The Bathurst born McCarthy brothers, Andrew and Todd, have taken North American harness racing by storm in the last two years and the juggernaut isn’t showing any signs of slowing.
The brothers have driven the winners of more than $US74 million between them so far with Andrew amassing a hefty $US62.6 million and Todd, who only started driving in America in 2020, winning $US11.5 million.
Andrew, 36, has been among the top bracket of money-winning drivers for the past three years, finishing ninth in 2019 and fifth in 2020 and 2021. He is fifth on this season’s Grand Circuit driving premiership.
Todd, 29, finished ninth on the driver’s table in only his second season in 2021.
Both have million-dollar race wins to their credit. Andrew took out the 2020 Hambletonian with the filly Ramona Hill in a race record equalling 1:50.2, while Todd captured the prestigious North America Cup with Pebble Beach earlier this month.
Their older brother, Luke, has won the Miracle Mile the last three years with King Of Swing, making the McCarthys the only three driving brothers to each win a million-dollar race. And, they accomplished the feat in three different countries!
Andrew, who started driving in the Land of the Stars and Stripes in 2007, has won most of the big races on the North American calendar, many of them more than once.
Besides his Hambletonian triumph, he has won five finals of the Breeders Crown, Canadian Trotting Classic (twice), She’s A Great Lady, Kentucky Futurity, Shady Daisy (three), Blue Chip Matchmaker (2), Zweig Memorial, Jim Doherty Memorial, Nadia Lobell (twice), Del Miller Memorial, Tattersalls Pace (twice), Mistletoe Shalee (twice), Milton Pace (twice), Nassagawega (three), Adioo Volo, Goodtimes Trot and the Little Brown Jugette.
A number of horses that Andrew has been associated with have collected USA and Canadian Horse of the Year awards. They include the USA 2YO and 3YO Filly Trotter of the Year Ramona Hill, Tall Drink Hanover (Canadian 2YO Filly of the Year), Caviart Ally (Canadian Mare of the Year) and the USA Trotter of the Year and 3YO Trotting Colt of the Year Jujubee.
Todd’s best winners have been Pebble Beach (North America Cup, Somebeachsomewhere and International Stallion Stake), Allywag Hanover (Canadian Pacing Derby, William Haughton Memorial and Sam McKee Memorial), Darlene Hanover (Zweig Memorial), Anoka Hanover (Goldsmith Maid, Bluegrass and International Stallion Stake), Grace Hill (James Lynch Memorial) and Nautical Hanover (Bluegrass).