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Palone gets 16,000th career win

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MEADOW LANDS – Hall of Famer Dave Palone, the winningest driver in North American harness racing history, became the first with 16,000 career wins. He notched the historic win Tuesday at The Meadows when he piloted DM Big Dog Daddy to victory in the second race.

Palone vaulted atop the win list July 5, 2012, when he earned career victory 15,181, moving him past longtime leader Herve Filion. Since then, Palone has garnered 819 wins, piling up victories at an impressive clip.

“This one kind of crept up on me,” said Palone, 51, a Rices Landing native. “It happened so fast. I’ve had a pretty good run since setting the record. Somehow, knock on wood, I’ve remained upright. I think I’ve been down only once since then. I just show up every night and bang them out.”

Palone has moved within range of international career wins leader Heinz Wewering, who has 16,889 victories. That’s something of a moving target, since Wewering remains active in Europe.

“My goal is to ultimately catch Wewering, if it’s meant to happen,” Palone said. “I’d like to meet the guy and shake his hand because I know how hard he’s worked.”

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