86-year-old Bob Tisbert scores 2,400th career driving win

Plainville, MA — After longtime Massachusetts-native Bob Tisbert drove Court’s In Session (Conway Court) to victory in 1:58.2 in the sixth race at Plainridge Park on Monday (June 26), he circled back with the trotter he also trains and entered the winner’s circle for the 2,400th time in his career that dates back to 1962.

Now in his seventh decade in the sport, Tisbert has been a stalwart horseman in New England harness racing and has experienced success at all levels. He drove against the best in the Commonwealth during the 1970’s and 80’s, which was an era that featured greats like Jim Doherty, Ted Wing, Bucky Day, John Hogan, Bert Beckwith and Bill O’Donnell in the program every night. Yet he finished high on the leaderboard at Rockingham Park, Scarborough Downs and his home track Foxboro Park year in and year out. And now decades later, he’s still competing with today’s top reinsmen.

Tisbert, who just turned 86 on April 28, was always a high percentage, sought after driver and sat behind many stars of the day including Cotton On N (38 wins, 1:57, $84,269) who paced the fastest mile ever in Maine in 1987, Cindy’s Band (46 wins, 1:57.4, $163,126) who was a New England Sire Stake standout that he bred and Fancy Star (39 wins, 1:57.4, $179,936) who was a top-notch Open pacer he drove to multiple victories at the Meadowlands.

COURT’S N SESSION REPLAY

When Plainridge Park opened in 1999, Tisbert was an original member of the driver colony and has remained a regular ever since, competing at the track for 24 consecutive years.

Tisbert had a career year for numbers in 1986 when he started 1,054 times producing 201 wins, 164 seconds and 119 thirds. However, his highest earnings came in 1980 when he bankrolled $399,091 in the bike. His career earnings to date amount to $5.7 million.

For his many accomplishments in the sport, Tisbert was voted into the New England Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association Hall of Fame in 2021.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts