Five Meadowlands regulars talk about 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 2025?

JOHNATHAN AHLE

1a. “There are so many. When Richard Hans’ 2-year-old filly [Yall Just Love Me] and colt [Yall Keep Dreaming] won the sire stakes [finals] in Maryland. Richard’s a good guy and it was a special memory to do that for him. Obviously, winning the last race at Freehold the other day, that was pretty special. Even regular overnights with certain horses like Noel [Daley’s] horse, Ignatius A. We call him Iggy. He’s a cool horse. It’s always fun to win with him. Certain horses are just special.”

1b. “I feel like there weren’t many days this year that I wasn’t on the track. If I wasn’t on the track, I was watching Captain Albano and Sig Sauer. Just watching the careers they’ve had from 2 to 3, when I was working for Noel last year [in 2023] or even at the beginning of this winter [in 2024], I was still working for him, it was just really cool to see them progress and turn into the horses they became.”

2. “I don’t think I made any specific ones. I just think I went into this year hoping to progress my driving career just in general. You know, you always want to do better than the year before. I never set a specific goal, like ‘I want to reach so and so amount of wins or so and so purses,’ I think I just wanted to try to do better than I did before.”

3. “I wouldn’t say anything specific. Obviously, like this year, I’d try to do better and just try to make the most of all the opportunities I can get. For 2025, I mean, I don’t think I’ll win a Hambo, but, of course, those types of things are goals down the road, but for 2025 I’d say just to try to keep progressing and just keep doing my best to try to do better.”

JOHN CALABRESE

1a. “Going to Finland to drive in the World Amateur Championship.”

1b. “Off track was the USHWA [Dan Patch] awards [banquet].”

2. “Some years I make New Year’s resolutions, but not often. Most resolutions were for better health habits, and yes, I’ve stuck to some important ones, especially smoking.”

3. “In 2025, I am definitely going to take more time off and travel more. I started in the barn in 1981; that’s a long time working six-or-seven days a week. I love training horses, but up and down the turnpike five times a week is for the young guys.”

YANNICK GINGRAS

1a. “Winning the Hambo is by far the best memory racing-wise I could have.”

1b. “Off the track, is spending that day with [my family] but also the memories we are creating right now on vacation.”

2. “No New Year’s resolution exactly for the reason you pointed out. No one ever keeps them, so no sense making some in my opinion.”

3. “As far as 2025, staying healthy, winning some races and enjoying my family.”

JOHN RALLIS

1a. “Without a doubt, working The Hambletonian. To get the opportunity to work a card of that magnitude — with so much prestige — was incredible. Not to mention, being able to work alongside Dave [Little] was awesome, too. What a day, hoping to do it again.”

1b. “My favorite weekend of the year was when a few of us from Ontario did a road-trip to Lexington for the Kentucky Futurity. Quality racing, great weather, and great company… What more could you ask for?”

2. “I’ve made New Year’s resolutions and have always failed to honor them. Hopefully, this year will be different.”

3. “I just want to keep improving in different facets of my life; whether that be career-wise, health-wise or anything else. Maybe I’ll finally dabble in owning a horse with a few friends, but I’ve said that for two years now.”

CHRIS RYDER

1a. “Mickey And Minnie winning the Breeders Crown.”

1b. “Off the track, the weekend at the beach with family and grandson Harry.”

2. “I don’t do New Year’s resolutions. I try to do them every morning.”

3. “Next year I have a few things to get: world record for [Twin B] Joe Fresh and knock off a few major stakes.”