Merton, Aldrich take Monticello titles

Monticello, NY (January 13, 2025) – The curtain falls on the 2024 harness racing season with Laura Aldrich taking her second consecutive training title at the Mighty M and Michael Merton taking home top drivers honors for the first time.  For Mike Merton it was his third time taking home top honors at his hometown track.

Michael Merton handily took the 2024 title with a 14-win cushion of 241 wins and earnings of $1,064,580, in addition to competing at Monticello, Michael also drove successfully at Tioga Downs, he was second with 87 wins and $674,185 in amassed earnings. His brother Greg finished second with 227 winning drives and earnings of $997,680.

Former multiple Dash Winning driver, James Taggart Jr was third with 196 wins, Taggart also eclipsed the Million Dollar mark with purses of $1,016,101. Another former multiple Dash Winner Bruce Aldrich Jr. finished fourth with 196 wins.  Kyle Dibenedetto had an excellent year with 133 trips to the winner’s circle, to take the 5^th slot. Thomas Merton also broke into the top ten with 125 wins good enough for 8^th place, the powerful Merton Clan continues to be a mainstay at Monticello Raceway.

The last two scheduled racing days of the 2024 season were cancelled due to warming temperatures affecting the racing surface. The loss of the two dates may have had an impact on the race for Leading Dash Winning Trainer. Eriksen was loaded with entries on Monday and Tuesday in an effort to catch Aldrich but was thwarted with the forced cancellation. Laura Aldrich, last year’s leading trainer copped the 2024 title in a tight battle with Monica Eriksen, Aldrich had 104 winners hailing from her barn, Monica Eriksen was second with 100 winners. Gary Messenger took the show spot with 73, Art Green had 53 winners, Dany Gill was fourth win 68 wins. Former leading trainer Robert Lounsbury finished the year with 48 wins, Lounsbury trains the 2024 Horse of the Year Promise For Life.

This season Monticello saw a few new faces that competed successfully, Fern Paquet who raced most of the year at Monti had 71 wins, newcomer Dan Rawling had 56 wins in his short stint. McGwire Sowers split his time between Monticello and Maine, coming in with respective numbers in both driving and training. He had 96 winning drives and purses worth 374,059, on the training side of the ledger, he had 38 wins worth $168,295 with Autym Robinson as his right hand.

2025 looks to be an exciting year at the 67-year-old Catskill Mountain half mile oval, with the influx of some fresh blood in the way of new drivers and trainers, Dan Rawlings and Fern Paquet Jr made an impact in the driver’s colony.  Trainers Anthony Regina, Richard Campolong and Rahiem Strong are all coming off career best seasons and look to continue the momentum into 2025.

From Monticello Raceway