REINSMAN Luke McCarthy brought up a career milestone on Saturday evening at Tabcorp Park Menangle when he drove his 2000th Australian winner. McCarthy arrived at the track needing two winners to reach the target and after driving a double in the first two races joined a small and select group of Australian drivers to achieve the feat.
McCarthy drove his first winner on March 5th 1999 at Redcliffe when Castle Belles scrambled in by a nose and has gone onto drive in 9729 races.
“To drive 2000 winners is something you don’t think about, you keep working and hope the wins keep coming but I’ve been lucky enough to have been a part of some very good stables,” McCarthy said.
“It was great to bring up my 2000th winner in Australia at Menangle, it is the best track in Australasia hands down, the racing is so competitive, it is a good place to race.”
After driving a treble at Menangle on Saturday night, McCarthy finished the night sitting on 2001 Australian winners with a further 2518 placings. The horses he has driven during his career have won more than $20 million and at the age of 33, McCarthy is set to be involved for decades to come.
It took McCarthy 6092 days to record 2000 wins, so at that rate he will record his 4000th winner in July 2032 which will see McCarthy aged 49.
“My most memorable win in Australia would be the Victoria Cup with For A Reason, we’d had him since he was a yearling, he was a top three year old that won four derbies but then he broke down and went off to stud for two years.
“To get him back after that long to come out and win a race like the Victoria Cup was the biggest thrill for me.”
McCarthy’s association with For A Reason is not over despite the stallion heading to the stables of Greg and Skye Bond for the upcoming Inter Dominion in Western Australia. McCarthy is set to reunite with the stallion as his driver.
“Yes I’m going over to drive For A Reason and Our Hi Jinx in the heats of the Inter Dominion, hopefully they can make the final, it will be nice to be part of the final.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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