A TROTTING driver from Aberystwyth is making final preparations for the “biggest race of his life” — competing for a share of $1m — in the USA this weekend.

Former Llwyn yr Eos and Penglais pupil, Gareth Wyn Dowse, 35, will race Huntsville, a three-year-old horse which won the Dan Patch Award for the Best Two-Year-Old Horse last year, at the world-famous “million-dollar” Meadowlands Pace in New Jersey.

At just 20 years old, Gareth Wyn moved to the USA 15 years ago to “chase his dream”, his father, also called Gareth, explained to the Cambrian News this week.

“He was brought up with trotting over here with me, and spent a lot of his time with me at race tracks in Wales,” he said. “At 20, he went out to chase his dream, and hasn’t looked back.”

Gareth Wyn, who is now married to Jessica, who he met in the USA, was taken on as an apprentice by renowned horse trainer Ray Schnittker at his family-run stables in Goshen, New York State, where he is now “right-hand man” to Ray.

After Huntsville convincingly saw off all competition in the elimination round last weekend, Gareth Wyn is now getting ready for the main event, which takes place this Saturday, 15 July, at the Meadowlands Racetrack, New Jersey.

“It is one of the biggest races of his life,” added dad Gareth. “It is massive — it is equivalent to our Derby or Grand National.

“It is brilliant. I am really proud of him.

“He went from working over here as a barman, which he didn’t want to be doing, to living his dream in America.”