Five Meadowlands regulars talk the year that was and the year that may be.

by Debbie Little

To celebrate the New Year, I’ve asked some Meadowlands horsepeople the same three questions. There used to be four questions, but thankfully, I was finally able to drop the COVID-19 related question.

1. What is your best memory of the year: a) on the track, and b) off the track?

2. Have you ever made New Year’s resolutions and did you keep them?

3. Do you have something you’d like to accomplish in 2024?

TONY BELTRAMI

1a. “My best memory on the track was winning a race on July 21, 2023, with Corcovado at Padova Racetrack in Italy during a hailstorm that broke out during the race.”

1b. “My best memory off the track was the birth of our granddaughter, Judy (our second grandchild).”

2. “I usually make a resolution to change some aspect of my daily/weekly routine that I think will make me more efficient at work and/or in my personal life. I usually keep them if they work.”

3. “I would love to win 50 or more races in a single season, and I’m hoping 2024 is the year.”

ADAM BOWDEN

1. “Winning the Meadowlands Pace. It might be my answer forever. I got to share it not only with a lot of our staff, Marcus (our racing manager), but my oldest daughter, Finley, as well.”

2. “I’m not a New Year’s Resolution type person. I’m more of a ‘I’ve got a crazy idea – let’s try it’ type of guy.”

3. “We were blessed beyond belief in 2023 with an incredible group of 3-year-old pacing colts and checked off a handful of bucket list type races. A big one still remains: The Hambletonian. It’s the white whale.”

ANDREW HARRIS

1a. “On the track would probably be the first start with Seven Colors in Ohio winning the [Carl Milstein Memorial].”

1b. “Off the track would probably be watching my girls [ages 10 and 12] in a horse show.”

2. “Yeah, I think for the most part, except for my weight situation. It’s the only resolution that I start out strong and then I let go. It’s something that I constantly work on and I always seem to let go as soon as the season starts getting rolling. It’s just like, ‘Oh, there’s a Wawa, let’s stop at Wawa.’”

3. “I have a lot of things I’d like to accomplish. I think that I’d like to get into probably the top 10 in the Grand Circuit standings. I’d like to see Abuckabett Hanover get a year that he deserves. So that’s one thing that I want to work tirelessly on and see him have a successful year. He’s like my all-time favorite, even though we’ve got some in the barn that I think are probably better, like Seven Colors. But I think [Abuckabett Hanover’s] been the most plagued with issues, so I just can’t wait to try and get him flawless. And then probably, just to watch the stable continue to grow and have success.”

NANCY TAKTER

1a. “Best memory on the track was winning the Hambletonian with Tactical Approach.”

1b. “Best memory off the track was buying a new home and I look forward to all the memories I’ll make there with my kids, family and friends.”

2. “I don’t really make resolutions for New Year’s. I do set goals and this year exceeded my goals, so that was awesome.”

3. “Win back-to-back Hambletonians!”

LAUREN TRITTON

1a. “On track was the Battle of Lake Erie win.”

1b. “Off the track was my son topping his class for reading.”

2. “Every year my New Year’s resolution is to make sure I do better next year and I try to keep that.”

3. “In 2024, I’d like to accomplish winning a stakes final.”