from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — As far as victories go, driver Tim Tetrick is piling them up faster than anyone who came before him. As far as signature victories go, the 25-year-old dynamo is going after his biggest in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace with Southwind Lynx on Saturday night, July 14.

In June, Tetrick drove to a record 120 victories for the month, which puts his season total at 633 through July 11.

The sport’s rising star is taking dead aim at the season record for wins, which Walter Case, Jr. set with 1,077 in 1998. Case had 555 wins at the end of June that year, which puts Tetrick well ahead of that pace. Tetrick’s 633 victories and $7.4 million in purses are both tops in North America. His win total is 162 better than Tony Morgan.

“It’s kind of unbelievable; I don’t know how to put it into words,” Tetrick said last Saturday, after driving Southwind Lynx to a second place finish in a Meadowlands Pace elim. “Maybe next year I can look back and say ‘Man, it was pretty amazing.’ But right now I’m just expecting myself to do what I’m doing and I’m glad I’m getting to do it.”

Tetrick, who has taken over for Andy Miller, has driven Southwind Lynx in his last four races, including a victory in the $1 million Art Rooney Pace at Yonkers Raceway. He will hope to keep the magic alive Saturday night. Southwind Lynx is rated at 8-1 from post five in the Meadowlands Pace, the evening’s eighth race with a post time of 10:19 p.m.

“He’s a nice little colt,” Tetrick said. “He had some sickness problems when he got up in Canada, and he didn’t race very good there. But George (trainer George Teague, Jr.) seems to think he’s got him back on the right key now. He’s pretty good to work with. He’s real gritty, he’s not as big as some of the other colts in the race, but he gives 110 percent, he tries really hard.”

Tetrick was not expecting miracles from Southwind Lynx in his Meadowlands Pace elim, considering his last race was June 9 when he finished fourth in his North America Cup elimination at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario. He failed to advance to that final.

“I thought he raced really well considering all the facts,” Tetrick said. “I know George is a great trainer and had him trained as well as he can go, but it’s not the same training as it is racing. They have to have racing to keep them tight and in race shape.”

This time, Tetrick advanced Southwind Lynx and the young driver is now poised to take another step in his already remarkable career. He became the youngest driver to capture a million-dollar race when he won the Art Rooney Pace with Southwind Lynx at Yonkers on June 2. Earlier this year, he became the youngest driver to reach the 3,000-win level.

Tetrick grew up in Standardbred racing. His father, Tom D., drives and trains and his brothers, Tom T. and Trace, are also heavily involved in the sport. Trace is an up-and-coming driver at age 20.

“It’s definitely big,” he said. “You get to compete here at the Meadowlands in a big race. It’s been great, I hope it keeps going and I hope I can get money next week. When I was a kid (in Illinois), I dreamed about racing here and getting to race against guys like John Campbell and all the greats. I’m just glad I’m here to compete with these guys.”

That being said, “just competing” won’t be enough on Saturday.

“I want to win,” he said. “I want to win every race I’m in. That’s why I’m here; to try to do that, and I hope I can.”

Hambletonian Charity Golf outing spots open

The 15th annual Hambletonian Charity Golf Tournament, to be held on Monday, July 30, will return to Montclair Golf Club in West Orange, N.J.

Montclair, founded in 1892, is rated one of the top 20 private courses in the state by N.J. Monthly magazine. The charity golf tournament and gift auction will benefit the Standardbred Retirement Foudation and the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame.

The event is one of the most popular features of Hambletonian Festival Week, and has raised close to $850,000 for the two charities since its inception.

This year’s gift auction will again feature such desirable items as a suite for an NFL game at Giants Stadium, airline tickets, and many more unique items. Reservations are required for the preferred event.

The cocktail and dinner portion of the evening, always one of the best parties of Hambletonian week, is open to all. For a mere $50, non-golfers can partake of Montclair’s exceptional dinner buffet and lavish cocktail hour, which includes a raffle and live auction. Cocktails commence immediately after the tournament at approximately 6:00 p.m. (EDT).

Player registration is $400 and includes a gift bag, greens fee, cart, caddy, caddy gratuities, locker room, luncheon, open bar, and dinner.

Registration will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the practice range will be open. The day starts with lunch and a putting contest at 11:00 a.m., and tournament play will begin with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. The format is a scramble. Prizes will be awarded to the top four winning teams and four randomly drawn teams. Contests include longest drive for men and women, closest to pin for men and women, closest to the line, and on the green 50/50.

Sponsorships are also available.

For more information, or to book a spot, call John Mayo at the Harness Racing Museum at (845) 294-6330, or contact him via e-mail at hrm@frontiernet.net, or contact Moira Fanning via e-mail at moihambs@aol.com, or by telephone, at the Hambletonian Society, at (609) 371-2211.