(AP) — EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — A filly winning the Hambletonian has been a rare sight in the 95-year history of trotting’s biggest race. Only 15 have accomplished the feat. Now owners Michelle and Al Crawford and Brad Grant have done it twice in the past three years. Ramona Hill joined the list Saturday, scoring… Read More

Feature story by MIKE FARRELL – photo by CHRIS TULLY EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The sensational filly Ramona Hill took a well-deserved gulp from the Hambletonian trophy after beating the boys on Saturday (Aug. 8) in the $1 million trotting classic at the Meadowlands Racetrack. It was the latest chapter in the developing saga of harness… Read More

(Associated Press) The $1 million Hambletonian and favored Ramona Hill have come a long way since the coronavirus pandemic shut down sports. Trotting’s most prestigious race, scheduled for Saturday at the Meadowlands, was a question mark until May when New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy allowed the sport to start in early June. Ramona Hill won… Read More

by Rich Fisher, for the USTA; photos by Chris Tully Trenton, NJ — It has been one heck of a roller coaster ride for Ramona Hill where the Hambletonian is concerned. The journey has gone from uncertainty, to bleak dismay, to sheer euphoria, to odds-on favorite. And the race is still three days away! In short… Read More

by Mike Farrell, for The Meadowlands; photo by Chris Tully East Rutherford, NJ — Tall Dark Stranger is a danger, especially with his back to the wall. Pushed to the max by old rival Papi Rob Hanover, Tall Dark Stranger battled back in deep stretch to win the $636,650 Meadowlands Pace by a neck on Saturday… Read More

Al and Michelle Crawford seek to increase the presence of harness racing story by Mike Mullaney In the right economy, ingredients such as ambition, resources and vision will lead to investment. In the right hands, that investment, combined with a little luck, will bear dividends. And, in the right circumstances, those dividends will be churned… Read More

Hambletonian-winning filly Atlanta led a distinguished group of trotters named division champions in Dan Patch Award voting released Wednesday (Dec. 19) by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. Atlanta received 96.1 per cent of the votes for best three-year-old female trotter, the highest total among the six trotting honourees. Also named division winners were two-year-old colt… Read More

December 19, 2018, from the U.S. Harness Writers Association Harrisburg, PA — Hambletonian-winning filly Atlanta led a distinguished group of trotters named division champions in Dan Patch Award voting released Wednesday (Dec. 19) by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. Atlanta received 96.1 percent of the votes for best 3-year-old female trotter, the highest total among the… Read More

December 19, 2018 by Tammy Knox Over the past four years, the annual Dan Patch awards have included at least one horse from an Indiana sire. 2018 continues the trend as Homicide Hunter was named Older Male Trotter of the Year by the US Harness Writers Association (USHWA) Wednesday, Dec. 19. In all 130 ballots were received… Read More

December 27, 2018, from the U.S. Harness Writers Association Harrisburg, PA — Michelle Crawford may not keep quite as unremitting a schedule as Driver of the Year Aaron Merriman, but she comes very close. An unbridled enthusiastic voice for harness racing, Michelle is foremost the co-operator with her husband Al of Crawford Farms, a Midstate New York… Read More