We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. “It was a good head start for me where I didn’t have to worry about going home any time soon,” Todd said. “Australia was good to me. EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- January 8, 2020 -- For a guy who didn’t arrive until four months ago, Todd McCarthy continues to impress in harness racing’s toughest driver colony. December 8, 2017: With the eyes of the harness racing world on him this past summer, Canada's James MacDonald rose to the occasion and captured the 2017 World Driving Championship on home soil. McCarthy earned his first triumph in the U.S. in his third start and added four more victories in his next 25 races. “Australia was good to me. Hightstown, NJ — Over the past several years, driver Todd McCarthy contemplated leaving his native Australia to continue his career in North America. In my eyes, I think that’s a pretty great asset to have on your side.”, Todd was fortunate enough to secure a visa that will allow him to stay in the U.S. for a few years and would be extendable if necessary. McCarthy had been thinking about trying things in the U.S. for a while when he visited North America in 2019 to see his brother Andy race in the Breeders Crown at Woodbine at Mohawk Park. “If anything, he’s made it easier for me; he’s done all the hard yards,” he said. “I’ve been watching for a long time, but you’ve got to be here and driving in races to really pick that up,” McCarthy said. “Bet with your head, not over it.” Harness Racing Australia announces that current Australian driving champion, Todd McCarthy was selected as Australia’s representative. That’s been pretty cool. I’m doing my very best to educate myself. Not bad for the expat whose first drive at the mile oval was on Sept. 11. Horseman Website Design by eLink Design, Inc. A Lexington Web Design Company :: Hosted by Intelliwire, LLC, An Offsite Backup Company © 2021 Horseman Publishing Co., Lexington KY, All Rights Reserved. “It's more for cricket and rugby league,” he says. Todd said the most important thing he’s learned about racing at the Meadowlands is patience. Todd, 27, arrived with a resume that included winning the 2018 Inter Dominion and being the top driver at Menangle Racetrack in Sydney for five years, but now he was going to be taking on the big boys at the mecca of harness racing. 19. I’ve joked around that once we take our masks off, I probably won’t recognize people.”. “Back home, you sort of know most horses and have an idea how they race. Harness Racing Weekend Preview “You see great drivers and they seem like they’ve got all day to make decisions on the racetrack. But later in the month McCarthy, with his family in tow, will head to Sweden for the World Drivers … HEADED OVERSEAS: Talented reinsman Todd McCarthy will head to Canada this week and is looking forward to driving … McCarthy recently relocated to North America from Sydney Australia to further pursue his harness driving career. And the 27 year old wasted little time in finding the winner’s circle, posting five victories in his first 28 starts. “Australia was good to me. “I honestly thought when I came over here that I’d be picking up a drive here or there and I’d be doing it pretty tough there for a while. He notched his first stakes triumph with Marloe Hanover in a division of the Pennsylvania All-Stars. And that’s a pretty tough ask, trotting fillies.”. Adjusting to new horses and new drivers are McCarthy’s biggest challenges. “That it happened, that didn’t shock me at all.”. Find everything you need to know about horse racing at Equibase.com. “I was the top driver at Menangle Racetrack in Sydney for the last five years. Elkton, MD – Post Time with Mike and Mike is proud to announce the show’s lineup for Thursday, August 6th, 2020, at 10:30 AM. Each time I go out there, I’ve got as much knowledge as I can about the race and the horses in it and how I think the race is going to go.”. The 27-year-old McCarthy … “I would have liked to have been over a little earlier in the year, but obviously things got slowed down. Local Sport BATHURST native and one of New Souths Wales’ leading drivers Todd McCarthy is risking his premiership lead for an experience of a life time. Editor Derick Giwner sat down with driver Todd McCarthy to discuss life and racing. McCarthy is not the first driver to come to the Meadowlands and make their presence felt, but to do it so fast may be a first. TODD MCCARTHY Seeking fame and fortune in the U.S. August 26, 2020 National Trotguide FROM a youngster who once preferred to be out riding motor bikes – to a prominent harness racing driver about to embark on an international career, Todd McCarthy has covered a lot of territory in the past 10 years. It’s been great for years,” said McCarthy. “I’ve got to say, since being here in America, it’s been my favorite track to race at, The Meadowlands. Todd McCarthy never thought he would represent Australia. “He wouldn’t have driven more than a handful tops of young trotters before he came here. It’s been fantastic. I love going there every Friday and Saturday night. “I can’t thank all the trainers enough for that. Andy moved to the U.S. in 2007 and has won more than 2,500 races, including August’s Hambletonian with Ramona Hill. Todd knows his U.S. experience so far has been exceptionally good, and he can’t thank all the trainers — both expat and American — enough who have taken a chance on him. McCarthy, 27, arrived from Down Under at the end of August and has made an immediate impact racing in the States, winning 11 times from 87 starts entering action Saturday. HarnessRacing.com He was shutout on his first night at the Meadowlands, but the next night he made some noise winning four of the 13 races. Anoka Hanover has been the top horse this year for driver Todd McCarthy. Over the past several years, harness racing driver Todd McCarthy contemplated leaving his native Australia to continue his career in North America. “He’s thrown a few contacts my way and gotten me a little bit of work. Site contents may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. By emerging triumphant against a host of the nation’s best drivers, McCarthy … Over the past several years, driver Todd McCarthy contemplated leaving his native Australia to continue his career in North America. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. He had issues; Linda Toscano told us so. “I think seeing the success that [Andy] had there was obviously a big push for me to make the move,” Todd said. “I sort of started the process with my visa before corona hit and I kind of had my heart set on being able to come over this year,” Todd said. Something went wrong. Watching his brother Andy win four Breeders Crown trophies last October at Woodbine Mohawk Park helped convince McCarthy to do it in 2020. “As a kid growing up, you think of the Meadowlands, that for me has always been the pinnacle of harness racing, so to be able to get there and actually have a few drives, it was pretty surreal,” Todd said. Over here, I’ve had to start from scratch. “Learning to just feel like you’ve got a little more time, sometimes,” he said. Let It Ride N was sold this week but will retain Nifty Norman and Todd McCarthy will drive. … Dunn and Todd McCarthy both won three on the card, as the top two in the Fall-Meet driver standings upped their respective win totals to 46 and 40. My last couple seasons Down Under have been fantastic as far as the Grand Circuit goes, winning a lot of races. “I’ve had a lot of great support from trainers and that’s something I’m proud of as well. “I got to drive qualifiers [on Sept. 5 and 12] first so that was good to get a feel for the track,” he said. For a guy who didn’t arrive until four months ago, Todd McCarthy continues to impress in harness racing’s toughest driver colony. But I think just the timing, the way that things worked out, was that Andy was away and he was able to recommend me and at the same time there was also a handful of great drivers that were away for stakes races and I probably just arrived at the best possible time that I could have.”. Following in Andy’s ever-growing footsteps might seem daunting, but Todd is grateful for his brother’s support. The 27-year-old McCarthy continued to do good things since his arrival from Australia, winning … I was fortunate enough to be able to get over last week and it’s all worked out. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. A take-no-prisoners Todd McCarthy drive shot Kevin Pizzuto’s pacer to the lead in the early stages and with a 26.2-second third quarter and a track record smashing 1:53.9 mile rate he broke their hearts to salute in style. The combination led to a giant payday for a handful of sharp players…. Courtesy Harness Racing Australia | Driver Todd McCarthy. EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – For a second straight night, harness racing driver Todd McCarthy had the hot hand, and for a second straight week, action in The Meadowlands’ 20-cent Pick-5 was huge. That’s been a little bit tricky. Please check your entries and try again. Going into this weekend’s racing, driver Todd McCarthy sits atop the Meadowlands’ Fall Meet standings with 30 wins. by Debbie Little Going into this weekend’s racing, driver Todd McCarthy sits atop the Meadowlands’ Fall Meet standings with 30 wins. Todd arrived Stateside at the end of August, somewhat delayed by COVID-19. I’ve got a visa that allows me to stay for some time, so I’m planning on sticking around for quite a while.”. The distinction is awarded by the experts in the HRA Executive Office and only the very best drivers in the country are considered for the award. He represented Australia at the 2019 World Driving Championship and counts the Inter Dominion as his top victory. McCarthy, the regular driver of Ramona Hill, will talk about the filly’s chances in the upcoming Hambletonian at The Meadowlands on Saturday. “I’ve been overwhelmed by the support, that people have been willing to put me down and give me a shot,” McCarthy said. Maybe not vitally important to the bettor, but let them know. It’s been great for years,” said McCarthy. McCarthy recently relocated to North America f Down Under driver has huge weekend of racing. Guests include Andy McCarthy, Mike Wilder, and Dave Little. Todd’s accomplishments Down Under included winning the 2016 Australasian Young Drivers Championship and multiple New South Wales state and metropolitan premiership driving titles. And Fair World Magazine :: McCarthy, 27, arrived from Down Under at the end of August and has made an immediate impact racing in the States, winning 11 times from 87 starts entering action Saturday. Both Brian Sears and Tim Tetrick rose to the top at the Big M quickly, but unlike McCarthy, they had been established elsewhere in the U.S. before going there. His accomplishments Down Under included winning the 2016 Australasian Young Drivers Championship and multiple New South Wales state and metropolitan premiership driving titles. Watching his brother Andy win four Breeders Crown trophies last October at Woodbine Mohawk Park helped convince McCarthy to do it in 2020. BATHURST native Todd McCarthy registered a slice of history at Globe Derby on Saturday night. Todd’s win with the Daley-trained Anoka Hanover in the $451,800 Goldsmith Maid for 2-year-old trotting fillies last Saturday night put the driver at the top of the Big M standings, one in front of Dexter Dunn, who won four stakes races on that same night. “And not long after, I had a few winners come with it, so it was an amazing start for me in North America.”. That isn’t something you do as a harness driver. “The most amazing part of it is [Todd] really hasn’t driven young trotters before,” Daley said. Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment - 1 Racetrack Drive - East Rutherford, NJ 07073 - Call us at (201) THE-BIGM. The global coronavirus pandemic put his plans on hold for several months, but McCarthy finally was able to complete his move last week. He’s given me pointers on what to do and not to do. “My plan is to stay. The 27-year-old McCarthy continued to do good things since his arrival from Australia, winning four times on the Friday night card at The Meadowlands. It’s been great for years,” said McCarthy. Remember Chapter Seven was slow coming back in 2011 after a strong 2-year-old season and was heading to the Hambletonian. McCarthy is the younger brother of top drivers Luke and Andy McCarthy and son of highly regarded trainer John McCarthy. Not bad for the expat whose first drive at the mile oval was on Sept. 11. “I was the top driver at Menangle Racetrack in Sydney for the last five years. The Horse Race Insider is a privately owned magazine. Todd McCarthy wins four at Big M For a guy who didn’t arrive until four months ago, Todd McCarthy continues to impress in harness racing’s toughest driver colony. Andy win four Breeders Crown trophies last October at Woodbine Mohawk Park convince... There on that night it ’ s something I ’ ve joked around that once we take our off... Top drivers Luke and Andy are top drivers Luke and Andy McCarthy, Mike,. Initially, I was the top driver at Menangle Racetrack in Sydney for the last years. 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