Month: January 2024

All of the key economic indicators, total wagering, per race average, per betting interest as well as purses were all up in 2023 compared to 2022 for harness racing in the U.S. and those increases were in spite of a slight decline in the number of race days.

Lightly raced as a 2-year-old, Jet Hill rocketed on the scene in 2023, winning two-thirds of his starts on his way to being named Ohio’s 3-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year.

A patient drive from Kyle Wilfong paid off with a come-from-behind victory for Bluebird Deacon in Monday’s (Jan. 8) featured $11,100 Open Trot at Hawthorne.

Approximately 20 USTA District 3 members met at the Hilton Arden West in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday (Jan. 6) to discuss racing matters of local and national importance and to vote upon the 2023-2024 slate of Association rule change and bylaw proposals.

Batavia Downs opened their 2024 winter meet last Thursday (Jan. 4) and celebrated with a new all-source handle record of $390,922. Now only four days later on Monday (Jan.8), the second session of racing for this early season has again recorded a new high after $421,221 was wagered on the afternoon card. The increase is the latest jump in this upward handle trend at The Downs that began last winter and has continued ever since.

The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association has awarded Tim Harless the Association’s Dick Brandt Sr. Extra Effort Award for 2023.