Trenton, NJ — As he came across the finish line for his first driving win, Lesley McDaniel was not only thinking about what he did, but who announced him doing it.
“Oh man, I loved it,” McDaniel said of his Aug. 30 victory at the Shenandoah County Fair. “Especially with Roger Huston always being one of my favorite announcers. That alone was a great feeling. I think I was more happy that Roger called it than winning the actual race.
“I was looking for him up in the grandstand. I knew he was upstairs. He’s a great guy, a Hall of Famer. We’re friends on Facebook. We’re not real, real close but I’ve always watched him announce everywhere. I’ve always been a fan of his announcing.”
That day Huston announced McDaniel driving 8-year-old pacer Classic to victory, as he took advantage of a drive given to him by driver/trainer Billy Carter. Lesley had only driven qualifiers up to that point but was encouraged by USTA ID technician Jim Shupe to go to the fair in Woodstock, Va., and get in some official drives. Carter gave up his start with Classic to try and help McDaniel end his week on a high note.
“Billy’s a good guy,” said McDaniel, who also has seven training wins. “He had these two horses he didn’t know much about. He just got them. He said, ‘I’ll give you a try.’ It ended up being a good thing.”
It sure did. Classic made a break leaving the gate, but as McDaniel explained, “Then I got hold of him, settled him down. He caught the pack real easy. I just waited and waited, and it felt real good. Everybody was coming home, I pulled him first up, and he did his job.”
Which made McDaniel’s job that much more pleasant as the 30-year-old continues to make strides in the sport.
Born and raised in Hawkinsville, Ga., Lesley grew up with quarter horses and riding horses. He lived five minutes from Hawkinsville’s training facility and began helping out there after high school graduation. Working for Ohio horseman Dave Conkright, “who gave me a chance,” McDaniel groomed horses and within six months was helping start young horses.
“I progressed through pretty fast,” he said. “When I first started, I wasn’t too sure (about making it a career). But when I left Georgia and went to Tioga, I fell in love with it there.”
McDaniel was encouraged to head for New York by workers at the training facility. He went to Tioga with Jeffrey Byron, “a real good friend of mine.”
The 2012 trip was made to see how much McDaniel really wanted to pursue harness racing. It didn’t take long to find out.
“We did really well,” he said. “I learned from a couple different trainers. My first real opportunity to experience a training spot was as an assistant trainer with John Cummings Jr. He left me and another guy with 35 horses at Tioga. This was my first opportunity training. It was a really good experience.”
Lesley’s career got sidetracked in 2014, as he returned to Georgia when his mom passed away. He returned in 2017, then took another four months off after his son was born in May 2022.
McDaniel eventually got his training and driving licenses last December. After mostly knocking around New York, he was encouraged by a friend to try Pennsylvania. McDaniel is now stabled at Wind Gap in Pennsylvania, where he trains two pacers, 6-year-old Caviart Skipper and 11-year-old Concur. He is also an assistant trainer for Ron Burke.
“I’ve qualified horses for Ronnie,” McDaniel said. “I’ve not yet driven any (in a race) but if he needs drivers I’m there.”
Lesley is appreciative that the Hall of Famer is flexible with his help.
“It’s nice; he doesn’t mind you having your own horses, which is a big advantage,” McDaniel said. “A lot of people you work for might not like you having your own horses or doing your own thing. Ronnie is pretty understanding and works with you. It makes it a good deal for everybody.”
In looking to the future, Lesley would love to be a catch-driver.
“If I just have my two to work, that’s all right too,” he said. “But I make sure to get out there and drive a couple here or there if they need them. I’m mostly in Pennsylvania, I like racing Tioga when it’s open and I’d like to try and get into Yonkers.”
One thing is for sure — McDaniel has caught the driving fever.
“I have goals,” he said. “I would like to be a catch-driver and be successful and consistent. I just want to have fun, enjoy it. It’s a great sport. You get to wake up every morning and do something you love, that’s not really called a job.”