Meadowlands: 'Down Under Effect' on display in East Rutherford

Two names that have been near the top of the driver standings at the Meadowlands since the start of the current meeting in mid-October belong to a pair of drivers from “Down Under”, New Zealand-native Dexter Dunn and Australian Andy McCarthy.

Horsemen from that region of the globe have had an impact over the years at the Big M - Ross Croghan, Noel Daley, Mark Harder, Nifty Norman, Brett Pelling and Chris Ryder. Be they “Kiwis” or “Aussies”, these trainers have done their share of winning at the mile oval.

Ryder uses Dunn, 29, on many of his horses, and among them is the talented 3-year-old colt Bettor’s Wish, who is currently seventh in the weekly “Road to the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace” poll put out every week by the Big M’s media relations department.

“He’s a family friend from New Zealand,” said Ryder of Dunn. “But he’s not driving just because I know the guy. He’s driving because he’s capable. I thought he might have trouble hooking on here when he arrived (about a year ago), but his talent and personality have overcome that.”

The stats back up what Ryder says, as Dunn has won 86 times from 587 starts at the Meadowlands since the meet began. And thus far in 2019, Dunn sits second in the Big M standings with 65 wins, a total surpassed only by Yannick Gingras’ 96.

As for McCarthy, he was the leading driver at the Meadowlands until he went on an extended vacation earlier this year to his homeland. For the meeting, he’s won 50 races from 355 starts.

“Is Andy my primary driver?” asked Brett Pelling. “I would say that. He’s driving my best horse, Caviart Ally, and when you have a good horse, it puts you in the limelight.”

McCarthy guided Caviart Ally to a hard-fought victory in 1:50 over a star-laden Preferred for pacing fillies and mares field Saturday (May 11) night, an evening that saw the 33-year-old win the first three races on the card and four of the first five. He also drives Pelling’s Reigning Deo, currently ninth in the Road to the Pace.

“I want someone who is focused,” said Pelling. “And Andy and Dexter know enough to be focused. Dexter is a great talent, and if Andy wasn’t available, would I use Dexter? All day long.”

Pelling also spoke about the sense of community felt by those who hail from Australia or New Zealand: “We are here together. The Down Under people know Down Under people. And that means something.”

-edited release (Dave Little for The Meadowlands)