Post by Big Tee© on Nov 6, 2004 12:01:31 GMT -5
Norm McKnight Back in the Sulky
November 5, 2004
After a 10-year hiatus from the race bike, standardbred driver turned thoroughbred trainer, Norm McKnight, is back in the sulky.
McKnight, 48, will drive Pickaberry Ice Man and Ph Joe in the first two qualifiers tomorrow morning at Flamboro Downs.
Before giving up standardbred racing in 1994, McKnight won 1,458 races and collected over $9 million in earnings as a driver.
In 1999, McKnight made his official foray into thoroughbred training. In his first full season at Woodbine, he won 13 races in 93 starts including three stakes wins. Last year, McKnight ranked 12th in Woodbine’s thoroughbred standings with 27 wins and more than $1 million in earnings. He has over 100 career wins as a trainer.
"The thoroughbred season is winding down and I thought I’d get involved a bit," McKnight told Trot Insider today. "Driving has always been a passion. I just got kind of busy.
"This is really something to occupy a little bit of time," he continued. "I’m not sure about how much involvement I’m going to have in the standardbreds but I’m looking at a few options."
As for the possibility of McKnight recruiting some of his thoroughbred owners, he’s not ruling out the possibility.
"There is some interest," he said. "That’s how it all gets started, with a conversation. They say, ‘We’ll get a horse for the winter but you have to drive.’"
McKnight, who trains 30 thoroughbreds and saddled one in this afternoon’s second race, calls the thoroughbred and standardbred games "totally different".
From Standardbred Canada Insider News
November 5, 2004
After a 10-year hiatus from the race bike, standardbred driver turned thoroughbred trainer, Norm McKnight, is back in the sulky.
McKnight, 48, will drive Pickaberry Ice Man and Ph Joe in the first two qualifiers tomorrow morning at Flamboro Downs.
Before giving up standardbred racing in 1994, McKnight won 1,458 races and collected over $9 million in earnings as a driver.
In 1999, McKnight made his official foray into thoroughbred training. In his first full season at Woodbine, he won 13 races in 93 starts including three stakes wins. Last year, McKnight ranked 12th in Woodbine’s thoroughbred standings with 27 wins and more than $1 million in earnings. He has over 100 career wins as a trainer.
"The thoroughbred season is winding down and I thought I’d get involved a bit," McKnight told Trot Insider today. "Driving has always been a passion. I just got kind of busy.
"This is really something to occupy a little bit of time," he continued. "I’m not sure about how much involvement I’m going to have in the standardbreds but I’m looking at a few options."
As for the possibility of McKnight recruiting some of his thoroughbred owners, he’s not ruling out the possibility.
"There is some interest," he said. "That’s how it all gets started, with a conversation. They say, ‘We’ll get a horse for the winter but you have to drive.’"
McKnight, who trains 30 thoroughbreds and saddled one in this afternoon’s second race, calls the thoroughbred and standardbred games "totally different".
From Standardbred Canada Insider News