Dexter Dunn named 2024 Driver of the Year in USA

[Wandering Eyes]

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Dexter Dunn is back. The 35-year-old has secured his fifth USA Driver of the Year award in the past six years, after a stellar 2024.

Dunn, who won 10 consecutive New Zealand driving premierships before heading to the USA in 2018, has won this year’s award after having 304 wins in North America in 2024. 

He had won more than $15m in stakes before, but his total this year ($16.645m) was his best ever, and $2m more than the second highest earner Yannick Gingras ($14.58m). 

Dunn won the Driver of the Year title four years in a row between 2019-2022 before being pipped last year by Scott Zeron. The awards are voted on by the US Harness Writers Association. 

This year he was considered an absolute certainty to reclaim his crown, especially after winning a record six Breeders Crown championships in October at his “home” track, the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

One of those wins was with star pacer Twin B Joe Fresh. Co-owned by Dunn and fellow ex-pat Kiwi, trainer Chris Ryder, Twin B Joe Fresh was named four-year-old female pacer of the year after a 2024 that included 11 wins and two seconds from 13 starts. 

The winners will be recognized at the 2024 Dan Patch Awards Banquet on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida.

That date however coincides with Dunn’s appearance at the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship at Albion Park in Brisbane.

The Championship will feature 10 drivers, selected by the 10 slot owners, competing in a 20-race series over two nights on February 21 and 22,  with more than $250,000 in prize money offered.

Both Dunn and Gingras will drive there as will rising Kiwi star Carter Dalgety. Dalgety and Dunn are the best of mates and earlier this year Dalgety spent three months based at his place in the USA.

With just days of the current season left Dalgety has a three win lead over Sam Thornley in the battle to be this country’s  top junior driver. It’s the same premiership that Dunn won four years in a row (2008-2011).

After establishing himself as New Zealand’s top driver (2008-2017) Dexter Dunn has now reclaimed his place as North America’s number 1 with many experts saying that right now he is the best driver anywhere in the world.

 

 

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