Ryan Anderson Pilots Michael's Western to Maywood Park Track Record

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Apr 11, 2004

Ryan Anderson, one of the brightest stars in harness racing today, added another feather to his cap when he piloted Michael's Western to a new track record clocking of 1:51 at Maywood Park on Friday night, April 9. The 23-year-old Carmichael, California native steered the five-year-old son of Western Hanover to the fastest mile ever in the 58-year history of Chicago's half-miler.

"I had a really big hold of this horse down the backside," Ryan said. "When I asked him to go three-wide, he just accelerated. I chirped to him a little bit and he was gone. I didn't realize how fast we were going or I would have asked him to go a little bit more, just to get a faster time on him. He's definitely one of the best horses I've ever driven."

Michael's Western was purchased by California owners Gordon Eyraud, Gayner Palmer and Errol Murphy Jr for a private sum on March 19 and then shipped to trainer Joe Anderson's Stable in Crete, Illinois soon afterward. The gelding had been racing at Woodbine Raceway in Canada.

Michael's Western was set to race in Balmoral's Free For All Pace on March 27, but became sick and was scratched. He then qualified at Maywood on Monday, April 5th-just five nights before his impressive victory in the $22,000 Free For All-stopping the timer in a brisk 1:55.4 with Ryan at the controls.

"When I qualified him at Maywood, it wasn't my intention to go that fast," Ryan said. "But this horse has a lot of go to him, and his speed is surprisingly deceptive. We weren't really sure how he'd handle the half-mile, so that's why we qualified him. But obviously, he can handle it pretty well."

Michael's Western pushed his career earnings to $253,979 with the win, his third of the season in nine tries. His seasonal earnings now stand at $32,023, and his record mile at Maywood eclipsed the old record of 1:51.1 set by Frontstreet Marty and driver Mike Oosting on November 8, 2002.

Ryan, who grew up under the tutelage of his successful father-trainer-driver Joe Anderson, sports the family colors of blue, white and gold. To date he has driven the winners of $9.3 million, and it is likely that he will reach the 1,000 win plateau this season. From 6,488 career starts since he began driving racehorses in 1999, Ryan has amassed 948 winners, 763 runner-up finishers and 754 third-place finishers.