by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway honored driver Larry Stalbaum on Monday (Aug. 10) for reaching the 5,000 win milestone.

Mike Lizzi photo

Larry Stalbaum is joined by daughter, Riley, and son, Hawk, in the winner’s circle.

Stalbaum won his 5,000th career race earlier in the afternoon at Monticello Raceway, but we decided to ignore that malfeasance and give him his props anyway. Stalbaum was presented with the congratulatory sign, recognizing his latest accomplishment.

“A tired driver and a lot of tired horses,” Stalbaum sheepishly said, though the numbers beg to differ.

Stalbaum, who turns 52 next month, is a native of Valparaiso, Ind. He won his first race in 1986 and was a leading driver in Michigan before making the move east. Now based in Matamoras, Pa., Stalbaum plies his craft in Westchester, as well as Monticello and Pocono.

The Stalbaum/Kim Asher Stable is annually among the leaders locally, with Larry, as his career total confirms, also a sought-after catch-driver.

Want to make Stalbaum smile? Bring up Special Report. The career $1.5 million earner won the 2008 final (purse $390,000) of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series here (1:51.4), the highlight of the hard-knocking gelding’s 59-victory career.

Stalbaum’s best seasons were 2004 (wins, 421) and 2012 (purses, $4.38 million), and he has earned seven figures in purses every season since 2003.