At 56, Cat Manzi was the oldest driver in last night’s $1 million Meadowlands Pace, but unlike most professional athletes who would have long been retired, like a fine wine he keeps getting better.
“I can’t explain it, but everything is working good for me,” said Manzi, who drove the 7-5 morning-line favorite Artistic Fella last night.
Manzi is currently ranked third in North America in wins (364) and fifth in money earnings ($4M). Incredible stats when you consider his career and life were nearly cut short by a head injury suffered in a driving accident at Freehold Raceway on May 29, 1999. But after months of rehabilitation, he was right back winning driving titles at Freehold and ranking in the Top 10 at the Meadowlands.
“I’ve never been hurt like that and I don’t know many people who have been and could recover from it,” he said. “I’m proud of the recovery I made, but I don’t really think about the accident too much. I’m proud of what I’ve done since, that’s for sure.” Since then, Manzi has marked some career milestones. In 2002, he was given the sport’s highest honor, being inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y. In 2004, he won his first $1M race, guiding Mantacular to victory in the North America Cup. And last year, he passed the 11,000-win plateau, becoming only the second driver to hit that mark. He also was honored as the 2005 Driver of the Year.
“It’s never been better for me,” he said. “I don’t ever remember when I could enjoy it like I am now. I guess its part of just being older. I’m more relaxed and I’m not really expecting big things to happen and they just keep happening. There’s no pressure and I’m enjoying it more than ever.” A native of Sullivan County, N.Y., Manzi comes from a large family of horsemen.
“I grew up doing this and I liked doing it and I was getting paid to do it and it just doesn’t get better than that,” he said. “So all I did was just keep working and whatever happened was great. I don’t have any goals. I’m just trying to enjoy it as I go.
“I’m going to know when its time for me not to drive anymore. I don’t know when that’ll be, but I’ll know when it’s there.” If the last few years are any indication, Manzi should remain at the top of his game for some time to come.
