The 45-year-old former North American trainer of the Year would love to emulate his record breaking season of 2007 when he amazingly recorded a 42 per cent winning rate on his home track at Harrington.

Melfa (Virginia) born Teague was raised in a harness racing family and started training at the tender age of 16.

The hardworking second-generation Delaware horseman followed in the footsteps of his late father, George Teague senior. As a teen, George's first job in the sport came working for well- known trainer Jim Case, a president of the Delaware Standardbred Owners Association.

Today he is working 90 standardbreds with 15 to 20 staff at his Harrington base in Delaware. He said he had a good mix of youngsters and seasoned pacers as he prepared for the new season which kicks off in April.

"I have a good mix of babies and older horses this season. I have a couple of nice 2-year-olds from last season which I'm looking forward to racing as 3-year-olds in 2009. I'm hopeful of a good season," Teague said.

He singled out Barber Pole and Bunkmeister.

Barber Pole is a 3-year-old Badlands Hanover who won three of his five starts last season and finished second in the other two. He went 1:51 when finishing second behind If I Can Dream at Dover Downs on November 8 and has so far banked just over $90,000 in stakes.

Bunkmeister, a son of The Panderosa, has three of his six 2-year-old starts and placed in one other for $44,285 in stakes. His best winning time of 1:51.3 came at Harrahs Chester Casino last September.

"I've taken my time with them and purposely never over-raced them. I have quite a few talented colts but those two stand out," Teague said.

In the older brigade Teague made special mention of Western Ace, Total Truth and Rudy Rednose.

Western Ace is a 1:48.2 pacer who has won 23 of his 85 starts and $1.7 million in stakes. Total Truth, a 1:48 pacer has won 18 of his 60 starts and $2,098,122, while Rudy Rednose, a 1:49.4 pacer has won four of his 20 starts and $378,799.

Teague rated Western Ace, Total Truth, and Rainbow Blue, as the best horses he had trained.

In 2004 he trained Horse of the Year, Rainbow Blue, an Artiscape mare who won 30 of her 32 starts and $1.6 million in stakes.

As a 2-year-old in 2003, Rainbow Blue had six wins in seven trips to the post, with earnings of $102,674. She was victorious in divisions of the Historic-Debutante and Molly Pitcher, with her lone defeat coming with a third place finish in the $150,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final. Rainbow Blue was the toast of the sport as a 3-year-old in 2004.

She won an amazing 20 races in 21 starts and banked $1,195,010, the most ever earned in a single season by a female pacer. The daughter of Artiscape captured the $610,000 Breeders Crown Final, the $543,543 Fan Hanover Final, the $222,500 Nadia Lobell, the $159,675 Matron Final, the $150,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final, and the $100,000 Rose Red Final.

Rainbow Blue's 1:49.2 clocking in a Fan Hanover elimination equaled the world record for a sophomore pacing filly on a mile track. Her terrific accomplishments led to Rainbow Blue capturing Dan Patch Awards as Horse of the Year, Pacer of the Year, and 3-year- old filly pacer of the year.

Drivers will tell you horses conditioned by George with valuable assistance from his second trainer, his sister, Brenda, are always presented in immaculate condition. They are keen to repeat their 2007 achievement when they won 109 races and purses of $4,664,863.

Teague has trained about 1000 winners and at this stage of the season is preparing his team for a big 2009. Asked if he would one day like to come to New Zealand and campaign a pacer ‘Down Under' Teague replied:

"Now that would be a dream, but it's so hard with quarantine restrictions and our seasons overlapping. Who knows though? I would never write off a dream trip like that," Teague said.

Duane RANGER (editor)