"Grief is the last act of love we can give to those we loved."
Documenting the Honour Walk for the late Hunter Myers was one of the most difficult moments of Meadows track photographer Chris Gooden’s career. While the task felt deeply painful, Gooden knew it was something the Myers family wanted and deserved.
Myers, 27, tragically passed away on March 20 following an accident at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. His death sent shockwaves throughout the harness racing industry. The loss was deeply personal for Gooden.
The Honour Walk video created by Gooden became a profoundly moving tribute, one that has earned him a President’s Award from the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) and USHWA President Michael Carter. It showed Myers laying in his bed and being pushed through the hospital as family, friends, horsepeople and medical staff lined the hallway and room. His organs were donated and helped several people, including an 11-year-old girl who needed a heart.
“Losing Hunter is something I still can’t fathom to this day,” said Gooden. “We had so much fun creating memories through video and photos. When he passed, I felt like I lost a piece of my own creativity.”
Gooden, a multiple-time George Smallsreed Award winner in photography, is widely known for producing compelling visual content that helps share harness racing with a broader audience.
“Chris Gooden’s work is second to none in the sport of harness racing,” said Carter. “His impact goes far beyond photography because through his engaging social media content, he brings new faces and new energy to the sport.”
In the aftermath of Myers’ passing, Gooden contemplated stepping away from content creation altogether. Ultimately, he realized that doing so would have gone against everything his friend stood for.
“Hunter would have been mad if I had just hung it up,” said Gooden. “So I kept going and focused on making sure he was remembered through the photos and videos we created together.”
For Gooden, creating content became more than a profession; it was a way to process his grief and honour his friend’s legacy.
“After the Honour Walk video was released in March, I remember calling Chris and telling him to pack his bags and get ready for Florida,” said Carter. “That video brought the entire industry together, provided healing during one of its darkest times and had over 4.5 million views.”
Gooden will be formally recognized at the 2026 Dan Patch Awards Banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, which honours the best of harness racing, both human and equine. The banquet will be held on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida.
(USHWA)