WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) — Harness racing driver Dave Palone has broken Herve Filion’s North American record for career victories when he piloted Herculotte Hanover to victory in the eighth race at The Meadows.
The win on Thursday was the 15,181st of Palone’s 30-year career. The Waynesburg, Pa., native began racing in 1982 and earned his first victory in 1983. He’s become a dominant force in the sport over the last three decades, capturing nearly 40 percent of the races he drives in while becoming just the third driver in history to surpass 15,000 wins.
The 50-year-old Palone credits his success to his physical fitness and has no plans to retire anytime soon. Heinz Wewering of Germany holds the world record for career harness racing wins, with over 16,000 and counting.
