by Chris Lomon

Brady Sweet has always been the type to have his wheels in motion.

The 24-year-old horseman doesn’t need any reminder as to when the 2025 season at Charlottetown Driving Park gets underway.

In fact, Sweet has had it circled in his calendar for weeks now.

“The first Saturday in May,” said the rising star driver/trainer from O’Leary, PEI. “I can’t wait to get going again.”

It’s understandable as to why he would feel that way.

After all, Sweet’s 2024 campaign is one that produced a career-best 59 wins and $163,928 in purse earnings.

There were many highlights to look back on.

One of them came courtesy of the prolific pacer Elroy Shiner.

Trained by Sweet’s brother-in-law, Jeff Holmes, the son of Warrawee Needy—Rain Dance Heather was a winner’s circle regular, delivering 18 wins and seven seconds from 29 starts to his connections.

“Elroy Shiner was so good to me last year,” said Sweet, of the now 8-year-old bay gelding who slotted in the top three in the nation for yearly wins. “He loves the front end, and he knows how to win.”

Just like the young man at the controls.

Sweet got his first taste of stakes success when he piloted the filly Thinkingofeddie to glory in a Grassroots division of the P.E.I. Colt Stakes last May 26 at Summerside Raceway. The duo duplicated that feat in September at Charlottetown Driving Park.

Winning with the daughter of Pang Shui—Popa Was A Gigolo was doubly special for Sweet.

“My first stakes win with the filly I own was one of the big highlights,” he said. “It’s always nice to win a stakes race, but when you do it with your own horse it makes it even more special. She did it very easily.

“Everyone was very happy for us. My phone lit up right after the race. It’s definitely something I’m going to remember for a lot of reasons.”

Add a drive in the Premier’s Cup — he partnered Tony Too Tall — and 2024 was a vintage year for Sweet.

And not just on the racetrack or within his home province.

Along with rave reviews for his skill in the sulky and adeptness in training, recognition of his talents extended well beyond the borders of Prince Edward Island.

He was named as one of the finalists — Todd Ratchford was the other — for the coveted 2024 Future Star Award, with the latter taking home the honors at the recent O’Brien Awards ceremony held just west of Toronto.

It was a deserving nod for Sweet, who has been part of the horse racing scene for over half his life.

Before he reached his teenage years, Sweet was already a budding horseman, jogging his great uncle’s horses with a helping hand from his father.

In 2015, he was named Junior Rookie of the Year in Prince Edward Island. One year later, he earned Rookie of the Year honors there.

Fast-forward to 2021, the year Sweet recorded his first pari-mutuel driving win.

The milestone came with Burn Out Hanover, a son of Well Said—Burning Point, who was also trained by Holmes.

While the victory was easy — the pair bested their closest rival by 5½ lengths — the lead-up to the race was hardly smooth for Sweet.

“Three days before that, I was in a car accident,” he said. “I was in the hospital for just a night, and I was pretty sore. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to drive. But I made sure I was okay and then got in the race bike. We had the rail, and we won it easily.

“I still have a soft spot for Burn Out Hanover. I’ve driven him ever since I got my license. He is one of the best horses I have ever driven.”

Thankfully, the journey from then to now has been drama-free for a horseman who is champing at the bit as to what could be in store, now and down the road.

“If the opportunity comes along, I would like to try the Ontario circuit,” Sweet said. “Everyone who races here wants to win the Gold Cup and Saucer, so hopefully, that is in my future. I just take whatever comes my way and try to learn from it and use everything to motivate me to be the best I can be.”

An interest outside of pacing and trotting miles continues to fuel his appetite to succeed.

“I’m very competitive, more than I ever knew I was,” he said. “I played hockey growing up. From hockey, it has helped me in racing a lot – keeping my head on a swivel, not losing your cool, and taking everything in stride. Everything I do, I want to be good at it.”

It would be impossible to suggest he hasn’t.

But there is no trace of ego to be found.

“Everybody who has helped me get to where I am, everyone who trusts me with their horses, and all the people who encourage me – I am very fortunate,” Sweet said. “Getting the chance to drive against the top guys in Charlottetown has helped me a lot. Learning from them, seeing what they do to be successful – that has been a big thing for me.

“My brother-in-law, with his high-performance stable, has allowed me to drive some very nice horses. That has helped me so much. His team always has horses in top condition, so that makes everything a lot easier for me.”

Sweet’s goals for 2024 are perhaps unsurprising.

“This year, I want to keep numbers strong, try to build on what I was able to do in 2024 and up my stats,” he said. “I would also like to pick up some more drives, and to get a few more stakes wins.”

Between a full-time welding career and racing, Sweet, who enjoys watching UFC with his friends, stickhandles a busy, but rewarding life.

Not too busy, however, to keep him from counting down the days until the first Saturday in May.

“I can’t wait to get the 100th win of my career, but that will have to wait a while,” he said. “I’m still going to the barn every day and working with my own horses and waiting to get back at it.”

Back to getting his wheels in motion and taking his rising star status to new heights.