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By DERICK GIWNER
A good nickname can take you a long way in life. Start with their moniker and anyone can fill in the blank: ‘Air’ Jordan, ‘Iron Mike’ Tyson, ‘Splendid Splinter’ Ted Williams. The names are engrained in our vocabulary and culture. While harness racing is hardly on the minds of every Tom, Dick and Harry, we too have some interesting handles of our own. And while it is nice to be a ‘Green Hornet,’ a ‘White Knight,’ or an ‘Orange Crush,’ when it comes to racing, it is hard to beat George Brennan – ‘The Minister of Speed.’
His 2010 totals speak for themselves: 89 wins (thru 3/2/10) to lead the toughest driver colony on the planet at the Meadowlands; 99 wins on the year (third in North America); $1,403,621 in earnings (first in N.A.). Perhaps Brennan’s most impressive numbers are revealed when looking at his February statistics at the Meadowlands: 43 wins (15 more than the next driver – Tim Tetrick); 24 percent win rate (seven percent greater than Tetrick in second); a .368 UDRS rating (.068 higher than Tetrick).
Brennan is driving at the top of his game in 2010, yet, when speaking to him, it is simply business as usual.
“I don’t know if [2010] is any different than it has ever been (in years past),” said Brennan on his recent success. “Just coincidence I guess. I drive for every trainer, so it’s not like I hooked up with a specific guy.”
“I’ve never been a ‘go to’ guy, but my career has been very good to me and I have no complaints.”
It is hard to project numbers having completed only one-sixth of the year. At his current pace, Brennan would hover around 3,000 starts and notch close to 600 wins, nearly 150 more than his career best mark of 457 in 1998. But he quickly put a stop to such lofty expectations.
“It’s very early and the Meadowlands will be cutting down to three days (a week) soon,” said Brennan. “I usually keep it to 2,000 to 2,200 starts a year, take some vacation time, play golf and enjoy life. I’ve been taking advantage of the five-night schedule (at the Meadowlands) and racing Mondays at Yonkers. When the Meadowlands goes to three nights, I’ll probably add Tuesdays at Yonkers and then Chester since they will be racing during the day.”
Brennan, who was born and raised in Monticello, NY, made his debut as a 14-year-old at Historic Track in Goshen back in the early 80’s. He was plying his trade at Foxboro in 1994 when Ron Coyne persuaded him to come to the Meadowlands. He worked for Ron and quickly made a name for himself on freshman divisional champion pacers A Stud Named Sue and Chippie’s Ruler.
With his talent for making speed leading the way, Brennan began winning races in bunches: 405 in 1996, 418 in 1997 and 457 in 1998. Fast forward to 2010 where he stands about 150 wins shy of reaching the 6,000 win plateau. The 42-year-old has driven his share of top horses along the way. Holborn Hanover sticks out in his memory, perhaps because he set a world record 1:46.4 clocking with him at the Meadowlands.
“I have no standout favorites, but Holborn Hanover was just a pleasure to drive; he did everything right,” said Brennan.
While Holborn was the first name to flow off his tongue, Brennan has actually had quite a way with the ladies. A quick peak into the stakes history of the ‘Minister’ shows top mare after top mare; Loyal Opposition and Glowing Report being two of the best.
Back to the nickname, the ‘Minister of Speed.’ You just want to say it over and over. It simply sounds racy. Coupled with Brennan’s aggressive ‘brush and crush’ style of racing, you can’t help but enjoy watching him at work.
“We have a lot of fun with [the nickname],” said Brennan about his fellow drivers.
But what about the forceful style, the quick moves to the front and the bottom-the-field-out mentality?
“How I race all depends on the horse. Some horses get weak late and you want to get separation. Sometimes I want to try something different because what I did last week didn’t work. You see me do it (being aggressive) a lot more, but any one of those guys (Meadowlands drivers) can do it.”
By now you know that Brennan makes horses go fast and that he has won many races. But did you know he trained horses back in 1993 and 1994? Did you know he won 25 races in 86 starts? That is just shy of a 30 percent win rate.
“I had some success training, but you can’t do both (training and driving). Andy (Miller) does, along with Julie; it’s incredible what he does,” said Brennan, who admitted he wanted his daytime hours open for golf.
On the heels of VLT-infused purses from Racinos, many drivers have started double-dipping as owners, and Brennan took his shot with his NY Sire Stakes champion And Away We Go.
“Andy [Miller] and I live next to each other and are members of the same golf club. I asked him if we could do something together and he said let’s go fifty-fifty,” said Brennan, who has to sit on the sidelines and watch while Miller does the driving.
“[Andy’s] doing well so he can keep driving,” quipped Brennan. “I’m sure I’ll get my turn when he is out of town or something.”
Brennan doesn’t set lofty goals for himself, but did confess that his wish list in the sport includes winning the Hambletonian and the Little Brown Jug, where he has been second three times. In fact, he admitted that winning a Driver of the Year title never entered his mind. Having driven nearly 39,000 horses to over $92 million in earnings, he just wants to win and get around the track without incident.
“Things really came into perspective when I was out four-and-a-half months because I broke both my wrists,” said Brennan, who was referring to an on track accident in 2008. “I just want to get done safely; everything else is a bonus.”
With his penchant for making bold moves to the front and the ensuing four length top-of-the-stretch lead that usually follows, it bares to reason that he will probably get home safely more often than not.
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