Trevor Henry has been driving standardbreds for just over 30 years and accumulated more than 7,250 wins. At just 51 years old and still at the top of his game versus the best drivers in Ontario, the native of Fergus should easily eclipse 9,000 and perhaps approach the elite 10,000 win club. Henry has driven horses to over $1 million in earnings in every year since 2003 and currently steers Canada's 2021 Horse of the Year Desperate Man. The laid-back horseman sat down with us to discuss that top horse, his life in the sport and why we need to make some changes to make sure harness racing improves its stature in the entertainment world. How did you get started in harness racing? My dad [Ross], it was a family business. He drove a bit. He mostly trained and at one time we had about 70 horses. He got into it because a friend of his, Bill Cass, had horses.  What other family is (has been) involved in the sport? My brother Wayne trained some horses. My brother Brian used to be a blacksmith. My brother George is kind of retired now but he always trained and drove horses. My brother Paul raced horses, too, but he's deceased now.  Was Harness Racing always in your plans? Originally my dad wanted me to be a veterinarian. At the time, the teachers in school went on strike so I got started with the horses and never went back.  So all's well that ends well? I guess; can't change it now.  Who most helped you start your career? Early on I got started at Billy Budd's farm and he kind of helped me along quite a bit. There were a lot of people along the road that helped me but originally him and my dad. What kind of car do you drive? A truck. Favorite dinner meal? Snack? Wieners and beans; Bud Light. What is your favorite track to race at? Probably Hanover because it is where I started and my hometown track. Speaking of Hanover, they are going to honor you on July 23 since you have won the most races and driving titles there. Is that humbling? It is a little. I don't get too hung up on that stuff but I've been going there since I was a kid, so it is nice. What is your favorite big event in racing? The North America Cup is nice but I've always wanted to win the Hambletonian. I like driving trotters so I'd like to win it once. I was in with Alarm Detector but never won it. We finished sixth and didn't get money. Do you have any horses this year that could take you to the Hambletonian? Shane Weber has a colt [Mercutio] that is eligible to it. He is coming along slowly. He might get me there but I don't know if he has a chance to win it. I finished second with him the other day at Mohawk. How often are horses or racing on your mind? Quite a bit because I train in the morning. My wife and I have six or seven here. It gives us something to do in the morning. We do pretty good and it serves as a little extra income. What is your favorite thing to do outside of racing? Fishing. That's probably the only time racing is not on my mind [laughing]. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter How often do you go fishing? Maybe once or twice a month. What is your favorite sport? Team? Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don't know? That I'm a pretty laid-back guy. What is one word that describes harness racing for you? Exciting. You have over 7,200 wins as a driver. What does that number mean to you? It is just a number. I more look at how many races I've driven in and think that I should know what the hell I'm doing by now. If I don't I'm pretty stupid. What was your best moment in harness racing? Winning the North America Cup (2021) with Desperate Man because they are pretty close friends of mine. It was pretty special. Which is the best horse you've ever driven? I've driven a lot of good ones but it may be Desperate Man. I've driven Nirvana Seelster and Hey Livvy, she pretty nice too. They gave me a piece of her just to drive her. Nobody wanted to drive her when she started. She's a handful. Which was your favorite horse to drive? Probably Desperate Man. He's so easy to drive. He's lazy, doesn't pull, he's relaxed, and fast. How good is 4-year-old pacer Desperate Man? I think he's as good as any of the others and one of the best. He's a pretty nice horse. Desperate Man is coming off a second behind Linedrive Hanover in the Juravinski in track-record time. Were you a bit surprised that you got into the pocket so easily? I couldn't believe that it was that easy. I thought I was going to leave out of there and either get parked the whole way or be second-over because someone on the inside would be parked. Even Charlie May, I thought he would leave. It was just a funny race. It sure didn't go the way I thought.  Do you think the Juravinski performance earned him more respect in the division? Yeah. I know he had the eight-hole and I don't know what the final odds were, but I saw at one time he was 22-1 or something. He's a better horse than that. I don't understand why he doesn't get more credit with what he's done. I don't know what else he has to prove. The only reason he got beat the other night is post position. I'm sure if he draws inside he probably goes in 1:48 2/5 or 3/5. Assuming he has races in the U.S. will you go down to drive Desperate Man? For sure I'll be there to drive him. He has a race in September at Hoosier but they are mostly going to keep him home in Canada. He made a million in Ontario last year and they want him to be a good horse for years to come. He has the Breeders Crown and another big race at Mohawk, plus they have the Free-For-All races. If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be? I'd get rid of the delaying of races. I'd love to see them [the races] go off when posted. In hockey they took the lines away and made it faster. There are no whistles and stopping the game. It's fast. In the casino everything is fast; spin the wheel and it is done. In this game they just drag it and drag it. At some point you get sick of sitting there. At a hockey game you are in and out in three hours. With this game it takes six hours.  How do you view the future of harness racing? I don't know. Some of these tracks, it is very depressing. Last night I showed up at Flamboro. When I would go as a kid there used to be 10,000 people there on a night like that and now we are lucky to get 500.  How do we get more people back? Run the races faster and offer cheaper prices. You can't afford to pay $8 a beer if they are going to keep you there for six hours. You have to be realistic. If you weren't involved in harness racing, what would you be doing? Maybe run a fishing charter. Time for the stretch drive: Best Horse Ever: Mack Lobell. Best Trainer: My dad. Favorite horse in your barn: Lexus Kody. Lasix -- Yes or No?: Yes. Favorite TV Show?: Seinfeld. Trotters or Pacers?: Trotters.