Myles (Mickey) McNichol has miles around the racetrack

Everyone has some form of a dream. Whether it's a collective dream, shared by a community, or a personal dream, held by each individual.

Within the harness racing community, dreams are collectively individual. Every horseman and woman dreams of making it to the big races – the Hambletonian, the Breeders Crown, and so on. This dream is held for their individual self, but everyone in the business has the same dream, therefore making it “collectively individual”. Even though they all share the same dream, they each share it for themselves.

The big races are the prime spot for gold and glory. Making it to these racetracks on these particular race days and nights is an accomplishment in itself. Just making it to the races fulfills the dreams of horsemen across the nation. However, for some, the glory doesn't end when the horse makes it to the track, but when the horse makes it to the winners circle that night.

One driver/trainer in particular, has broken boundaries and has made an appearance in and won many major races. Myles “Mickey” McNichol has found himself not only in the paddock on these special nights, but in the race bike and in the winner’s circle on multiple occasions during his career.

Mickey was born in the Bronx as Myles McNichol. “Growing up in the Bronx was tough so I changed my name to Mickey, after Mickey Mantle,” McNichol recounts.

In 1996, Mickey’s career in the harness racing industry began. He lived near Yonkers Raceway in New York and got actually go his first job and got to go to Pompano Park in south Florida, where he groomed for Satch Werner and Ken Heeney. Mickey also went to Pace University in New York for two years to become an accountant.

“Thank God I lived near Yonkers,” McNichol recollects his transition into the harness business from college.

In this business, there are a variety of opportunities available to anyone interested in working with horses. On the track, these opportunities come at varying levels. Anyone of interest can become a groom, owner, trainer or driver. Some horsemen hold one or more of these available positions. Mickey has held all of them at some point in his life.

“I've been in the business for over 50 years and I still love doing it, I've never had a real job,” says McNichol.

As a horseman, Mickey has traveled the country – mainly the east coast – racing at all different kinds of tracks. From the southeast to the northeast, Mickey has raced at Pompano Park, Yonkers Raceway, Roosevelt Raceway, Mohawk Downs, Liberty Bell Downs, Woodbine Racetrack, Brandywine Raceway, and the grand circuit racetracks. “Those are the main tracks, there's too many to mention,” Mickey jokes.

Aside from being a well-known trainer and driver, who has traveled up and down the east coast, Mickey has earned his name with the major races he has been a part of. Mickey has driven horses from every caliber, from claimers to champions. According to Mickey, the best races he has won include the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks, four Breeders Crowns, two Peter Haughton’s when the purse was one million, and the Shepherd Pace at Yonkers for $500,000.

He won these great races with great horses. The best horses Mickey has trained or driven include Jazz Cosmos, Nearly Perfect, Why Not, Another Miracle, Selena Lobell, Broadway Express, and What's Next.

Besides training and driving the best horses, every horseman has their favorites. A ten thousand claimer named What a Chance, the champion horse Caesars Jackpot, and the great Jazz Cosmos, were some of his favorites.

“My best horses were Jazz Cosmos and Caesars Jackpot. The one I loved the most was What A Chance,” Mickey reminisces.

Although McNichol has competed in every class of racing, he says his two best races were winning with the Hambletonian with Alf Palmea and losing the Hambletonian with Jazz Cosmos. “Even though I lost the Hambo with Jazz Cosmos, I won every other race with him and it was an honor winning Trotter of the Year with him in 1982.”

Mickey’s biggest score did come when trainer/driver Per Eriksson asked him to drive Alf Palema in the Hambletonian. Mickey admitted he never even heard of the horse until the week before the Hambletonian.

“I always think about that day I came up the rail and beat King Conch,” said McNichol. “It was the greatest day I had in the business, and when I crossed the finish line and slowed down into the first turn to come back to the winner’s circle, I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it that I’d won.

“The Eriksson people were so high on King Conch, McNichol recalled, “That before we went on the track for the final they never said anything to me — no instructions or anything like that. So, I’m scoring down, and I look down and notice that he’s missing a left front shoe. I started to head back to the paddock to get a repair and then I saw that he was missing his right front shoe too. Now, I might miss a horse throwing one front shoe, but there’s no way I’m going to miss one throwing both. Then I figured out he had no shoes on any of his feet. If I had gone back to the paddock, I would have looked like a complete idiot, but nobody even bothered to tell me that they’d pulled all the shoes off!”

In pursuing a career in harness racing, trainers and drivers generally have someone who sparked the interest that lead to this decision.

McNichol says he looked up to trainers and drivers Stanley Dancer, George Sholty, Bill Haughton, and Herve Filion.

Mickey McNichol himself can be considered an inspiration.

“I grew up in his barn,” said top performing driver Bruce Aldrich, Jr. “I watched him dominate the race track. My father, Bruce Aldrich, worked for him for years. Watching Mickey was the moment I knew where I wanted to take my life. Mickey McNichol is the reason I became a driver.”

Being in the harness business gives anyone a keen eye for talent. Horsemen come to a knack for observing horses. With McNichol’s 50-plus years in the business, he has not only achieved this talent but has been able to see the transition in talent over the years.

“Horses are much more near a natural gait these days,” McNichol explained, “They are easier to break. It's still a great business. It has changed with the addition of slots. We just work with it and hope to get our fair share.”

Currently, Mickey is stabled at Tioga Downs for the summer. He had been staying in Florida year-round, but has recently been teamed up with prominent owner, Fred Monteleone, who he has eight horses for.

“It's worthwhile to travel north for these eight horses,” Mickey says.

“It is an honor to host Mickey at this racetrack,” Said Tioga Downs director of racing Jason Bluhm. “He brings his drives and his horses. He's currently the fourth leading trainer and within the top ten leading drivers at Tioga and the caliber of his horses make race nights eventful.”

Mickey also says he is in great health.

“I feel great,” Mickey says. He had a bypass surgery eight years ago and has overcome numerous harness racing accidents. “I work hard at keeping healthy and no booze,” McNichol laughs.

He has three kids; Melissa, Andrew, and Hayley. McNichol is engaged with Marianne Ayers to be married in September. “I couldn't be happier,” McNichol said.

McNichol also likes to give special mention to his former co-owner and trainer, Joe Caraluzzi.

“My friend and partner forever,” McNichol said. “We grew up in the Bronx together before harness racing and are still best friends to this day.”

Mickey McNichol has had an illustrious career in harness racing, one worth special honors, a story that is still being written.

By Jessica Hallett, for Harnesslink

Jessica Hallett is a new correspondent for Harnesslink. Jessica, 18, lives in Margate, Florida and will be attending Nova Southeastern University this fall. She is the daughter of Pompano Park/Tioga Downs owner/trainers John and Michelle Hallett.