For the winter wagering warriors who are used to seeing the name Yannick Gingras on the program at the Meadowlands this time of year, fear not, he is alive and well. Everyone needs time to recharge their batteries, and the 44-year-old decided to take a rare extended vacation leading up to the holiday season and into 2024. Gingras, who has rarely been away from racing for more than two weeks, was last seen in the sulky on December 14. He admits that there were times during the last five weeks when he was growing restless on the sidelines. "The first 10 days we were on vacation and that was good. There was a little over a week after that through Christmas and New Year's where things were slow; it just wasn't for me. It was quiet, I wasn't racing and the kids didn't have any activities. I was a little bored," said Gingras, who has since occupied his time visiting his son at college, attending his daughter's field hockey tournament and training babies. "Yes and no," said Gingras when asked if he was itching to get back in the bike. "This time of the year it is more of a grind and it's cold. I actually went and trained some babies last week just to stay active. I love racing great horses but in the winter it is more about keeping clients happy and getting out of the house. "It will be good to see the guys and get out of the house. I like the camaraderie." Those that miss the "Green Hornet's" colors on the track won't have to wait much longer as he plans to return from his five-plus week hibernation on Saturday, January 20 at the Meadowlands. The current plan calls for him to race at Yonkers on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and head over to the Meadowlands on Saturday nights. "I haven't really raced at Yonkers regularly since 2004 or 2005," said Gingras, who increased his Yonkers exposure in 2023. "I felt like my numbers were down the last few years and Pennsylvania isn't what it used to be purse-wise, so I decided to race at Yonkers instead. I had a good year and was really happy with it, so I'm going to do it again this year. I'm not going to race every week throughout the rest of the year because I have some vacations planned and other stuff, but those are the four days right now." Handicappers have also seen Gingras' name in the program more often in the owner's column. The driver said he currently has parts of about 20 horses right now and has been letting it grow organically along with longtime friend Frank Canzone. "We've made some good buys and some bad ones too. Frank is great to deal with. The horses we don't like, we just turn the page," said Gingras. "I really do enjoy it. I like looking for horses and Frank is always on the lookout for horses. We've been successful, so of course that always makes it more enjoyable. We are starting to have a lot of horses in the same spots, so we have to be mindful of what we buy going forward and maybe venture different places. We have some for the Saratoga and Plainridge circuit. It is nice to win with a horse but even nicer when you own a piece." While it may have been quietly executed in some respects, Gingras put up the second-best season of his Hall of Fame career which dates back to 1998. Horses steered by his expert hands earned $15,165,027 in 2023, trailing only his $17.3 million year in 2014. To put the driver's totals in perspective, $15.1 million ranks 11th on the single-season leaderboard for most earned in a year. Only four drivers in history have eclipsed the $15 million barrier – Tim Tetrick (eight times); Brian Sears (twice); Dexter Dunn (once). Gingras admitted that he didn't even realize the milestone number was approaching or that he had only eclipsed that total once before in his career. "I thought I had done it before but it was $14.2 [million]," said Gingras, who realized the $15 million goal was in reach in November of 2023. "Once I saw I had a shot at $15 million I wanted to get it, so I raced a lot in the fall. After the big races were done I needed about a million. It's a nice number and it hasn't been reached that many times in history. "If you go back to 2015, 2016, I think we were racing for more money back then, so to me a $15 million season now is pretty good." Along with his earnings and a 21% win rate, Gingras was nominated as United States Harness Writers Association's Dan Patch Driver of the Year along with Scott Zeron, who won decidedly (107-14) on the power of his victories in three million-dollar races – North America Cup, Hambletonian and Little Brown Jug. "I honestly think Scottie deserved to win it with the three million-dollar wins; he had a tremendous year coming back from the injury. There was no doubt in my mind he would win it, but I didn't expect the landslide part of it," said Gingras, who hypothesized that Zeron's third million-dollar win in the Little Brown Jug probably put him over the top. "To me it is an honor just to be nominated." With the Dan Patch Awards already revealed outside of Pacer, Trotter and Horse of the Year, some people believe the anticipation of the banquet evening is dampened. While Gingras admits he would've shown up expecting to lose Driver of the Year if USHWA used the O'Brien Awards format of having two finalists in each category and revealing the winner at the banquet, he would much prefer to have the excitement of not knowing who the winners will be beforehand. "With Karl and T C I, both groups would be there and thinking they have a legitimate chance to win it. With Sylvia Hanover and Dexter's [Dunn] filly [Twin B Joe Fresh], most people felt Sylvia was going to win, so the other group has the option of going or not going. Nobody is twisting anyone's arm to go. I really do think it would be better [with two finalists]" said Gingras. Gingras, who led Tim Tetrick by just over a million dollars in 2023 earnings, is obviously very happy with the results but perhaps even more excited with how it may spill over into the current year.  As the man in the bike behind Dan Patch winners Karl (2-year-old colt trotter) and Bythemissal (older male pacer), as well as top 2-year-old filly pacer Caviart Belle, the driver has plenty of returning Standardbred talent to hopefully build another huge year. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Of course, with Karl the "winter book" favorite to win the Hambletonian, all eyes will be on Gingras as he attempts to get that elusive victory in the trotting classic. Three times Gingras has driven a horse at 2-1 or lower in the Hambletonian final without the desired end result of winning. "The Hambletonian is a freaking hard race to win for anyone but Scott Zeron," joked Gingras, who takes the blame for the loss on Father Patrick in 2014 due to chasing him with the whip behind the gate but says the others were just a matter of circumstance. "Mission Brief finished second; if I had to do it over again I would still pick her over Pinkman. I thought she was the best after the elimination. It turned out to be the wrong call. Southwind Frank, he wanted to run the whole stretch and I held him together to finish second. One step after the wire he galloped. Ready For Moni got beat by Ramona Hill, who was simply better that day. If I was screwing up all the time and getting beat when I felt I could've won, I think mentally it would be a lot worse." Karl certainly has the looks of a generational talent. The son of Tactical Landing won nine of 10 starts and trotted the fastest mile of the year (1:51 2/5) in 2023. Gingras said he knew Karl would be special from the first time he qualified him in July at the Meadowlands. Now, some five months from Karl's likely 2024 debut and just under seven months from his potential Hambletonian destiny, Gingras put the colt's ability into perspective. "He's unbelievable. I think he's the best one I've driven coming into his 3-year-old season. With Father Patrick I was extremely confident too, but I think Karl has that next step. He's just so powerful. He has the manners and a great attitude to do it. I've said it before, he's the best 2-year-old I've driven," said Gingras before putting some perspective on the Hambletonian quest. "I do love the horse and think he has all the ability in the world, but Southwind Frank did too and didn't come back as sound as a 3-year-old. There is so much that goes into it, and we just have to hope he comes back healthy." Gingras added that to his knowledge Karl was never fully turned out. "He's jogging a few days a week and [trainer Nancy Takter] said he is feeling and acting good." Whether Gingras can repeat or exceed his 2023 success this year remains to be seen. First he must return to the track, put in the work, and hopefully for him, celebrate a Hambletonian victory one day before he turns 45.