Remarkably, his next 299 winners came one day short of 11 months.
His 300th winner came at Albion Park on December 10 when he combined with the Graham Dwyer-prepared Williewa Lightning.
Combined, the stables of Turpin and Dwyer provided the bulk of his winners, with around 200 winners coming from those in-form stables. And those two stables combined for records during the 2021 term. Turpin trained a personal best 153 winners while Dwyer registered his maiden century with a haul of 105 winners.
“Chantal and Graham certainly provided the bulk of my victories. Both have had excellent seasons and should be celebrated also because without their support I wouldn’t be in the position I find myself in,” McMullen said.
“I had feature race success for both as well. It’s very satisfying and rewarding to get those features because, ultimately, that’s what we’re all striving for in this game.
“There’s plenty of other trainers that have played a huge role with support and opportunities while the owners have been fantastic. It’s a really lengthy list of people I have to thank which will take me plenty of time.”
But as we know, McMullen was born to drive.
The first-born child of John and Jennette and grandson of the Queensland Hall of Famer J.C (Hollywood), McMullen graduated through the mini-trotting ranks competing against his three sisters (Narissa, Danni-Elle and Taleah) regularly.
He made his debut late in the 2006/07 Equine Influenza-ravaged season as a 16-year-old but had to wait until the following term for his maiden victory when successful aboard Melton Royal Bonny at the now defunct Rocklea Showgrounds. The winner prepared by his father came on January 12, 2008.
The floodgates opened soon after.
McMullen has had century seasons since the 2009/10 term, with doubles coming via the 2019/20 and the recently completed 2021 season.
The record for most century of wins sits with the late Gavin Lang at 35.
Only Grant Dixon (23) and Shane Graham (14) have more centuries than McMullen in Queensland history.
During that stretch, he became the youngest driver to reach 1000 wins when he eclipsed Amanda Turnbull as a 23-year-old. Turnbull was 24 years and four months.
He was also the youngest driver to reach 2000 career wins.
McMullen was crowned the state’s leading Concession (Junior) driver with wins in 2008/9, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14.
It should be noted when winning the titles in 2008/09 and 2009/10 he beat his now wife, Chantal.
As a 17-year-old, he competed during the 2009 Inter Dominion series at the now defunct Parkland’s complex on the Gold Coast when driving Riverboat Star for his father and grandfather.
Riverboat Star finished seventh behind Our Awesome Armbro in the Consolation.
The following year, on his 18th birthday, his father took him to North America and he drove at the famed Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey where he finished third behind his heroes Ron Pierce and Brian Sears.
He claimed the record for the youngest driver to register a century at 18 years and eight 8 months during the 2009/10 season, although the record now sits with Angus Garrard who set the new mark during the 2019/20 season as a 17-year-old.
McMullen was crowned the leading driver in Queensland during the 2019/20 season while he has twice been crowned the Queensland Metro Driver of the year, in 2017/18 and 2021.
He represented Queensland during the 2010 Australasian Young Drivers Championship in Sydney, finishing fifth behind Tasmanian Gareth Rattray.
In 2015, he was listed as the reserve for the World Drivers Championship in New South Wales with the line-up including New Zealand ace Dexter Dunn (winner), Tim Tetrick (US), Jody Jamieson (Canada), Chris Alford (Australia), Tony Le Beller (France), Guillermo Adrover (Spain), Mika Forss (Finland), Vidar Hop (Norway), Knud Monster (Denmark) and Pierre Vercruysse (France).
The Australian Drivers Championship was first staged in 2014, staged in Adelaide at Globe Derby. McMullen claimed the inaugural series while he has also competed in the 2016 (Globe Derby), 2018 (Globe Derby) and 2019 (Hobart) editions.
With close to 2500 career wins, McMullen has driven three Group 1 winners — Big Wheels and Awaywego plus the trotter My Valerie, but is hungry for more.
During the 2021 record haul, McMullen twice landed five wins hauls at a single meeting — Albion Park and Redcliffe (Xmas Cup meeting).
He is one of only seven drivers to achieve the feat at Albion Park, joining the likes of Grant and Trista Dixon, Alan Donohoe, Peter Greig, Luke McCarthy and Shane Graham.
The best horse McMullen has driven is Im Themightyquinn, who is the second richest pacer of all-time in Australasia behind the incomparable Blacks A Fake.
Trained by Gary Hall Snr, Im Themightyquinn won 58 races from 111 starts and banked $4,457,456.
It’s been a glittering career for McMullen with the promise of plenty more to come—and all this has been achieved by the age of 30.
“I’ve still got a few things to tick off the list including driving at Gloucester Park in Perth, while I’m yet to drive in New Zealand,” he said.
“Also, if I drive at Canberra, I will have competed in every state and territory in Australia.
“In time, I’ll look forward to sitting down with Chantal and our daughters, Rylee and Olivia, and reflecting on my career.”
As Graham Dwyer’s son Layne famously coined, ‘Leader Peter’ is a force to be reckoned with and his spot in the Queensland Harness Hall of Fame awaits.
Pete McMullen, we salute you!
WHAT THEY SAID:
“Having loved the sport since an early age, it’s no surprise that Pete has achieved many milestones at such an early age. He lives and breathes harness racing. Further to Pete’s success on the track, he has an aspiration to guide younger participants coming through and promote an industry that has been so good to him.
“To be able to work alongside such a resolute, hardworking yet very humble person is an absolute pleasure.
“Rylee, Livy and I are immensely proud of his achievements. To be able to achieve what Pete has at such an early age is testament to his ability and determination.”
- Chantal Turpin, wife.
“Pete plays largely in his own backyard in Queensland, but he would hold his own anywhere. He topped 300 wins in a season for the first time and zoomed away to win his first Australian driving premiership, which is a massive achievement. Known as “Leader Peter” for his dashing front-running successes, McMullen is a gun!”
- Adam Hamilton, leading Australian harness racing journalist.
“I’m quite fussy with my drivers because it’s the difference between winning and losing. I’ve been spoilt in having a champion reinsman in Junior (Gary Hall Jnr) drive my team since I retired. The best drivers have the complete skill set. They’ve got swagger and undoubtedly a perfect sense of timing, which separates them from the rest. Pete has it all. I didn’t hesitate to throw him the keys for Quinny (Im Themightyquinn) when I campaigned in Brisbane back in 2014. Congratulations Pete.”
- Gary Hall Snr, Champion Trainer.
“Peter’s history-making effort comes as no surprise. It’s in the genes. His grandfather and father blazed a trail during the 1980s and 1990s with initiative and driving flair. Peter is simply continuing the family tradition.”
- David Fowler, Albion Park Race Caller 1992-2010.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a Group 1 or a maiden, his fierce desire is always the same and you can never rest on your laurels when he’s driving against you. He’s the ultimate competitor. The workload is huge, between working a big team with Chantal and competing at every meeting, it’s a huge commitment which requires massive dedication.”
- Shane Graham, Previous Queensland record holder.
“What an effort, both physically and mentally. The workload is extreme, working your own team, travel and then raceday action itself, which requires so much focus. Pete deserves all the success he gets. He’s a natural and, most importantly, he’s got the uncanny ability to get horses to leave from the gate, which is so important in our racing. They run for him! Congratulations and well deserved.”
- Chris Alford, Champion driver and current record holder for most wins in a season.
“When you consider the extensive list of brilliant drivers Queensland has had since trotting started, names like Dixon, Graham, McCarthy, Greig, Martin, Donohoe, Bowyer, Alexander, Thomas, Papworth, O’Sullivan, Pelling, Addison and Wanless among others, it’s amazing that Pete has become the first to crack 300 wins in a season. He’s dedicated, fearless and has the eye of the tiger.”
- Chris Barsby, Albion Park race caller.
“Pete is incredibly determined. He’s aggressive yet controlled, which makes him hard to drive against. I’m not surprised he has achieved this milestone, it’s a massive effort. I congratulate him and look forward to competing against for many years to come.”
- Nathan Dawson, runner-up in 2021 Queensland Premiership.