Trotters vs Pacers

[SeattleSlew]

Rookie question - are different driving/handling skills required for drivers racing trotters and pacers?  It would seem to me there may be different skills required when driving the two different gaits.

Since the question related to driving skills, Ake should not be in the conversation.  For as great as his development/rigging/training skills are, he does not drive well at all and it is MY OPINION that each and every one of his horses would have done even better with others doing the teaming, not to mention a Hambo that he puked up with Six Pack.

[Sam R]

I  had a lot of success with Jeff Gregory on trotters.

[Parked]

Jeff is very good with a trotter. Great hands . Pretty much just drives his own now. 

[Grandstand Handicapper]

I always, always, always liked Jeff. Very good hands, excellent finesse, and a soft touch when needed, and, he's truly one of the good guys in our sport.

Many years ago Linda Toscano started using him a bit, mostly in the NYSS -- but years later, he won the Breeders Crown with Chapter Seven for Linda! He also won a Hambo Oaks! After he had that accident and suffered a massive broken elbow, he really had to reinvent himself a bit. He went from being a catch-driver and one of the leading drivers at Yonkers Raceway, to building a bigger, quality stable.

[Parked]

I don’t remember him breaking an elbow but know he shattered a hip. He now has about 15 at Spring Garden Ranch.  All 2 and 3 year olds.   
A real gentleman as is his father..   

[Grandstand Handicapper]

That too. He had a massive break. His elbow was shattered. The surgery was major and required follow up surgery to remove hardware and wires. He had a series of a injuries with that major one that caused him to shift from being a catch-driver to a trainer. A really good guy! Like I said, I always liked him.

[Meadow Ford]

And here I thought all of Horseplop hated The USTA and all it's directors?