Harness racing
WITH more than 8000 winners and $196 million in prizemoney, Tim Tetrick is one of the biggest names in harness racing across the world.
Wagga will be in for a special treat with the American reinsman lining in eight of the nine races tonight.
In seven races he'll be competing against drivers from across Europe, North America and Australasia as the World Driving Championship descends on the Riverina.
The 33-year-old has an amazing record, driving almost 8500 winners, including a record 1187 wins in 2007 alone, but it's the first time he's been apart of the series.
He's being offered to represent the United States on previous occasions and but had other racing commitments.
However he jumped at the chance to visit Australia.
"I've had a couple of other opportunities but I had to decline as it was mid-season over there and it could never work out," Tetrick said.
"I'm excited and hoping to draw some luck with some decent horses and can go from there."
Tetrick started off the 20-race series in the best possible fashion.
He scored with Shannonsablast in the heat one at Menangle on Saturday night and lead the field going into day two at Newcastle.
However he didn't enjoy the same luck on Sunday and trails Australia's representative Chris Alford by five points.
Wagga will represent a unique challenge for most in the field.
Australia's racing is very different to both European and North American racing, with pacers racing on smaller tracks.
Most Europeans have very little experience with pacers, with Europe's harness racing the playground of trotters, so racing at Wagga's 800 metre circuit will put many out of their comfort zones.
Tetrick himself isn't too familiar with racing on tighter circuits, but grew up racing on smaller circuits.
"At Wagga Wagga they said it was a little tight, kind of like our county fairs that we used to race on," Tetrick said.
"You have to be safe and don't get hurt and have fun."
The 32-year-old thought the European drivers would quickly adapt to the driving horses with the different gait.
"They are horsemen and are going to know how to drive (pacers) once they get the feel for it and if they have a good enough horse they will get the job done," he said.
Coming in with a game plan to try and be consistent to slowly build his tally, Tetrick has had one win, a second, a third, a sixth and a seventh from the first five races in the series.
Tetrick has also brought his own bright accessory for the champion, using a UFO gig in the red, white and blue of t.
