Morgan HTA Driver of Year

Tony Morgan, who won 1,004 races in 2006 and also finished in the top 11 drivers in North America in both money won and driving percentage standings, has won Harness Tracks of America’s (HTA) Driver of the Year championship for the fourth time.

The HTA title, one of the most difficult to win in harness racing, awards points from 25 downwards from first to 25th in three major categories--races won, money won and Universal Driver Rating percentages--and a 25-point bonus for finishing in the top 25 in all three. Only three drivers, of 4,662 who drove in at least one race last year, were able to finish in the top 25 in North America in all categories. Dave Palone, star of the Pennsylvania circuit at The Meadows, like Morgan winner of the HTA title four times, and Stephane Bouchard, HTA champion in 2001 who drove mostly on the New York metropolitan circuit, were the other two, finishing second and third, respectively.

Morgan not only became the second driver ever to win 1,000 races in a single season, but guided his mounts to $8.4 million in purses, good for eighth place in North America, and--perhaps most remarkable--compiled a .374 “slugging average” of wins, seconds and thirds, 11th best on the continent, astounding in view of his 4,133 starts.

Under HTA’s point system, Morgan, who campaigned mostly at Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway in Delaware and Rosecroft Raceway and Ocean Downs in Maryland, wound up with 83 points. Palone had 71, and Bouchard 66. Morgan was HTA’s Driver of the Year in 2002 and 1997 and tied for the honor with Luc Ouellette in 1996.

Here are the top 10 drivers under the HTA championship rating system:

1. Tony Morgan -- 83 points
2. Dave Palone -- 71
3. Stephane Bouchard -- 66
4. Mark MacDonald -- 46
5. Catello Manzi -- 40
6. Jody Jamieson -- 39
7. (tie) Jason Bartlett -- 36
7. (tie) Greg Grismore -- 36
9. Ron Pierce -- 33
10. Brian Sears -- 31
(HTA)

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