Dan Charlino notches 3,000th career win

WASHINGTON, PA, Oct. 5, 2023  — Harness racing driver Dan Charlino collected career win 3,000 when he piloted 15-1 Troycen (Cantab Hall) to victory in Thursday’s ninth race at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

A Philadelphia-area native, Charlino became involved in harness racing in an unusual way. His father was a pari-mutuel clerk at long-defunct Liberty Bell Park and occasionally took young Dan to the track. Once he got up close with the horses, 14-year-old Dan was hooked.

“I went to work for Duncan McDonald and Herb Holland, who was a trainer in McDonald’s stable. I mucked stalls for those guys,” Charlino recalls.

Out on his own, Charlino operated as a trainer/driver; he has 161 training wins in addition to his 3,000 driving victories, with combined trainer/driver purses exceeding $19.6 million. Among his most memorable horses is the filly Sky Incognito.

TROYCEN / DAN CHARLINO MILESTONE REPLAY

“In her first lifetime start, I trained and drove her to a stakes win at Calgary,” he says. “She went on to win the Northlands Filly Pace. I had to put up a catch driver for that race because this filly hated me. I made her do things she didn’t want to do.”

Charlino’s progress to 3,000 was slowed by a 2016 race injury.

“I fractured an ankle. Once I snapped that ankle, I didn’t think I was getting to 3,000. The first 2,000 wins came pretty quickly, but as recently as last year, I never thought I would make it to 3,000.”

These days, Charlino, 59, works full time for the Ron Burke stable. He drives some of Burke’s horses and is able to drive in other races so long as he’s not competing against Burke. His goal for the future — continue that arrangement.

“My career is winding down, so I’ll just plug along as is — continue working for Ronnie, train the babies in Florida. I’d like to be South more rather than up here. I want to keep driving as long as I’m healthy and strong. It keeps the belly off so I can zip up the colors.”

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After idling outside for much of the first quarter, Southwind Bella powered to the lead, scorched the back half in 55 and easily captured Thursday’s feature, a $13,000 Filly & Mare Conditioned Pace.

Southwind Bella entered the race with impeccable credentials, including a win in a New York Sires Stake and a second in a Jugette elimination; players noticed, hammering her down to 2-5. The daughter of Huntsville-Southwind Solara did not disappoint, defeating the pocket-sitting Blue Ivy by a length in 1:50.3 for Dave Palone. Secret Side Piece finished third.

Ron Burke trains Southwind Bella, who vaulted over $200,000 in career earnings, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Bridgette Jablonsky and Lombardo/Green Racing.

SOUTHWIND BELLA REPLAY

Aaron Merriman and Palone each piloted three winners on the 13-race card.

Live racing at The Meadows continues Friday, first post 12:45 PM.

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

by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association