All U.S. harness racing economic indicators across the board declined in 2025 compared to 2024. While race days declined by 2.51%, wagering decreased by more than 8% and purses were down 1.73%.
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Factory Girl breezes to victory at Bally’s Dover
Dover, DE – Factory Girl waited patiently, then struck from off the pace, to win back-to-back races in the Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pace at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday (Jan. 7)…
Shaws to be Enshrined into the Ohio Hall of Fame as Immortals
Columbus, OH – John “Red” and Betty Shaw, recognized by industry peers throughout the Midwest for their over 40 years of involvement in racing, have been elected as the Hall of Fame…
Victory Is Coming voted into Ohio Harness Horse Hall of Fame
Columbus, OH – Victory Is Coming, a three-time Ohio Sire Stakes champion, has been selected to be the latest standardbred to be enshrined into the Ohio Hall of Fame by the members…
Austin Hanners aims to keep improving as 2026 season begins
Austin Hanners can look back on his 2025 season and enjoy the fact he won the three biggest races of his career so far, including a Breeders Crown, but that will not change his focus going forward.
Odds On Chesapeake named Ohio 3-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year
Hitting the board in 16 of 18 starts and earning over $470,000, Odds On Chesapeake is the 2025 Ohio 3-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year.
OHHA to present 2025 Special Recognition Awards
The Ohio-based connections of 2025 Breeders Crown champions Always B Naughty, Miki And Minnie, and Sippinonsearoc will be presented Special Recognition Awards at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Annual Awards Banquet on Jan. 10 at the Renaissance Columbus-Westerville.
IRB issues licenses; Hawthorne resumes operations
A story Tuesday on the Paulick Report says the Illinois Racing Board on Monday (Jan. 5) gave Hawthorne Race Course a green light to reopen its 11 off-track betting facilities and resume live racing three days after the state regulatory agency ordered the Stickney, Ill., track to cease operations because it had failed to meet unspecified requirements for a 2026 license.
Speed Away wires Dover trotters
Speed Away wired the field in the Winners Over Select Trot at Bally’s Dover on Tuesday night (Jan. 6).
Herman elected to Ohio Hall of Fame
Noted Grand Circuit driver/trainer Billy Herman has been elected as the 52nd member of the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame by the members of the Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA).