Harness: Milestones for drivers Trace Tetrick, Tyler Smith

Trace Tetrick posted the 8,000th win of his driving career on Wednesday night at Harrah's Hoosier Park after driver Tyler Smith joined the 5,000 victory club earlier during the day at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

Tetrick Recap

A winner's circle celebration the Tetrick family won't soon forget occurred at Harrah's Hoosier Park as leading driver Trace Tetrick marched to his 8,000th career driving victory aboard Green River, who is trained by his brother, Tom T. Tetrick, in the night's tenth race.

Entering the night three wins away from his milestone, Tetrick picked up wins in the second race with Manhattan Flash ($15.20, 1:58) for trainer Matt Rheinheimer, as well as the fourth race aboard Concert Master T ($4.20, 1:53 2/5) for Tyler George. After a couple of close calls throughout the middle portion of the card, the stage was set for Tetrick to break through aboard the first-time starter Green River.

Leaving from post seven as the 5-2 second choice, Tetrick wheeled Green River to the top of the field of eight maiden 2-year-old pacing fillies through a quarter of 29 seconds. Margarita Tina (Jared Seekman) popped the pocket and assumed command from Green River to the half in 59 3/5 before bringing the fillies to three-quarters in 1:29 2/5. Tetrick fed Green River racetrack at the top of the stretch, quickly revving up and wheeling alongside the race favorite midway through the lane. Rocketing home in 26 3/5, Green River wore down Margarita Tina to win by 2 3/4 lengths on the wire in 1:56 4/5. The winning daughter of Capt Midnight-Shesa Bragn Dragon is owned by Teagan Sage.

Greeted in the winner's circle by wife Sandy and daughter Chloe, Trace hails from the racing royalty that is the Tetrick family. Trace is the son of Mary Alice and the late Tom D. Tetrick and brother to both Tom T. and Hall of Famer Tim Tetrick. The 38-year-old Illinois native began driving in 2003 and has since become one of the premier names in the sport. Tetrick has been dominant at Harrah's Hoosier Park, where he has won the last 11 driving titles, and currently sits atop the driver standings in search of what would be his 14th driving title overall at Hoosier. Tetrick has also notched numerous driving titles at Miami Valley, to go along with three Breeders Crown victories, as well as a Jugette in 2014 aboard Color's A Virgin. Tetrick now zeroes in on $100 million in career earnings, with his career steers racking up over $90.3 million in earnings.

Tetrick tacked on career victory 8,001 in the nightcap with Rockpaperscissors ($5.40, 1:52 2/5) to lead all drivers on the night with four wins. Tom T. Tetrick's two winners on the night were joined by a pair of winners from both the Erv Miller and Trent Stohler barns to lead the training side of the program.

Live racing continues at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Thursday, July 3 with a 14-race card set to begin at 6:15 p.m. (EDT). The Anderson, Indiana, oval will also host a 10-race Fourth of July card on Friday, complete with live music, food trucks, Vanilla Bean Creamery, and fireworks at the conclusion of live racing. First post on Independence Day is also 6:15 p.m.

Smith Recap

Going into the 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 4/5 and win number 5,000 came quickly after, in the fourth race, with Mongolian Hero N. The Art Gillum Jr. trainee won handily by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:51 2/5.

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. After Wednesday, Smith now has 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.

--press releases by Harrah's Hoosier Park & Eldorado Scioto Downs)--