Filion Wins 800 Races, Breaks Harness Record

YONKERS, N.Y. â€”  Herve Filion became the first driver in harness racing history to win 800 races in one year with a victory Monday night at Yonkers Raceway.

Filion, 49, of Quebec, had set the record of 798 in 1988. He broke his own mark earlier Monday, reaching 799 with two victories at Freehold Raceway.

At Yonkers, Filion got his 800th victory when he guided Winter D J to a two-length victory in the second race, a one-mile pace, in 2:03 2/5.

At Freehold Raceway, Filion equaled his world mark in the seventh race and then took the record in the 11th and final race aboard Sparkles Plenty A.

Sparkles Plenty, in third place until the 1/2-mile pole, was neck and neck with pacesetter Chris Bromac N until midway through the stretch. Filion then urged the 7-year-old gelding from Australia to a 1 1/4-length victory in 2:02 2/5.

Filion, a resident of Old Westbury, N.Y., also holds the record for most career victories, with 11,992, said Freehold Raceway spokesman Steve Wolf. His closest rival is Carmine Abbatiello, nearly 5,000 wins behind.

Filion began his career at age 12 and won his first big race the next year, in 1953.

“It was just a matter of time,� Filion said. “I’ve been so close to the 800 that I expected it, but it’s nice for it to have finally happened.

“Still, it’s nothing special. I haven’t set any goals for next year,� he said. “I’m going to take January and February off and go back to Quebec for an extended vacation.�