Michael Merton and Bob Lounsbury nab titles at Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Michael Merton and Bob Lounsbury nab the 2018 driving and training titles at Monticello Raceway.

Michael Merton (left) and Bob Lounsbury (right) received plaques from Monticello’s Shawn Wiles. Geri Schwarz photo.

The 2019 campaign was a very good one for Michael Merton. The 47-year-old Monticello native earned his first ever leading dash winner title at his hometown track of Monticello Raceway with 269 wins. Former Monticello dash winner Bruce Aldrich Jr. finished second with 235 wins, followed by young Austin Siegelman with 229 trips to the winner’s circle.

The Monticello native was reared on the backstretch of Monticello Raceway as a youngster and is no stranger to the Catskill Mountain oval. Merton hit the road hard this summer as he also won the leading dash driver title at Tioga Downs with 82 wins.

Merton’s season tally of 376 victories ranks him 16th in North America for wins.

Bob Lounsbury earned his fourth overall leading trainer title at Monticello Raceway with 93 wins. Gary Messenger was second with 80 wins. Lounsbury also won the leading training award in 2013, 2014 and 2015. He also ranked nationally in 2013 and 2015 as he was the leading percentage trainer in North America for trainers having more than 500 starts.

The Bob Lounsbury Stable earned $305,797 in 330 starts at Monticello in 2018, with a .416 UTR.

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