Driver goes far afield in search of his dream

It has often been said that for a youngster hoping to make it as a big time horse racing jockey or driver, the best chance to achieve success is to get away from where you grew up.

More often than not, those people who knew you as a youngster grooming and cleaning stalls or walking horses remember you as a kid working those jobs to gain experience. Unfortunately, those impressions remain etched in their minds.

This brings us to former Fraser Downs’ driver Billy Davis Jr., son of former perennial leading trainer/driver Bill Davis.

In 2009, after a year of people comparing him to his legendary father, Davis Jr. left his Surrey roots and set out on a dream of one day driving for bigger purses against the best competition in Canada.

Having never been away from home, the risk he was undertaking was enormous.

“I actually only knew one trainer and that was Jackson Mcginnis,” said Davis by cellphone in a pickup truck somewhere between Woodbine and Georgian Downs in Ontario. “I met him on the Internet through a friend and when I got to Ontario, he was kind enough to give me a few decent drives and we got lucky.”

Last year, Davis passed all the goals he set for himself in 2011, winning 404 races, ranking him fifth in Canada with driving purses of $2,750,344.

Now having established his name on the prestigious WEG, Davis has made a decision to compete at as many racetracks as he possibly can fit into his schedule.

“Right now,” said Davis, “I drive at three different racetracks during the week. Tuesday, I was at Georgian Downs and won five races. Wednesday, I drove to Flamboro and won three and won one on Thursday.”

Davis presently leads all drivers in victories and earnings; but he is far from finished working toward setting higher goals.

“It is in the summer months I really have fun as I get a chance to drive a lot of horses.” said Davis. “This is when I drive at six different racetracks during the week. It seems as if you’re always up at five in the morning and getting into the truck. When the races are over, you do it all over again, sometimes three times in a day or night. It sounds crazy, but hey, I’m young and truly living my dream.”

NOTES ON A PROGRAM: It is great to see several veteran horses that race in lower class races, get a chance to pace in the $15,000 Abbestross Claiming Final. The equine old-timers include Law of the Yukon, 11-years-old; favourite Prime Time Bliss, 10; and Roger the dodger, 9. May a rocking chair be waiting in the winner’s circle . . . Also on another happy note, Hastings veteran and fan favourite Spaghetti Mouse and winningest BC Bred with $941,885, is feeling good on the farm. “The Mouse is getting anxious and restless to race,” said co-owner Pauline Felicella. “He is training at trainer Terry Clyde’s farm. As for his many fans, if Mouse does not want to run, he will retire happy on the farm.”