Top honors to Aldrich and Taggart

Monticello, NY (January 9, 2024) – Laura Aldrich took home the Monticello Raceway’s Leading Dash Winning Trainer award in a tight race this season, becoming just the second woman to nab the harness racing top prize.

James Taggart Jr. additionally won his third Leading Dash driver title to wrap up the year.

Aldrich’s 91-win season marked a down-to-the-wire, photo finish against Gary Messenger, who ended with 88 wins. Her three-win margin ultimately came in the second-to-last race card of the season.

Aldrich focused on claimer ranks in her path to the crown, while Messenger concentrated on overnight conditioned races. The consistent Danny Gill finished third with 57 wins, this year’s top five list includes newcomers Andrew Adamczyk and Richard Campolong, who finished in fourth with 54 winners and fifth with 51, respectively.

Taggart Jr. claimed yet another Leading Dash Winning Driver title in by a whopping 49-win margin against his closest rival. The champion notched 232 wins over the famed Catskill Mountain oval with earned purses of more than $1 million.

His closest competition was Greg Merton, who came in second with 183 wins. Bruce Aldrich, Jr., last year’s winner and owner of several leading driver awards, took the third slot with 174 trips to the winner’s circle. Rounding out the top five were Michael Merton, who had 170 wins, and McGwire Sowers, who finished the season with 99.

From Monticello Raceway