2008 Driver of the Year returning to sulky

Tim Tetrick told harnessracing.com Thursday afternoon that he received his doctor’s approval earlier in the day to begin driving again after having hip replacement surgery in early December and that he will climb back into the sulky Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Tetrick said he will slowly work his way back to full-time basis and he will be in the bike behind only Enhance The Night in Saturday’s $35,000 Invitational for fillies and mares.

“I feel good; I got released today,” said Tetrick, voted the 2008 Driver of the Year by members of the U.S. Harness Writers Association. “(The doctor) said I could do whatever I want. I’ll drive the one on Saturday and I called Dover and will drive a couple on Tuesday and then probably not again until the weekend. I will pick my spots…at least until the banquet in February (Night of Champions at Bellagio Feb. 4 in Las Vegas) and then start back in full swing. The muscles aren’t 100 percent but it probably won’t be for six months.”

Tetrick said he’s already been helping several trainers jog horses and clean stalls, including making trips to Florida where he helped Tom Harmer and Frank Antonacci, and to Chicago where he helped Robin Schadt. He had earlier said he had hoped to return to the track Jan. 22 in qualifying races.  

“I’ve been flying around everywhere,” said Tetrick. “Last Saturday morning I went with eight horses for Harmer…and then Monday I went and jogged 11 head right in a row for Frankie (Antonacci).”

Tetrick will also be at the Meadowlands on Friday night although it will be a different kind of seat he will be climbing into. Tetrick will be subbing for track handicapper Dave Brower in a co-hosting role alongside Sam McKee on the track’s in-house TV show.

“I don’t know how good I am at (handicapping) but I’ll see how it goes,” laughed Tetrick, who won 903 races and earned an all-time record $19.7 million in purses in 2008. 

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