TALKING SPORTS

Setting the pace at the ‘Mighty M’

By TED WADDELL

Posted 7/9/25

MONTICELLO, NY — What better way to kick off the 2025 Fourth of July weekend than to watch the harness racing action at Monticello Raceway?

On Thursday, July 3, the famed local harness …

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TALKING SPORTS

Setting the pace at the ‘Mighty M’

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Bruce Aldrich Jr. is pictured with Constantlysidewys A, trained by Veronica Merton.

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Cody Houghtaling is pictured on the bike behind Clouseau Hanover, trained by Jim Doherty Jr. in the second race of the afternoon.

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Scott Keppler drove Prince of Art, trained by Mike Doherty, to a first place finish in a 1-mile pace with a purse of $4.500.

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Michael Merton drove Vinovio, trained by Ken Koch into the winner’s circle of the 1-mile pace with a purse of $7,000.

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Dan Rawlings with Ladyford Buck GB, trained by Monica Eriksen in the opening race on July 3.

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Coming off turn 2, in the fourth race on the card, Scott Keppler is on the bike behind Smart Talker, trained by Arthur Jones.

RR photos by Ted Waddell

Shane Taggart piloted KJ Leo, trained by Gary Messenger, to a first-place finish in the third race of the day, a 1-mile pace with a purse of $4.500.

Posted Wednesday, July 9, 2025 8:21 am

By TED WADDELL

MONTICELLO, NY — What better way to kick off the 2025 Fourth of July weekend than to watch the harness racing action at Monticello Raceway?

On Thursday, July 3, the famed local harness track showcased 10 one-mile pace races featuring the high-stepping Standardbreds.

Just from the perspective of a contemporary sports photographer: One is reminded of the groundbreaking work of Eadweard Muybridge, a British photographer recognized for his studies of motion, and early work in motion-picture projection.

Known primarily for his studies for human movements, Muybridge also focused his multiple cameras on capturing animal locomotion, including the gait of a trotting horse. Then, he used his own invention—the zoopraxiscope—to project a moving image.

These days, sports scribblers and photogs use rapid-fire digital cameras to record harness racing action, but with an appreciative nod to those who came before.