The 2011 season at Monticello Raceway ended on December 29 with Bruce Aldrich Jr.’s 410 winners tops among drivers

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Aldrich, who has now won back-to-back driving titles at Monticello, finished with 22 more wins than runner-up Billy “Zeke” Parker Jr., whose total was 388. Trailing Aldrich and Parker in driving victories last season was Jimmy Taggart Jr. with 285, followed by Jimmy Marohn Jr. (184) and Mike Forte (155). Moreover, two horses regularly driven by Aldrich — Edies Desire and Blue Creek Angie — each finished with 19 seasonal triumphs, which tied them for top honours with two others in races won by a horse in North America this year.

On the training side, Gary Messenger sent out 104 winners from his barn to garner top honours, having harnessed 10 more winners than runner-up Elisha Lafreniere, who had 94. Quietly Bill Kapinos’ 90 wins was third best on training leaderboard, followed by Brian Horlacher (80) and Art Green (68).

Zeke Parker’s universal driving percentage of .341 was tops in that category, some seven points higher than Bruce Aldrich Jr’s .334. Greg Merton’s .329 was third best followed by Jordan Stratton’s .326 and Billy Dobson’s .318, for drivers with 125 starts or more.

Bob Lounsbury’s universal training average of .491 out-distanced runner-up Eisha Lafreniere’s .427 to take top honours in that department. Bruce Aldrich Jr’s .374 was third on the list, followed by Joe Carruiba’s .365 and Brian Horlacher’s .352.

The season was highlighted by the duel for leading driver honours between Aldrich Jr. and Parker, where the lead went back and forth for months until early December when Aldrich Jr. pulled away for good.

Bruce Aldrich Jr.’s purse earnings of $1,213,948 was tops while Zeke Parker’s $1,151,635 was second best. They were the only two drivers to reach the $1 million plateau.

Among the trainers, Gary Messenger’s purse earnings of $372,155 was over $125,000 more than runner-up Elisha Lafreniere’s $247,081.

(Monticello Raceway)