Drivers profile by Kimberly Rinker, Maywood Park/Chicago

Hans Jürgen Von Holdt, 38, who carries the hopes of Germany, wears bright orange, black and yellow silks. A resident of Neu Wulmstorf, Holdt began driving Standardbreds in 1992 and hasn’t showed any signs of slowing down, winning, to date, over 500 races. He’s already won 36 races in 2008.

While he makes his living crouching underneath horses as a journeyman blacksmith, repairing feet and nailing on shoes, it’s on the racetrack where Holdt garners the most joy. Averaging 37 or more driving wins per year—as he did in 2007, truly seems to be what Holdt does best at.