Driver Dexter Dunn’s season is done. After a long and prosperous year, Dunn, who exceeded even his wildest expectations, has earned some time off. “I’m taking 10 days off,” said Dunn on Saturday (12/21). “I’m going to Scotland to visit my daughter.” Acclimating to the U.S. racing schedule, Dunn found the going a little slow early but by year’s end others were having difficulty keeping up with him. The statistics were astounding as Dunn drove 2,696 horses competitively, managing to win 461 times. The gaudy number with the dollar sign to its left was in excess of $12 million. While Dunn may have come to this country with a solid reputation as the best driver from Down Under, his climb to the top echelon was incredible in that many of the better drives he picked up came later in the season with other top drivers getting first crack at many of the leading horses in the nation. While getting acclimated Dunn found himself driving much more often than he regularly would Down Under. “I think if you look back at my career, the most drives I ever had in one year was 1,200,” said Dunn. “The schedule is much different and horses don’t get in as often.” That Dunn drove more than double the number of horses this year says a lot about the American schedule but also his own willingness to work hard and double-up when necessary. “I live about 15 minutes from Chester (Harrah’s Philadelphia), so that was my base,” said Dunn, “But there were plenty of doubleheaders.” Needless to say, despite the extra drives this year Dunn is far from complaining about anything. “I’m young and I can handle it,” Dunn said of his regular workload that saw him racing many afternoon-evening doubleheaders. Obviously the biggest reason for the additional drives was that Dunn was constantly in demand, as he proved over and over again this fall. He closed out his 2019 season at The Meadowlands on Saturday night with four more victories. While some drivers have particular styles, Dunn appears to try to get the most out of every horse while not overstressing them in the early stages. Watching him on a nightly basis there are so many times that others outsprint him in the early stages but are looking at his back turning into the homestretch. “I love it here,” Dunn said of the country that has become his second home. “I’m grateful to all of the trainers and owners that have given me the opportunity to drive for them.” Considering the results you’d have to say the feeling is mutual to the growing number Dunn has driven for. When you look back at 2019 it’s not just Dunn that arrived on the scene but countless horses that originated in Australia and New Zealand have made it to the mainland and prospered. “It’s just more difficult to race a horse there,” said Dunn. “Once a horse wins four races they could get in a class against horses that have won 10 and have no chance.” Thus, Dunn explains why so many horses with great potential are worth giving up on and selling to North American buyers. “There are plenty of classes to race those horses every week here,” Dunn said. While Dunn has only one horse he currently owns racing in North America, he too has found success on that side of the fence. Billy Badger N captured a $30,000 Open at Dover Downs on Thursday, December 19 in a 1:50 clocking at Dover and the victory was special for a couple of reasons. First, it was a lifetime best for the son of Art Major that has now earned nearly $80K this year as a 6-year-old. Perhaps even more special was that Dunn and Billy Badger N were in against Wiggle It Jiggleit, a horse Dunn remembers fondly from his 3-year-old season in 2015. “I remember watching him win the Little Brown Jug,” said Dunn, who said there was plenty of social media keeping him informed of the racing action in the States while in New Zealand. Dunn stopped by to visit Wiggle It Jiggleit before the Dover race. “I just wanted to see him up close and give him a pet on the nose,” said Dunn. Dunn looked back briefly on the year that’s passed and when asked if there was a moment that stood out where both he and a horse he was driving both elevated their game at the same time, he was quick to answer. “I’d say it was winning the Breeders Crown with Amigo Volo,” said Dunn. “He made a break on me in the elimination and I really didn’t know what to expect in the final. I left out of there with him and we went extremely fast the opening quarter.” Dunn managed to throttle the speed just a little but the son of Father Patrick continued strong fractions and essentially bottomed out his rivals. The fractions could have proven risky, but Dunn was able to save enough to get the gelding home well clear of his rivals. “He went a very big trip that night and kind of surprised me,” said Dunn. Less of a surprise to Dunn was the huge season enjoyed by Bettor’s Wish, who ended 2019 with the highest single-season earnings in North America for a Standardbred. Dunn lamented the second-place finish in the TVG Open final to Always A Prince. “I kind of figured we’d end up third-over,” said Dunn. “I actually told Chris (Ryder) before the race. Sure if I had left the gate a little the results could have been different.” Yet Dunn gave credit where it was due. “Yannick (Gingras) drove a great race,” Dunn said, giving credit to Always A Prince’s driver who controlled the pace that night. Dunn is of course looking forward to the return of Bettor’s Wish in 2020 to tackle older horses. He’s also bought into a couple of yearlings Ryder purchased this fall. When he returns from his vacation, Dunn says he’ll drive regularly this winter at Dover Downs and The Meadowlands. Though winters are significantly colder in the Northeast than he experienced in his homeland, it is safe to say Dunn will remain one of the hottest drivers in North America in 2020 and beyond.