END OF THE YR VOTE FOR BEST DRIVER AND TRAINER.

[LUCPARK]

This an opinion  thread not a stat thread

Don’t give me Ron Burke and yannick or Dexter


Chris Ryder  for trainer    Had the best horse ready all yr and kept her sound and healthy

 Janes Macdonald for driver

Great drives up in Canada all yr and in states


Jmho

[Stan durbread]

Noel Daley for trainer. He had more than 1 good for whole stake season

[Scooteroo]

A trainer who flew under the radar is Marcus Melander, 104 winners from 445 starters, and 6.5 million in purses.
Still have to give Dexter Dunn Driver of the Year again. When the big money is on the line he always shows up.

[Harness racer]

Dex is by far the best.  You want a guy that had another great year is Scotty Z.   

[Kole Hanover]

 James MacDonald for D.O.T.Y

 Noel Daley for Trainer

 

[Scooteroo]

James MacDonald for D.O.T.Y

 Noel Daley for Trainer

JMac had a great year, but the voters will never choose a driver from Canada because they're biased.

[Call Sign Merlin]

Dex is by far the best.  You want a guy that had another great year is Scotty Z.   

It is kind of crazy how few drives Scotty and Todd have/get vs many of the other top drivers and still bump up against $10mm.  They each have 500-1000 less drives than many of their peers (other than Dex which makes his achievements all the more impressive). I know some of that is self directed but it is interesting that they aren’t first call for more barns.  Scotty gets Linda’s but she had no power this year - he picked up scraps and still made that much

[Grandstand Handicapper]

If this is USTA or US driver of the year, there is no discussion. Dexter by open lengths, easy.

Trainer of the year, for me, I think Noel, Chris, Ake, and Marcus are my frontrunners. I think Nancy will get some votes, but not from me. I think the others accomplished more with less so to speak.

[Kole Hanover]

 Dexter & James

 Ake & Noel Daley

 It's amazing what Dexter & Ake do every year

[MOHAWK FREAK]

Everyone loves JMac. I understand he is talented but he drives the best horse 80% of the time in every race. His numbers SHOULD BE GREAT.  I totally believe Louis P Roy has way better hands ands improves a horse better than Jmac. My vote for best driver is LPR and greatest trainer is Nick Gallucci.

[Lance]

Everyone loves JMac. I understand he is talented but he drives the best horse 80% of the time in every race. His numbers SHOULD BE GREAT.  I totally believe Louis P Roy has way better hands ands improves a horse better than Jmac. My vote for best driver is LPR and greatest trainer is Nick Gallucci.

    I agree, I think LP Roy is a great driver....can drive anywhere. And also agree....what a year Nick Gallucci had, avg $10,000 per start. 180 starts, 48 wins and 100 in the top 3......almost a 0.400 average and over 25% win percentage.
     JMac had a great year, really crossed over into the US.  A shout out to Simon Allard to, I think he has great hands.

[mwins]

Everyone loves JMac. I understand he is talented but he drives the best horse 80% of the time in every race. His numbers SHOULD BE GREAT.  I totally believe Louis P Roy has way better hands ands improves a horse better than Jmac. My vote for best driver is LPR and greatest trainer is Nick Gallucci.

Pretty sure Dunn gets the best horse a lot. He earned it, just like JMAC at WEG.

To say LPR has better hands is just laughable. I like him, but he is pretty one dimensional.

[Grandstand Handicapper]

I've watched LPR for years. Another one of the Quebecers who migrated to Ontario. It was easy to see he had talent from day one. He's still in in the ascension of his career, trending upward, stock is rising, etc. He can play the game at the highest level and show up to the biggest dances. He's now getting better dance partners, LOL.

If I look at 5 to 7 years ago vs. today, I think back then he could "make speed" and had hands that could keep a horse live, forward, on the bit, etc. However, he didn't finesse to rate and control that speed. I think his sense of pace was not refined. That's common with drivers who come from smaller circuits and start driving better horses, in faster miles. He wasn't supposed to have that, he was just beginning to learn that in the major leagues. Always growing pains, learning. Nothing substitutes for experience. He's got a good head on his shoulders. I like that in the last few years that his business is starting to diversify. He keeps it going, more good things for him in the future.

[elm grove angel]

Gerry Longo - for winning and competing at a high level at his age.  .
Trainer = lots of folks but Robin Clements is always my favorite 

[Mohawk mac]

Richard Moreau

Sylvain Filion

But I don't like their chances in 2025 that much