from the Meadowlands publicity department

East Rutherford, NJ — Harness racing’s 2009 Driver of the Year Brian Sears reached career win No. 7,000 on Friday, March 12, at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Lisa photo

Brian Sears won his 7,000th career race on Friday at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Sears guided trotter Muscles Marinara to an easy score in the $14,400 first race to reach the victory milestone. On the earnings side, he surpassed $100 million in 2009, ranking him eighth on harness racing’s all-time list. The United States Harness Writers Association named Sears the top driver in the sport for his achievements with Horse of the Year Muscle Hill last year.

Muscle Hill‘s 1:50.1 world record in the $1.5 million Hambletonian propelled Sears to a single-day earnings record of $1,555,674 on August 8, 2009. His five wins on the card included the $783,042 Hambletonian Oaks with Broadway Schooner, making Sears the first driver to win both trotting events in the same year.

A third generation horseman, Sears joined the Meadowlands driving colony seven years ago and won five straight driving titles from 2005-2009.

The 42-year-old Secaucus, N.J. resident currently ranks second in the Meadowlands standings behind George Brennan. However, the summer stakes season looks bright for Sears. He has been named as the driver of defending 2-year-old pacing colt champion Sportswriter who is eligible to the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 17.