Monticello: Driver Greg Merton reaches 5,000 win mark

Driver Greg Merton became the newest member of the 5,000 career win club on Monday afternoon at Monticello Raceway.

Merton started the day with 4,998 victories and picked up 4,999 in the day's third race with Lacarmeliliana, an 8-year-old daughter of Ashlee's Big Guy who won in gate-to-wire fashion in 1:58 1/5. That set the stage for the milestone, and Merton wasted no time in getting it, taking the fourth event on the program with 6-year-old American Ideal mare Reflexionofroyalty in 1:58 2/5.

Before the day was over, Merton rolled over his odometer to 5,001, as he guided Spilling The Beans, a 9-year-old Camluck mare, to a 16-1 upset in a final time of 1:57 2/5 in the eighth dash.

A fixture at Monticello since 1989, the 47-year-old Merton has driven horses to earnings of $24,373,785.