The 2023 harness racing season reached its conclusion on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 17 at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

In the year’s final feature, By The Book was bet down as the race’s even-money favourite. The Scott Mongeon trainee won the Open Trot at Plainridge Park last month and coming off a third-place finish in the local Open last week was the public’s top choice on Sunday.

Jay Randall drives By The Book, who displayed early speed in the final installment of the $15,000 Open Handicap for the ’23 campaign to make the lead in a 28-second first quarter. Randall gave the favourite a nice breather in the middle half, clicking off three-quarters in 1:28 following a :30.1 second-quarter breather. The eight horses in the feature were separated by only four lengths at the three-quarter pole but By The Book would not be denied, fending off a pair of late challenges to score in 1:57.2. Invader Golden Kronos (Jimmy Devaux) toughed out a first-over journey and finished a strong second while Duckdodgendive (Billy Dobson) earned the show spot after sitting the pocket to the favoured winner.

By The Book paid $4.30 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $19.20 and $111, respectively.

Owned by Charles Harrison, Frederick Barthelmas and Tina Murray of New York, the four-year-old Chapter Seven gelding wrapped up his season with nine wins and more than $88,000 in earnings from 29 starts.

The 2023 racing season at Saratoga is complete with the ’24 campaign set to begin on Feb. 3.

(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)