Meet the Manitoba drivers: Part 2

With the harness racing season closely approaching in Manitoba, this feels like a good time to meet the drivers in charge of getting the horses around the half-mile oval at Miami Fair and, eventually, the brand-new Loop in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Paula Mason, Michel Rey and Tyler Grundy were discussed in Part 1. The next three drivers will be discussed today.

Cory Manning

Cory Manning has been driving since 1980 and has made over 3780 starts. He has won 425 times and has earned over $671,000 during his long career. Manning is also a very well know Manitoban trainer and breeder. Manning has three horses entered for qualifiers, and he will be in the bike for five races on opening day at Miami Fair. One of his entries on Saturday is Marvtherat (One Big Buster), who Manning bred himself and still trains today. The eleven-year-old gelding has raced in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and California. Marvtherat could give Manning his first win of 2023 very quickly.

Manning had two wins in 2023 and earned $13,660 in the sulky. He was in the bike 41 times last year and had a UDRS of 0.151.

Daryl Mason

His daughter, Paula, started driving last year, but Daryl has been in the sulky since 1986. He has made over 8425 starts and has earned $1.8 million as a driver. Mason has amassed 1169 wins while driving at tracks in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, North Dakota, California and Minnesota.

He only found the winner’s circle once last year but has a personal best of 90 in one year. That came in 1991, the golden era for harness racing in Manitoba, but with a potentially longer season with the opening of the Loop, maybe Mason can have those numbers once again!

Dean Rey

Dean Rey is another long-time driver who started the craft in 1995. He has made over 2600 starts and has won 410 races to date. Rey has earned over $877,000 as a driver and could likely hit $900,000 this summer. He has also raced in Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

Last year, Rey won eight times in 57 starts. He earned over $40,000 in the sulky and had a UDRS of 0.290. He has also been a trainer since 1994, earning 244 wins and $525,060 in earnings. When stake season comes, Dean is one driver to watch out for.

Racing starts at Miami Fair on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. CDT. The Loop is set to open on August 5. “Meeting the Manitoba drivers: Part 3” will be posted in the coming days.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink