Oosting takes Balmoral drivers' title

In recent years veterans Mike Oosting and Ken Rucker have become fixtures in the winner’s circle at Balmoral Park. So it should come as no surprise that this successful duo added yet another driving and training title to their respective resumes with some eye-catching numbers.  

Oosting, who notched his 3,000th career driving victory earlier in the year, piloted 326 winners in 1,566 starts. The 45-year-old Beecher, Ill. native also had 229 second-place finishes and 229 third-place finishes. Now a three-time titleholder here at Balmoral, Oosting’s winning average of 20.82 percent was also tops among the Balmoral driving colony. Oosting-driven horses also earned $2,226,341 during the 2007 Balmoral season.

Ryan Anderson, who missed the final week of action after suffering a broken femur in a spill here on Dec. 23rd, finished second in the standings with 282 victories while Sam Widger was third with 228 wins.

On the training side of the docket, Rucker laid claim to another title as his steeds visited the winner's circle 123 times in 602 starts. Rucker trainees also posted 103 second-place finishes and 82 third-place finishes while earning $1,075,633.

Erv Miller finished second in the trainer standings sending out 97 winners in just 311 starts. His winning average of 31.19 percent and earnings of $1,109,462 were tops among the Balmoral Park conditioners. Darcy Pletcher finished third with 89 winners in 584 starts.          

Favorites clicked at a 36.99-percent rate in 2007 on the one-mile oval while 56.66 percent of the “chalks” finished first or second. (Balmoral Park) 

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