Even after all the numerous awards and big stakes races he's won in America, master harness racing trainer George Teague Jr still puts a lot of his success down to luck. The Delaware horseman is also one of the sport's most humble horsemen and is quick to deflect praise.

"It's been a really good season. In fact the last few years have been really consistent. I've been real lucky," Teague Jr told Harnesslink.

Luck only played a minor part. Combine Teague Jr's horsemanship with a thriving family business and quality staff and you've got all the ingredients for success.

Harrington-based Teague Jr and his sister Brenda -- surpassed $4 million in purses for the fifth consecutive season last year. As at today (Tuesday November 17) Teague Jr's stake earnings stood at $3.75 million in 2011.

His 175 dash wins are only nine less than his personal best achieved in 2009. That was also the year Teague Jr won a career high $5.71 million

Last year his Harrington stable had several stakes winners, including Adios champion Delmarvelous, Fancy Filly, Feel Like A Fool, Dr Dreamy, Wink N Atcha, and I'm Gorgeous.

A year earlier the Teagues won the Breeders Crown and Three Diamonds with Fancy Filly, who went on to capture divisional honors; the Hoosier Cup with Mr Wiggles; and the Woodrow Wilson with Windfall Blue Chip.

But this year it has been all about one horse - Custard The Dragon, who set a world record of 1:48.1 on a fifth eighths mile track in the Adios Elimination at The Meadows.

The talented Dragon Again 3-year-old colt, had a month earlier, provided Teague Jr's son Montrell with the biggest win of his driving career when winning The Hoosier Cup at Hoosier Park.

"That was my favorite race. I was so pleased for both Montrell and the horse. My son has provided me with some very happy moments in the sport this year. We get along really well. He's a good driver and I am very proud of him both on and off the track," 48-year-old Teague said.

Having had top divisional horses and being one of the top trainers in the USA the past 10 years, ironically it has taken until 2011 for Teague Jr to nail his first racetrack training title.

Teague doesn't often accumulate a lot of starts at one racetrack, which makes it harder to win an individual title.

"We had a great year locally. It's really special to win a title here at home. We race at many tracks and like to follow the good stakes. We don't stay at one spot forever.

"It's something I've always wanted to achieve and I'm glad to have done it on my home track at Harrington Raceway. It means a lot to me," said Teague who trained 70 winners.

The Teague stable sported a UDR of .579, an all-time high for a barn with more than 100 starts at a Harrington meet.

Teague followed in the footsteps of his late father, George Teague, Sr - his idol who passed away almost 30 years ago.

"It means a great deal to be able to carry on what my father taught me, to my family. I have six grandchildren now and it makes me happy to know that my children are immersed in the industry and enjoying it. I am proud of them all. We are a family business," Teague Jr said.

As a teen, Teague Jr's first job was working for well-known trainer Jim Case.

Teague Jr's first noteworthy horses included a standout pacing mare, Another Fishy, who during the 1990s held the track record for female pacers at Dover Downs.

He gained the national spotlight in 2004 with Rainbow Blue, who earned Horse of the Year honors after winning 20 races in 21 starts and banking $1.19 million - the most ever earned in a single season by a female pacer...

Total Truth was another standout over the past few seasons and was the 2006 Pacer of the Year. Other top horses include Isabella Blue Chip, Southwind Lynx, Danae, Badlands Nitro and Kadealia.

Teague won the William R. Haughto