Trackside With: Drew Monti

22-year-old driver Drew Monti. Photos by Roth.

Two minutes with your favorite drivers, trainers, owners and people from around the sport. This month’s edition of Trackside features 22-year-old Drew Monti who was Batavia Downs’ leading driver in 2016 and recently decided to try his hands at the Meadowlands Racetrack for the first time. He currently sits third in the driver standings there.

Childhood Ambition:
I was always big into baseball, up through high school. I thought that was something I could do.

First Job:
I helped my dad in the barn and the paddock and he’d throw me a few bucks once in awhile.

Hero:
My father, Darrin Monti, and my grandfather, Carl Monti, really are my go-to guys. My grandfather has been racing since the late ‘60s and even outside of horse racing he was a great athlete.

Fondest (Non-Racing) Memory:
When I was 12 years old, I was playing travel baseball and we had a chance to go to Cooperstown, N.Y. and play. That’s where the Baseball Hall of Fame is and my father went with me, as well as a lot of my family, including my grandfather.

Proudest Racing Moment:
I won a New York Sire Stakes race this past year for 2-year-old pacing colts (with Americanfirewater). The horse hadn’t had a win yet and I hadn’t had a sire stakes win yet.

Soundtrack (What song/music are you currently listening to?):
I like a lot of grunge—Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Nirvana—but I like to mix it up a bit.

Biggest Challenge:
The up and downs are the hardest part. You have to pay your dues. If you get on a streak and you think that you have to keep it going, but nothing lasts forever. It’s tough.

Perfect Day:
Getting done at the barn early and spending a summer day outside with my family. That would be good enough for me.

Inspiration:
I’m pretty competitive and my family’s the same way. They’re driving me to do better.

This article originally appeared in the February 2017 edition of Hoof Beats Magazine.