Baillargeon celebrates career earnings milestone
At 0h01, on August 20, 2025 • By Mark McKelvie, Woodbine Communications
Veteran driver Mario Baillargeon became the newest member of the C$100-million earnings club on Tuesday evening (Aug. 19) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Baillargeon, who entered Tuesday’s action just C$705 shy of C$100 million, reached the significant milestone in the evening’s fourth race by guiding 3-year-old trotter and 73-1 shot Wills Watchin to a fifth-place finish.
After surpassing the C$100 million mark, Baillargeon was joined by his wife, daughter and members of Woodbine Mohawk Park’s driving colony for a special presentation.
A Quebec native now living in Acton, Ont., Baillargeon has been a mainstay around Woodbine and Ontario’s racing circuit for close to three decades. He began his career in 1977 at Blue Bonnets in Montreal and raced across North America, including stops in the 1980s in California, Michigan and Florida.
After spending a large portion of the 1990s in Quebec, Baillargeon shifted his focus to the Woodbine/Mohawk circuit later in 1999 and enjoyed career years through the early 2000’s.
Baillargeon’s highest earning season was in 2002, driving the winners of C$8 million. He notably captured the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace that season with Totally Western for trainer Ben Wallace.
He also enjoyed great success with Ontario-sired star and top Open performer Zooka (C$1.3 million) from 2004 to 2010.
Nicknamed “Super Mario”, Baillargeon has recorded 7,899 career wins to go with his C$100 million in earnings.
