Standout numbers from 2025

by Bob Heyden

It’s a new year, so let’s get right to it, and look at some numbers from 2025 going into 2026.

TIM TETRICK

Eight of the top 12 money seasons for a driver belong to Tim Tetrick. They are numbers one, two, three, eight, nine, 10, 11, and 12 all time. The top trio individually are $19,734,781 (2008), $18,531,756 (2012), and $18,350,047 (2007). Tetrick starts 2026 within $13 million of $300 million, at $288,117,827.

With Brett Beckwith (tied for fourth in 2025 at 593 victories) turning 23 in 2026, let’s take a look at Tetrick’s ascent the four years he turned 23, 24, 25, and 26: in 2004, 300 wins for 2,227 starts (13.5 per cent); in 2005, 563 for 3,528 (16 per cent); in 2006, 677 for 3,371 (20.1 per cent); and in 2007, 1,189 for 4,728 (25.1 per cent).

DAVE MILLER

Dave Miller starts the year $726G from the all-time record beginning Jan. 1 at $299,169,308.

RON BURKE

Ron Burke had 5,555 starts in 2025. The next five trainers combined for 5,197. Burke starts 2026 with all-time best numbers in starts (77,1010), wins (16,481), and earnings ($377,470,108).

YANNICK GINGRAS

Yannick Gingras starts the new year with a nice round number $260,005,884, fourth on the all-time list.

MATT KAKALEY

Matt Kakaley is the leading driver for any driver whose first drive came in the 21st century. He currently stands at 48,466 lifetime starts with 7,246 wins and $123,732,317 in money. Scott Zeron is next.

SCOTT ZERON

Speaking of Scott Zeron, is it too early for “Hall” chat? He’ll be 37 in May, has won three Hambletonians before turning 35, with nine Triple Crown race victories.

JASON BARTLETT

Jason Bartlett is now the fifth driver in the $15 million club, joining Tim Tetrick (whose done it eight times) Brian Sears (twice), Yannick Gingras (twice), and Dexter Dunn (twice). The 2025 Driver of the Year comes off his best season leading in both $ and UDRS, but his most amazing stat is this, from 2022-25 he was second or third in dash wins each season. But, check out his nearly impossible-to-believe jump in winning percentage: 24.9 per cent in 2022, 24.1 per cent in 2023, 23 per cent in 2024, and 31.2 per cent in 2025, that’s a rise of 8.2 per cent in one year.

CHRIS RYDER

If Miki And Minnie is voted Horse of the Year, Chris Ryder would be just the third trainer to win HOY back-to-back with different horses: Bob McIntosh did it first in 1992-93 with Artsplace and Staying Together, followed five years later by Jimmy Takter with Malabar Man in 1997 and then Moni Maker in 1998-99. Ryder will have a two-headed monster in 2026 in Miki And Minnie and defending HOY Twin B Joe Fresh. Or will he?

Ryder said, “Minnie will face the girls and Twin B Joe Fresh the boys. I’m giving her a chance against males. At least that’s the plan to start. They won’t be racing against each other, at least not right away.”

WARRAWEE MICHELLE

She just pulled a “Dream Of Joy act two.” Warrawee Michelle was voted Trotting Mare of the Year despite just three victories, 11 3-4-2. Her up-in-the-last-stride Breeders Crown victory was clearly the difference. In 1999, 2YOFT Dream Of Joy also was a three-time winner, 10 3-2-2, but the right three, the Merrie Annabelle, Breeders Crown, and Goldsmith Maid.

BEAU JANGLES

Beau Jangles was No. 3 in 2025 in earnings as a freshman with $1,227,326. Maryland led as a freshman in 2024 among all earners with $1,227,695. In 2023, T C I No. 3 with $1,238,870, and Karl was No. 5 with $1,041,339.