Driver Chris Lewis claims his 5000th career victory on New Year's Eve

Once upon a time there was a pacing driver named Chris Lewis. 

Lewis first raced when he was 16 years old and since then he has won a number of major prizes in his sport including two Inter Dominion wins and is a member of the WA Racing Industry hall of fame. 

Coming to Bunbury on Saturday night, Lewis had drives in all eight races and 4996 career wins under his belt. Only two drivers in Australian history have passed 5000 wins – Chris Alford and Gavin Lang.

There were whispers all around the track – would tonight be the night that the champion became a legend? 

Race one suggested the answer to that question was yes, with Lewis leading a massive all-the-way win with Cardigan Boko Swe ($1.04). 

He then took another step closer in race two with Disco Josu ($8.90) chasing down the favourite to win by a nose.

Race three went the way of Raffaello ($2.20) and driver Deni Roberts while Ryan Warwick scored his first win of the night in race four with Rock Diamonds ($3.30). 

Another confident on-the-pace drive in race five gave Lewis win number 4999 with Three Bears ($3.00) tipping out Warwick and McClinchie. 

The pair then partnered the favourites in race six, the New Years Eve Cup and with a shiny gold trophy on the line, it looked as though Lewis would reach his milestone with Major Stare. But Warwick had other ideas, nudging out the pair with Mister Daytona ($6.90). 

A second chance to claim the milestone presented itself to Lewis in race seven with the aptly named I’m The Best. The pair burned straight to the lead in the first lap and with one circuit remaining, appeared to be full of running. Down the back, the champion driver urged his ride forward and by the final bend, the win looked all but secured. 

With 200 metres to go, Lewis allowed himself a rare smile and held up five fingers close to the line, one for every 1000 winners he had driven in his outstanding career.

The crowd rose as one to salute the rare feat with Lewis’s family rushing onto the track to congratulate him in person.

Win number 5001 wasn’t to be in the final race of the night though with Lewis and Heez Chivalrous finishing second to Milliondollahanova ($16.10). 

A wonderful fireworks display helped to see out 2016 and as this chapter of the story draws to a close, you can be assured that 2017 will continue to deliver plenty more winners for Chris Lewis.