James Taggart and Christopher Petrelli honored at Monticello

Monticello, N.Y. – After 199 days of racing, James Taggart Jr. and Christopher Petrelli garnered top honors for the 2022 harness racing season at Monticello Raceway for leading dash winning driver and trainer respectively.

Taggart outdistanced himself from his closest rival by 37 wins. For Petrelli, it was a very tight battle that went down to the wire.

Taggart went on a wild winning spree in the final six weeks of the year to take top honors over former multiple dash winning driver Bruce Aldrich Jr.

Taggart finished the year with 235 wins and $1,119,090 in purses over Aldrich, who took home 198 wins and $1,110,045 earned in purses. Brandon Parker rounded out the top three with 176 wins and $959,694.

24-year-old Christopher Petrelli enjoyed his best year yet in his young career, which began in 2017, when he had ten starts and one win. 2021 was his breakout year, when his barn won 96 races, and in 2022, he won 102 races. He has amassed 289 wins with career earnings of $1,317.360.

by Kimberly Winston, for Monticello Raceway