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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Fuguzzi on June 14, 2023, 10:53:29 PM

Title: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Fuguzzi on June 14, 2023, 10:53:29 PM
He will one day be the all time wins leader as the first driver to reach 25,000 victories.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: hoosierboy on June 14, 2023, 10:57:25 PM
He will one day be the all time wins leader as the first driver to reach 25,000 victories.

Very possible
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Senator Blutarsky on June 14, 2023, 10:58:25 PM
He will one day be the all time wins leader as the first driver to reach 25,000 victories.

Possibly, form your own conclusions:

http://fanguide.ustrotting.com/dt_stars_profiles.cfm?id=233089
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: rainman2 on June 14, 2023, 10:59:39 PM
Of those potential 25k wins, how many will be outside ohio and the meadows?
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Fuguzzi on June 14, 2023, 11:04:02 PM
I get your point, but come on 15,000 wins by the age of 45. Only driver in history to win 1000 plus more than once   If not for a season with 999 he would have done it three times instead of twice. Plus he has been the leading wins driver 8 years straight and is headed for 9 times as he leads in wins this year. just saying his numbers are astonishing.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Senator Blutarsky on June 14, 2023, 11:07:48 PM
Of those potential 25k wins, how many will be outside ohio and the meadows?

Not many.

What do you thinks keeps a dude like that motivated (beyond money) to show up to the same places working mostly with same folks day in day out for the last 25 years....and possibly another 10 or so?

It reminds me of a teacher, teaching the same curriculum, some horses great and some not so much....like that teacher's students, smart and dumb.

Might be a small pond, but the sucker has endurance - physical, mental and emotional.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Superfecta on June 14, 2023, 11:18:31 PM
Great numbers but it's in the minor leagues. Same with Dave Palone for so many years. It doesn't mean much at all.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: White Rabbit on June 15, 2023, 12:06:25 AM
Mathematically it’s possible A.M. to beat D.P. but in theory it’s going to very hard for Aaron  to do it. First DP would have to stop driving in the next 2 yrs or so. Then Aaron needs quite a few things to happen, 1 never get hurt over the 10 years, 2 Northfield to keep racing all year, which going with the trend of all the tracks now could be possible in the next few years Northfield could shorten their meet to 4-6 months, which would pull a lot of the Southern Ohio guys in if the 4 tracks had a circuit. 3 and I think the biggest variable that no new driver comes into town, situation like when Matty K started driving there. Had the money been what it was now he may not have left or at least stayed longer.4 the mental toll that would have on A.M. if an upcoming, new talent rolled into town and dethroned Aaron.
Just my thoughts. Man in red us going to be hard to catch, a lot would have to fall into place, biggest piece is DP stepping away in the next few years.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: SeattleSlew on June 15, 2023, 01:57:02 AM
I think Merriman will push on, while Timmy T. may decide to "relax" a bit in the next 5-10 years, but as it stands today, if they both went "all in" it is pretty close, as Timmy T is only 1500 wins behind AM and he is 3 + years younger, so definitely in range.  HOWEVER, when he climbs out of the sulky and walks, JUST MY OPINION, but it looks like those hips may be causing him some discomfort.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Assassinator on June 15, 2023, 02:34:01 AM
Dave stayed at the Meadows all those years because he wasn't a money whore like some of these other drivers. Dave had the skill to drive with all those guys over the years. Remember when Sears and D Miller were at the Meadows to name a few he was still the leading driver and the year the snowstorm kept a few of the big drivers from making it to Woodbine for the Breeders Crown he picked up a couple drives and had the best results from all the drivers there that night. Sure staying at the Meadows helped his numbers but don't act like couldn't of competed with the best of the. He just decided being a good family man was more important than running all over the East coast and abandoning his family like half these other clowns do.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Trotter4141 on June 15, 2023, 06:48:00 AM
I overheard some of the Scioto drivers talking about Merriman's schedule and they don't know he does it year after year. Say what you wish about the venue but he grinds/works his tail off.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Generation XYZ on June 15, 2023, 10:17:22 AM
Aron is a hard working dedicated guy.  Always interesting to watch him and Wrenn battle it out.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: remington on June 15, 2023, 10:29:13 AM
Staying healthy and luck will determine how he does.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Fuguzzi on June 15, 2023, 10:44:39 AM
Staying healthy and luck will determine how he does.
Uh, this is true for all of us, no matter our vocation.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: White Rabbit on June 15, 2023, 04:16:27 PM
The other factor I over looked is Aaron being able to keep up that schedule as he gets older.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Mailbox Money on June 16, 2023, 05:28:25 AM
He has to keep pushing in order to pay the tab on his sports betting tabs.Word on the backside a few years back was almost 30k on the NBA season alone! I hope thats not the case but ya never know.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Fuguzzi on June 16, 2023, 09:29:59 AM
Idle gossip - who cares?
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Superfecta on June 16, 2023, 12:13:59 PM
He has to keep pushing in order to pay the tab on his sports betting tabs.Word on the backside a few years back was almost 30k on the NBA season alone! I hope thats not the case but ya never know.

Modern Day Herve Filion. So what. He can afford it and when he can't he will stiff a 2/5 from the rail.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Fuguzzi on June 16, 2023, 01:30:42 PM
Herve? There was no one buried like Herve  He was stuck 2 million at times - atlantic city was holding a big part of that debt and I ma not just talking out my ass
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Calhoun on June 16, 2023, 01:32:30 PM
Herve? There was no one buried like Herve  He was stuck 2 million at times - atlantic city was holding a big part of that debt and I ma not just talking out my ass
which hotel?

Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Fuguzzi on June 16, 2023, 02:17:17 PM
Trump Taj Mahal   I gave Herve and Luc a couple rides there after the races on saturday nights from YR   we'd stay the rest of the weekend    they would gamble upstairs in a private casino   only hotel i am familiar with as far as Herve   He did a lot of sports gambling but i will not identify with whom on here
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Calhoun on June 16, 2023, 02:19:29 PM
Trump Taj Mahal   I gave Herve and Luc a couple rides there after the races on saturday nights from YR   we'd stay the rest of the weekend    they would gamble upstairs in a private casino   only hotel i am familiar with as far as Herve   He did a lot of sports gambling but i will not identify with whom on here
tmbz1
The Taj was nice back in the day
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Fuguzzi on June 16, 2023, 02:26:19 PM
Agreed     Id play 5 / 10 stud downstairs in their big poker room while waiting for them
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Superfecta on June 16, 2023, 02:58:45 PM
Herve? There was no one buried like Herve  He was stuck 2 million at times - atlantic city was holding a big part of that debt and I ma not just talking out my ass

Any chance the Capital Hill Farm fire was to correct that ?
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Fuguzzi on June 16, 2023, 04:12:03 PM
Pretty sure that fire predated the time I am referring to and I certainly would not want to think that way

Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Fuguzzi on June 16, 2023, 04:13:46 PM
Also, Herve pretty much died broke. He ended up on his son in law's farm, I think he was Irish, Jim something, working as a groom   People told me they saw an aged Herve cleaning stalls.   Very sad.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Superfecta on June 16, 2023, 04:26:56 PM
Also, Herve pretty much died broke. He ended up on his son in law's farm, I think he was Irish, Jim something, working as a groom   People told me they saw an aged Herve cleaning stalls.   Very sad.

That's very sad.
My 3 best memories of Herve were, him yelling at me in the winner's circle, he spit at me by the fence at Freehold (wide left) and he opted off a 1/5 can't lose at Roosevelt and took the 10-1 shot from post 7. The 1/5 won by 5 with Mike LaChance and Herve got the price horse from post 7 up for 2nd. $35 exacta was very sweet.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: kooter for hipin on June 16, 2023, 10:59:05 PM
Dave stayed at the Meadows all those years because he wasn't a money whore like some of these other drivers. Dave had the skill to drive with all those guys over the years. Remember when Sears and D Miller were at the Meadows to name a few he was still the leading driver and the year the snowstorm kept a few of the big drivers from making it to Woodbine for the Breeders Crown he picked up a couple drives and had the best results from all the drivers there that night. Sure staying at the Meadows helped his numbers but don't act like couldn't of competed with the best of the. He just decided being a good family man was more important than running all over the East coast and abandoning his family like half these other clowns do.

Hey, I loved Merriman & Palone especially when they were 2/5 and I had the best horse. Happened a lot at the Meadows with Stillings.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: SeattleSlew on June 17, 2023, 02:06:35 AM
That's very sad.
My 3 best memories of Herve were, him yelling at me in the winner's circle, he spit at me by the fence at Freehold (wide left) and he opted off a 1/5 can't lose at Roosevelt and took the 10-1 shot from post 7. The 1/5 won by 5 with Mike LaChance and Herve got the price horse from post 7 up for 2nd. $35 exacta was very sweet.

Over many years I owned about 18-20 horses, all racing the "big 3" circuit.  Of those, I only owned one pacer; the rest were trotters.  The only horse Herve drove for me was the pacer and Herve was really sensational...Pac er was "Silky Sullivan" in that he could be last by 15 lengths at the 3/4 but would be charging with the leaders in the final yards.. Herve would drive him to perfection and the horse outdid himself.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Fuguzzi on June 18, 2023, 12:01:59 AM
Hey, I loved Merriman & Palone especially when they were 2/5 and I had the best horse. Happened a lot at the Meadows with Stillings.
Nice for you but those two guys will win over 40, 000 races and Stillings?
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: kooter for hipin on June 18, 2023, 12:19:39 AM
Nice for you but those two guys will win over 40, 000 races and Stillings?


......is in the HOF having won several Little Brown Jugs and Merriman will always be a shit kicker who races over nights at a Bull Ring.  He will probably win 100,000 races but who really cares.  Do you really think he is a Grand Circuit driver?  Aaron has carved out a place that suits him, and cudos to him for having done that. I would rather watch a good Badmitten match than that carousel at Northfield. David Miller had his start in Ohio at Northfield I believe and look at him now. Would you like to make a comparison?
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: kooter for hipin on June 18, 2023, 11:57:12 AM
Over many years I owned about 18-20 horses, all racing the "big 3" circuit.  Of those, I only owned one pacer; the rest were trotters.  The only horse Herve drove for me was the pacer and Herve was really sensational...Pac er was "Silky Sullivan" in that he could be last by 15 lengths at the 3/4 but would be charging with the leaders in the final yards.. Herve would drive him to perfection and the horse outdid himself.

Quite a coincidence that there was a thoroughbred named Silky Sullivan who raced in the late 50's and was the 'talk of the town' for being able to make up incredible deficits of 15 to 40 lengths with Bill shoemaker up.  It's in Wiki.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Superfecta on June 18, 2023, 12:26:23 PM
Quite a coincidence that there was a thoroughbred named Silky Sullivan who raced in the late 50's and was the 'talk of the town' for being able to make up incredible deficits of 15 to 40 lengths with Bill shoemaker up.  It's in Wiki.

That reminds me of Nickawampus Leroy.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Fuguzzi on June 18, 2023, 03:15:28 PM

......is in the HOF having won several Little Brown Jugs and Merriman will always be a shit kicker who races over nights at a Bull Ring.  He will probably win 100,000 races but who really cares.  Do you really think he is a Grand Circuit driver?  Aaron has carved out a place that suits him, and cudos to him for having done that. I would rather watch a good Badmitten match than that carousel at Northfield. David Miller had his start in Ohio at Northfield I believe and look at him now. Would you like to make a comparison?
I dont know what your anger is about? I simply stated that Aaron Merriman will likely be the all time wins leader when he hangs em up. I never said he was a grand circuit driver nor did I fail to acknowledge the inadequicies of the circuits he drives on. I have respect for everyone on here and dont yell or curse at them and have paid my dues in this game for nearly 50 years, as have you, so don't come on here treating me badly.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: kooter for hipin on June 18, 2023, 03:28:24 PM
I dont know what your anger is about? I simply stated that Aaron Merriman will likely be the all time wins leader when he hangs em up. I never said he was a grand circuit driver nor did I fail to acknowledge the inadequicies of the circuits he drives on. I have respect for everyone on here and dont yell or curse at them and have paid my dues in this game for nearly 50 years, as have you, so don't come on here treating me badly.

I didn't curse at anybody and if I offended you, I apologize!
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Senator Blutarsky on June 18, 2023, 03:32:22 PM
Have a hug and a kiss, it's father's day, that includes great great great great grandfathers too!   ;D
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Fuguzzi on June 18, 2023, 05:02:08 PM
lololol
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: rainman2 on June 18, 2023, 06:01:02 PM
Trump Taj Mahal   I gave Herve and Luc a couple rides there after the races on saturday nights from YR   we'd stay the rest of the weekend    they would gamble upstairs in a private casino   only hotel i am familiar with as far as Herve   He did a lot of sports gambling but i will not identify with whom on here

'Birds of a feather, fly together?  Herve and the owner of the Taj Mahal at the time?
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: rainman2 on June 18, 2023, 06:01:50 PM
tmbz1
The Taj was nice back in the day

Is this hotel still standing today?  Asking for a friend!
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Calhoun on June 18, 2023, 06:09:06 PM
Is this hotel still standing today?  Asking for a friend!
Yes... it's a Ramada or something else now.

You still have the Volkswagen?
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: rainman2 on June 18, 2023, 06:12:22 PM
Yes... it's a Ramada or something else now.

You still have the Volkswagen?

No volkswagen, but thank you for asking.  Only 155k on it. 
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: SeattleSlew on June 18, 2023, 08:44:06 PM
That reminds me of Nickawampus Leroy.

Actually, my horse was not named Silky Sullivan, I used it in quotes as he was a "Silky Sullivan"-kind of horse, doing exactly what you remember.  I remember Nickawampus...he had such a "racky" gait, but George Phalen was able to make up tons of ground with him once he unloaded him.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: kooter for hipin on June 18, 2023, 08:55:12 PM
Actually, my horse was not named Silky Sullivan, I used it in quotes as he was a "Silky Sullivan"-kind of horse, doing exactly what you remember.  I remember Nickawampus...he had such a "racky" gait, but George Phalen was able to make up tons of ground with him once he unloaded him.

Understand! It was an analogy and a good one.
Title: Re: Aaron Merrimann
Post by: Fuguzzi on June 19, 2023, 05:03:59 PM
Is this hotel still standing today?  Asking for a friend!
The Taj is looooong gone, alas.
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