A special amateur race was held over the Monticello oval in the second race on the card Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 30), in below freezing temperatures. Horses that hadn’t won a race in 2020 were eligible and the field was scratched down to six.

When JDS Chancey Design (Tyler Smith) won the 14th and final race at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Wednesday (Dec. 30) afternoon, the curtain dropped on a very successful seventh annual live racing meet. Despite a reduction in race dates from 78 in 2019 to 64 in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, total all-source handle increased by almost $4 million.

Lady’s Dude opened a sizable lead in the stretch, allowing him to score under wraps in Wednesday’s (Dec. 30) $16,200 Open Handicap Trot at The Meadows, the track’s closing-day feature.

One came to prominence in the shadow of New York City; the other is a son of the Midwest. One is primarily a writer who also has done much television journalism; the other achieved principal fame as a photographer, but he also wrote often and well. What links them is their talent in communicating the abilities of the very best in harness racing, and thus Jay Bergman and Joe Kyle were voted into the Communicators Hall of Fame by the United States Harness Writers Association, the sport’s leading journalism organization.

Mike Merton led all drivers on the 12-race Monticello card on Tuesday (Dec. 29) with four winners.

She’sgotitgoingon, the magnificent roan 4-year-old daughter of Tellitlikeitis, made a successful debut at Pompano Park on Tuesday night (Dec 29) in winning the $11,500 Mares Open Pace in 1:53.2.

JL Cruze gave his all in the stretch to earn a 1:52.3 victory in the $20,000 Open Trot on Tuesday night (Dec. 29) at Dover Downs.

Despite being pinned inside, Bettor Memories found the Lightning Lane just in time and shot through to capture Tuesday’s (Dec. 29) $16,200 Open Handicap Pace at The Meadows.