by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — After a day where Jimmy Taggart, Jr. was a bridesmaid three times and also had a trio of third place finishes at Monticello Raceway, he wasted no time on Wednesday (July 24) to score his 3,000th win.

Jimmy Taggart, Jr. won his 3,000th race on Wednesday.

It came in the very first race on the Wednesday card when he used a first-up trip after the half with Always Right to finally wear down the pacesetter Jazz Band and driver Bruce Aldrich, Jr. to notch a 1:57.4 triumph by the shortest of noses.

“I really wasn’t sure that we won it. It was real close,” was about all that one could get out of Taggart after his milestone victory.

Are you happy now that you have 3,000 wins Taggart was asked?

“Yep,” was all the quiet, unassuming and well-liked reinsman added as he was joined by throngs of drivers, family and friends for a blanket presentation in the winner’ s circle after his victory.

Geri Schwarz photos

Jimmy Taggart, Jr. shared a moment with his parents in the Monticello winner’s circle after win No. 3,000.

Besides his family, among those helping Taggart celebrate his 3,000th win was longtime friend and fellow driver Mike Merton.

“Although he is a few years older than I am, Jimmy, George Brennan, my brother Greg and I were all friends in (Monticello) High School and we started together driving in the amateur races here in the late ‘80’s,” Merton said after the winner’s circle ceremony photos were taken. “Jimmy’s always been a good guy and well liked by everybody.”

That was surely evident by the amount of people who joined Taggart in the winner’s circle.

However, just as happy as anyone was the horse’s owner Gary Matises, who proudly held his pacer in the winner’s circle as the photos were snapped.

“Always Right will get a beer again tonight when I feed him,” Matises shouted. “He loves beer and I always give him one after he wins or finishes second.”

Assuming Matises is telling it like it is and since this was the pacer’s fifth seasonal triumph, Always Right has enjoyed eight beers thus far this year.