Altmeyer wins 1,000th-career race as trainer
Dan Altmeyer viewed Ronnie Wrenn Jr. driving Pit Boss Hanover to victory in Thursday’s third race on the card at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Any win is big for a trainer, but Altmeyer earned his 1,000th-career victory. Altmeyer has been training since the mid-1970s, but the United States Trotting Association didn’t start compiling statistics for trainers until 1991.
Altmeyer, 69, grew up in Kittanning near the Dayton Fairgrounds, and was introduced to harness racing by his father, Bill, who had a small stable and considered it a hobby more than a career.
Altmeyer knew he would make harness racing into his life’s work once he got started.
Altmeyer has trained six world champions, including Cambest, who in 1993 finished the mile in 1:46.1, which was a world record in the distance.
He is not just a trainer, as Altmeyer has 600 career wins as a driver and earned nearly $16 million in combined purses between driving and training.