by Murray Brown

It’s that time of year. Time to pick the season’s champions from my perspective. This is the way my Dan Patch ballot will be filled in.

2-YEAR-OLD COLT TROTTERS

MARYLAND

This is a gimme. It should be unanimous, but it probably won’t be. This colt swept the board. The richest, with earnings of $1,227,695 and tied as the fastest (1.51.4) 2-year-old trotter of 2024. From mid-summer on, he was not even approachable. His many wins, on the way to a six-for-nine season, included the Breeders Crown and the Mohawk Million.

2-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTERS

CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS

This was very close. I finally went with the highest money earner ($495,536) and most current winner. Close by were Lady Landia with earnings of $426,300 and the horse Monalishi for which I likely would have voted if she had also raced out of Canada. She had earnings of $413,280.

2-YEAR-OLD COLT PACERS

LOUPRINT

Close between him and the Metro winner Fallout. But as they say, “It All Comes Down to the Breeders Crown,” (although, sometimes it doesn’t). This colt was also the highest money-winning 2-year-old pacer with earnings of $737,939. Honorable mention goes to the fastest 2-year-old ever, Sippinonsearoc with a record of 1.48.2.

2-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACERS

CHANTILLY

This is another one who, in my view, should be a gimme, but likely will not be. She violated some of the rules that I like to maintain. She didn’t race out of Ontario and of course didn’t race in the Breeders Crown to which she was not eligible. She wasn’t the richest 2-year-old filly of the year. That honor goes to Miki And Minnie who earned $671,750. But if you saw Chantilly race you would know from where I’m coming. She was nine-for-nine and earned $560,315. No other filly either got close to her or even warmed her up.

3-YEAR-OLD COLT TROTTERS

SIG SAUER

In his case it came down to the Breeders Crown and also the Kentucky Futurity, both of which he captured in exciting fashion. There are undoubtedly those who believe Karl deserves the honor because of his Hambletonian win and early season’s prowess. I certainly respect their opinion and I am not about to publicly disagree with them.

3-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTERS

R MELINA

This was the closest match for me, between R Melina and Allegiant. In the end I went with money earnings ($815,969) and the former’s win in the Kentucky Filly Futurity over Allegiant ($710,902) who, other than that race at the Red Mile, was the best in the latter part of the season. But you will find no disagreement from me if you picked Allegiant.

3-YEAR-OLD COLT PACERS

NIJINSKY

I believe that there were four terrific colts worthy of consideration Nijinsky, Captain Albano, Mirage Hanover and Legendary Hanover. Each of them was dominant at various times of the season. I went with Nijinsky because of his earnings ($1,142,920) and his overall consistency. He was excellent early in winning the North America Cup and was still a player throughout and at the end of the season.

3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACERS

MY GIRL EJ

She was undoubtedly the best. She earned the most money – $759,643. She won the big ones. She was around and competitive all season long. Honorable mention to Its a Love Thing ($615,608) and Odds On Platinum ($548,720).

OLDER MALE TROTTERS

WINNER’S BET

Very good all year and great towards the end. Very close to being a gimme as at least half of the older winners are. He finished the season with earnings of $729,254 winning eight of 11 starts, with a Breeders Crown victory. I was rather surprised to discover that Periculum had outearned him slightly with winnings of $741,072.

OLDER FEMALE TROTTERS

JIGGY JOG S

The gimme of all gimmes. How can one argue with perfection? This wonderful mare was six-for-six. She earned $934,188 and just jogged in the million-dollar Yonkers International Trot as she did in most of her other races. Harness racing will be much poorer without her presence on the racing scene in 2025.

OLDER MALE PACERS

ABUCKABETT HANOVER

The model of consistency in a racehorse. He earned more than any other older pacing male. Although not always a winner, he was always right there.

OLDER FEMALE PACERS

TWIN B JOE FRESH

A second gimme of all gimmes. Although not undefeated, she was close to perfection in winning 10 of 12 starts and earning $827,062. She was the head of her class, perhaps all classes from the very beginning of the season until her spectacular Breeders Crown win in late October.

2024 TROTTER OF THE YEAR

JIGGY JOG S

See above.

2024 PACER OF THE YEAR

TWIN B JOE FRESH

See above.

2024 HARNESS HORSE OF THE YEAR

TWIN B JOE FRESH

Although I have heard many of my cohorts say that Twin B Joe Fresh should be a cinch for Horse of the Year and that anything less than a unanimous vote would be a poor reflection on their knowledge, I somewhat disagree. Even though she gets my vote, I do not look upon it that way. Her main competition for the honor, Jiggy Jog S was undefeated, Twin B Joe Fresh was not. Jiggy Jog also earned more money. Nevertheless, I went with Twin B Joe Fresh because of her season-long endurance and dominance heading the list of top horses from the beginning of the season until its end. I wish I was able to vote for both of them.