Aaron Merriman scores 15,000th career win

He only needed four wins, but harness racing champion driver Aaron Merriman won five races on the day, but his fourth win at The Meadows Saturday (Sept. 2) was extra special as it was his 15,000^th career victory.

Merriman, 45, now joins Dave Palone, Tony Morgan and Herve Filion as the only drivers in North American harness racing history to achieve that milestone.

Merriman was typically nonplussed by his accomplishment.

“It’s unbelievable when you think about it,” he said, “but if I reflect on anything, it’ll be the next race. There will be a time for reflection but not now. I feel that there’s work to be done. But it does make me feel like I’m doing the right thing. That keeps me going.”

A native of Greater Akron, Merriman learned the business from his father, trainer/driver Lanny Merriman. His mother, who teaches at both Kent State University and Miami University, recently relocated and now lives near her son again.

“It’s great to have her around,” he said. “Please include that.”

Merriman began driving in 1997, got his first win the following year and now has won more than $109.5 million in purses. A big chunk of his wins occurred in the last dozen or so years, when he’s commuted between The Meadows and Ohio tracks. In 2017-2018, for example, he put together back-to-back seasons of more than 1,000 wins, and he’s been the sport’s dash champion for eight consecutive years. Just moments after Saturday’s milestone victory, he hustled off to MGM Northfield to drive the evening program there.

That sort of breakneck pace can be injurious to a body’s health — to say nothing of one’s driving record.

“I have zero points on my license, which is a hard accomplishment for me,” he said. “No more rushing for me. If I have to miss a race, I’ll just take the fine.”

As for the bigger questions, such as how long he intends to keep up this pace, Merriman prefers to focus on day-to-day concerns.

“I don’t go with any intention,” he said. “My intention right now is to take a break here and there but keep the people I drive for happy. So, it’s a mixture of those two.”

Merriman’s 15,000^th victory came in the 9^th race pace. He was driving So Rockin Ravi (Pet Rock) and gave him a perfect second-over trip and then blew away the field in the stretch, winning by seven and one-quarter lengths in 1:52.3.

SO ROCKIN RAVI REPLAY

So Rockin Ravi paid $6.40 to win. The five-year-old gelding is trained by Brandon Presto for owner Ameer Najor.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Evan Pattak, for the MSOA