Presenting the 10 HRU stories that had the most readers in the year that passed.

by Dave Briggs

Before we get to our most read stories of 2024, all of us at Harness Racing Update (HRU) wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2025.

Thank you to all our advertisers, readers and contributors for their continued support. We’re deeply proud to have one of the best contributor lineups in horse racing. So, it was satisfying to see eight different writers from our deep bench on the list of the 10 most-read stories of 2024

This week marks nine years since the new management took over HRU in January of 2016. Since that time, we have gained a little over 2,600 HRU subscribers.

In 2024, HRU’s average click and open rates continue to greatly exceed industry standards.

In 2024, our average open rate was on par with 2023, exceeding 52 per cent, which is 21 per cent higher than the industry average. Our click-to-open rate is 12 per cent higher than the industry average.

HRU continued to post steady growth in other areas, as well. In 2018, we launched our popular broadcast division with 2-year-olds in Training and sales coverage. In 2024, our YouTube subscribers nearly reached 2,560, up some 320 subscribers from the end of 2023.

Our social media numbers on Facebook and Twitter are up, too.

All that means HRU is showing growth in virtually every category.

Now, to the stories and, first, an important note: These are the stories that simply had the most views. They are not the “best” stories or our picks for the top 10. Rather, they represent the stories you, the readers, most viewed.

We think it’s a nice mix of articles that are serious, celebratory, positive and negative.

The 10 most read HRU stories of 2024 were:

10. The unbearable lightness of being a harness driver, Part 1

by Frank Cotolo — Sept. 1

9. Ranking the best yearling pickers I’ve seen

by Murray Brown — July 21

8. Gural-Taylor feud rages as star horses are back in limbo

by Brett Sturman — May 26

7. Anatomy of the Burke racing stable

by Murray Brown — Jan. 28

6. Developer partners with City of Versailles on new central Kentucky training center

by James Platz — June 9

5. “People can’t afford to go work with the horses”

by Melissa Keith — April 14

4. Michigan horse racing faces troubling future as Northville Downs has had its final race

by Dave Briggs — Feb. 4

3. Richard Moreau suspended for alleged EPO positive

by Melissa Keith — July 26

2. Push for a racino in Illinois

by Neil Milbert — April 14

1. Behind the decision to cancel racing at The Meadowlands

by Debbie Little — Jan. 12