Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

It's Palone Again, at the Wire
January 7, 2004

Dave Palone is making a habit of winning the Harness Tracks of America's Driver of the Year Award, but that doesn't mean it's getting any easier. For the second straight year and fourth time in the last six seasons, Palone earned the prestigious honor, which is based on a driver's performance in three categories -- wins, earnings and performance percentage.

"It feels great," said Palone, a 42-year-old Houston, Pa., resident. "It was just one of those years that snowballed. I did really well early with the stakes at The Meadows, then went out on the Grand Circuit and had some success. When I came back to The Meadows in the fall, I probably had the best consecutive months there I've ever had. It was five, six, seven wins a night. I'm very satisfied. It was a great year."

Palone led all drivers in North America with 669 wins and was first with a .425 in-the-money performance percentage. He was 13th in earnings, banking a career-best $4.6 million. He totaled 88 points in the HTA's scoring, which awards 25 points for leading a category down to one point for finishing 25th. A driver gets 25 bonus points for finishing among the top 25 in all three categories.

Catello Manzi was second with 75 points, followed by Jeff Gregory (62) and 2001 champ Stephane Bouchard (59). Palone, Manzi, Gregory and Bouchard were the only drivers, out of 5,181 who drove in North America last year, to finish in the top 25 in all three categories.

Palone's season was highlighted by becoming just the fourth North American driver to reach 10,000 career victories, which he accomplished last November at The Meadows. He tied with Brian Sears and David Miller for second place in the Grand Circuit driver standings with 24 wins. Ron Pierce led with 39.

"When you test your skills against those guys on the Grand Circuit for a few months, it's tough to keep your percentage up," Palone said. "I've got to give credit to the guys I race for. They're the top trainers, and if you can't win with them, you're not going to win. It's a trainer's game, not a driver's game."

Mike Lachance was the last driver to win three consecutive HTA Driver of the Year Awards, accomplishing the feat from 1985-87.

"I don't know if I've got it in me," Palone said. "It's tough to put up those numbers."