Tetrick reflects on surgery and another record-setting campaign
December 23, 2013,by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Ken Weingartner
Freehold, NJ — It seems the only thing to slow down Tim Tetrick is surgery.
Tetrick, who is recovering from surgery last week to replace his left hip, was named harness racing’s Driver of the Year by the U.S. Harness Writers Association on Monday.
It is Tetrick’s fourth Driver of the Year honor, and second in a row.
“That’s amazing,” the 32-year-old Tetrick said. “I didn’t know if I would get it this year because I won it last year, but I’ll take it. I love it. I’m super happy to get it. It’s a tremendous honor and I’m very grateful.”
USTA photo
Tim Tetrick is recovering from surgery last week to replace his left hip.
Tetrick has locked up his seventh consecutive year on top of the purse standings, with $16.1 million, and will end the campaign among the leaders in wins, with 582. Only Billy Haughton won more consecutive earnings titles, with eight straight from 1952-59.
For his career, Tetrick has won 7,966 races and earned $140 million, good for seventh place among all North American drivers in history.
He also was Driver of the Year in 2007, when he set harness racing’s single-season record of 1,189 wins, and 2008, when he set the single-season record for earnings of $19.7 million.
This season, Tetrick was the regular driver of Dan Patch Award winners Captaintreacherous, I Luv The Nitelife and Market Share. He teamed with Captaintreacherous, who was named the sport’s best 3-year-old male pacer, for wins that included the North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace and Breeders Crown.
I Luv The Nitelife, who was named the top 3-year-old filly pacer, captured the Breeders Crown, Fan Hanover, Valley Forge and Lynch Memorial while Market Share, voted best older male trotter, and Tetrick partnered to win the Maple Leaf Trot and Breeders Crown.
Other top wins for Tetrick in 2013 included the Canadian Pacing Derby with older male pacer A Rocknroll Dance and the Roses Are Red Stakes with older female pacer Anndrovette.
“I got to drive three of the best in their divisions — maybe three of the best to ever put on harness,” Tetrick said. “That’s pretty cool. I’m thankful to all the owners and trainers that have put their trust in me and given me the chance to drive such great horses.”
Tetrick, who has suffered from a degenerative hip condition since childhood, had surgery on his left hip last week and expects to be sidelined until early February. He had surgery on his right hip in 2008.
“This one has been a little tougher,” Tetrick said. “There’s been more swelling and bruising, more pain. But I’m getting better. Every day is a better day.
“I’m just going to ease back into things. I want to get healed up all the way and clear my mind and be ready to go. Once we get going, it’s pretty much nonstop every day.”
- Tetrick, Burke win USHWA awards (Monday, December 23, 2013)
Tim Tetrick and Ron Burke both need to make room for another award. For the second consecutive year, Tetrick was named harness racing’s best driver while Burke nabbed the honor for trainers for the second time in three seasons.