweeter than the sixth on Sunday (July 5) at Rockingham Park because it gave Hardy his 2,000th career victory as a driver.

“This isn’t just another win for me. It’s special,” said Hardy, who also trains the 7-year-old gelding and owns him in partnership with Eugene Hickey and Barry Caruso. “This horse is special. I bought him as a yearling and he’s kind of my pet. He’s my baby. He’s a good horse and a good boy and I’m glad I got number 2,000 with him. He made it a lot of fun.”

Rockingham Park photo

Jim Hardy celebrates his 2,000th career driving win in the Rockingham Park winner’s circle on Sunday.

While the victory was a milestone for Hardy, when Slim Down trotted the mile in 1:57.4 on a fast track it was also number 36 in his 105 lifetime starts. Many of those celebrations came at Rockingham, where Slim Down has set some records of his own and been one of the top trotters on the grounds over the last few years.

On July 9, 2006, Slim Down set a world record of 1:48.1 here for the unorthodox distance of 15/16th of a mile with Hardy in the bike. One week later, on July 16, 2006, Hardy and Slim Down set the track and New England record of 1:55.2 for 4-year-old geldings and that mark still stands. Slim Down raced in his personal best time of 1:54.3 at Rockingham two years ago.

“When you have a horse like him, it’s a pleasure to come to the barn every morning,” said Hardy, who began driving in 1984 and won his first race in 1986 with Presumably Swift at the old Foxboro Raceway. “It’s still a blast. You have got to love this business to be in it, and I do love it.”

Hardy put an exclamation point on his career milestone day by coming back and capturing the featured $9,000 trot with 11-1 longshot Earlivic for lifetime win number 2,001, upsetting 2-5 favorite Whosgoinwhosstayin in the process.

Live racing resumes on Wednesday (July 8) with an 11-race card and a $9,000 featured event for pacing fillies and mares. Post time is 1:05 p.m.