When Matt Kakaley decided he wanted to pursue a career as a harness racing driver, that was his only focus.
“I never thought about numbers,” said Kakaley. “I just dreamed of racing and winning big races.”
The numbers Kakaley has amassed since he won his first race in 2006, though, provide an opportunity for the 35-year-old to reflect on fulfilling his career objective. On Tuesday, May 16, Kakaley recorded his 6,000th victory. Two days earlier, he surpassed $100 million USD in purses.
According to the U.S. Trotting Association’s Information and Research Department, Kakaley is the third-youngest driver to hit $100 million USD, trailing only Tim Tetrick and Yannick Gingras. A total of 31 drivers have reached that level (in U.S. dollars).
“Obviously, I would have never thought I could hit a number like that so quickly,” said Kakaley. “It’s kind of humbling to realize how lucky I am, how fortunate I’ve been, with all the great relationships I’ve developed through my career. There have been a lot of people that helped me get to this number, it’s definitely not my own doing. It’s the support system I have and it’s all the people who have given me opportunities to drive.
“That’s really special to hit a number like that, at a relatively young age too. I’m really proud of this one.”
Kakaley was the youngest driver at the time to accumulate both 1,000 wins (in 2009 at the age of 21) and 2,000 wins (in 2012, just shy of his 24th birthday). Although several drivers have reached 6,000 at a younger age, led by Tetrick who was 29, Kakaley got to the milestone younger than most of the sport’s all-time leaders in wins, including Dave Palone, Tony Morgan, Cat Manzi, David Miller and Aaron Merriman.
“It’s something I’m proud of, for sure,” Kakaley said of his victory total. “It’s been a lot of hard work, a lot of miles up and down the road, but I’m living the dream I had as a kid. This is what I always wanted to do. When you hit milestones like this, it shows you’re working hard and the hard work is paying off. I’m happy.”
Kakaley followed his grandfather, Joe, who owned horses and spurred the family’s interest in harness racing, and his parents, Linda and John, in getting involved in the sport. He lived in Michigan until he was 12 and spent his teen years around Pompano Park in Florida. During his time in the Sunshine State, Kakaley worked with a pacer named Rickards Ed, who played a big role in his ambitions.
“That horse was special to me,” Kakaley said several years ago. “He came in the barn and he was the best horse my parents had. He was an Open pacer at the time. I started working with him all the time and that was the turning point for me. He was just a great horse around the barn, great to work with. He was fun.
“When I was a kid, that horse helped me make the decision, I’d say. That’s when I felt like this is what I wanted to do.”
Kakaley, who received the 2010 Rising Star Award from the U.S. Harness Writers Association, set career highs in 2022 for wins with 529 and purses with $9.37 million. He was the leading driver at Pocono Downs and tops the standings there again this season.
Among his victories last year was the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes with Pleaseletmeknow. Other memorable career wins include two Breeders Crown triumphs at Pocono in 2018.
Now, Kakaley remains focused on continuing to live his dream, particularly as the Grand Circuit season begins to heat up.
“It’s time to get busy,” said Kakaley. “I’ve got a few horses that I’m looking forward to. Hopefully, I’ll jump on a couple of good two-year-olds too, that’s always my favourite part. I like watching them develop and to be part of it along the way. The two-year-olds are a lot of fun.
“But I’m not looking ahead to anything. I’m just going to let things happen the way they’re going to happen.”
(USTA)