Horner Hits 2,500 Career Driving Win Milestone

Veteran horseman Mike Horner drove the talented filly Big Nipper - owned/bred by Doug Wilson and Mark Horner - to victory on Friday night at The Raceway and in doing so he would hit his 2,500 career driving win milestone.

Big Nipper with her connections and driver Mike Horner after a recent win in London. (Paige Porter)

From a driving career that spans almost 40 years Mike has been associated with some very nice horses and plenty of fan favourites, in London, including Button Up, Franceschetti, Pinky Tuscadero, The Joy Luck Club and many others.

Mike Horner aboard fan-favourite Pinky Tuscadero. (Norm Files)

Horner’s driving totals - that date back to 1986 - show from 23,017 starts… 2,500 wins, 2,554 seconds and 2,657 thirds - with $14,687,960 in purse money earned.

The Joy Luck Club with Mike Horner up winning at Flamboro. (Norm Files)

Mike’s big win in the $300,000 Battle of Waterloo Final, of 2005, has to rank right up there as a top moment, for him, in the race bike. Driving Button Up, owned by his brother Mark, Mike would move for the lead at the opening quarter and after taking command - the pair would never be challenged - coasting home to an eye-popping 156.2 performance over the Grand River Raceway half-miler.

Impeccable (Mark MacDonald) would finish seven lengths back in second and third went to Spokesman (Steve Condren) - then came Daylon Classic, Underground King, Hunter Hylight, Great Balldini, King Joe and Mythic Voyage.

Mike Horner and Button Up winning the 2005 Battle of Waterloo Final. (Grand River Raceway)

This past summer Grand River’s Industry Day celebrations included ‘The Button Up Preferred’ for top aged pacers - a race dedicated to the memory of this top performer. Button Up - following his richest career win as a two-year-old in 2005 - would go on to win the ‘Industry Day Preferred’ for aged pacers in 2007, 2010 and 2012.

Mike Horner on his way to warm up Sporty Lil Vixen in London. (Sugar Doyle)

Congratulations Mike on 2,500 career driving wins - well done!