Columbus, OH – Going into the Wednesday (July 2) card, 32-year-old Tyler Smith was only two wins away from 5,000 lifetime driving victories.
Smith wasted no time, winning the Eldorado Scioto Downs opener with State of Fear for trainer Scott McQuinn in 1:51.4. Win number 5,000 came quickly after, in the fourth race, with Mongolian Hero N. The Art Gillum, Jr. trainee won handily by three and a half lengths in 1:51.2.
Smith’s daughter Maevyn and longtime partner Alesha Binkley were in the winner’s circle to greet him, along with Scioto’s Director of Racing Jason Roth, Assistant Race Secretary Luc Russell and on-air commentator Jenna Otten.
“It’s great to see one of our local guys, who grew up in the business, from a racing family, do so well,” said Roth. “Tyler has a good set of hands, getting better as he gets older, and is always willing to help out with any promotional ideas on track.”
Smith, of course, wasn’t done for the night; he logged four more victories, including the closer, making his total 5,004. So far this year, Smith has 1,334 starts with 133 wins and over $2.3-million in earnings. Wednesday racing pushed Smith over $55.96-million in career earnings.
“I just want to thank all the owners and trainers, everyone who has supported me,” said Smith. “It’s not a goal of mine to hit these types of milestones but getting to the winner’s circle is always pretty awesome.”
Smith started his professional driving career just one day after turning 18 in 2011 at Northfield Park, but was already breaking records as he became the youngest driver to win a sub-2:00 race at the age of 12 at a matinee at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. He then became the youngest driver at age 20, in August 2013, to get to the 1,000 win milestone, later that year becoming the Leading Driver at Hoosier Park. He then became the youngest driver to hit 2,000 wins at the age of 23 in 2016. Smith has also received the Peter Haughton Award, for up and coming horsemen, from the Ohio chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association in 2011. Smith drove in his first North America Cup and Little Brown Jug at the age of 21 while piloting Lets Drink On It for the Seekman family.
The 90-day 2025 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs through Saturday, September 13. Races are held Tuesday-Saturday with a 5:45 p.m. first post. A special 3:15 p.m. post time will be on the 4th of July and 6:45 p.m. on Friday, September 12 to help accommodate horsemen attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. More information about racing at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.