With 2018 basically in the books and 2019 right around the corner, we reached out to various people in the industry to ask for their thoughts on the best of what occurred and the best of what is still to come. In addition, in the spirit of the holidays, what makes this time of year so special to them. What was your favorite moment of 2018? Simon Allard: Winning the (Max) Hempt with Springsteen. Jason Bartlett: Going over $100 million in earnings. It happened to be on Night of Champions winning a final, so that was a pretty big night. Also winning my first Art Rooney. Brian Brown: I suppose my best moment was getting all five checks in the Ohio Sire Stakes 2-year-old colt pace final. Corey Callahan: That day in Lexington with the Sire Stakes finals was a fun one; Nixie Volo won parked the whole mile. John’s (Butenschoen, trainer) other colt Forecast, he won that day as well. Yannick Gingras: Probably the Hambletonian Oaks win with Manchego. That was five in a row and was certainly special. Also driving Foiled Again to his 100th win. Vincent Ginsburg: Probably watching my horse Dark Pool make it back to the races in June. He got injured in January and for him to come back to the races was a special moment. Nancy Johansson: Kissin in The Sand winning the Lynch because who does what she did in that race? I called Scott (Zeron, driver) and said we drew the nine-hole and he said, ‘don’t worry about it, that is my job. You just make sure she is ready’. So I said, ok, no pressure. Then she gets parked. At 2, she wouldn’t race first-up. Yannick (Gingras) drove her at 2. He knows that first-up is not where we wanted her to be because every time she raced I always told him not to race her first-up. For her to be stuck on the outside of him, he must’ve been thinking, I got this in the bag. There is no way this filly is going to grit this out. And then she just proved all of us wrong, never gave up and won. At that point I knew we were going to have a good season with her, too. Marvin Katz: It’s a tie. Ariana G winning the Hambletonian Maturity and Graduate, and Kissin In The Sand’s great win in the Lynch at Pocono. Jim Simpson: Our sales results. It was the best sale we ever had. Adriano Sorella: Winning the (Ontario) Super Final back home. I always wanted to win it. The racetrack is in my backyard, so I wanted to win it. Tim Tetrick: It was probably getting to drive Shartin the entire year. Her year was pretty amazing. The other would be getting to $200 million in purses. Mark Weaver: Warrawee Ubeaut winning in 1:48 3/5 (at Red Mile) setting the world record for 2-year-olds of either sex; not even close. Scott Zeron: Winning the Hambletonian with Atlanta. What are you most looking forward to for 2019? Allard: I’m very much looking forward to all of the young horses again, because me and Rene (brother) went to all of the farms and picked horses. We learned from last year and it’s like our new thing now. We have a pretty good feeling about it. We don’t know what we got but we think we did well. Bartlett: You get excited for the 2-year-olds that you’ve driven this year and hope they come back with the potential that you think they have. Thunder, the trotting colt, and then Sam Schillachi’s 2-year-old pacing colt Major Blake, who got sick at the end of the year, he seemed very special too. Brown: I think I have several yearlings to look forward to. We spent a little more money. I don’t have as many yearlings, I have 50 instead of the 75 from last year, but I think our quality might be better. I also have Proof, Working Ona Mystery, Air Force Hanover. Those are probably my three biggest guns for next year in the bigger races. Callahan: I have some good pacing colts, so I’m looking forward to them. Like Love Me Some Lou and Mangogh. I think that trotter of John’s (Seven Hills) has a lot of talent if he can even him out over the winter. He definitely has plenty of go. It is just getting him around there. Gingras: The babies probably. I had a good group last year but hopefully next year will be even stronger. I’m really looking forward to the new ones coming out and seeing what I have. I think Ronnie bought a lot of nice trotting colts, so I’m definitely looking forward to going with those. Ginsburg: Just improving. Improving the quality of the drives I get, improving my stats, my earnings. I’m always trying to improve. Johansson: I inherited some nice horses from my dad (Don’t Let’em, The Ice Dutchess, Hudson River, Can’t Touch It, Thinkbig Dreambig), and having Captain Crunch and Kissin In The Sand back next year, I think we are going to have a really good year. I look forward to qualifiers and getting going again. Katz: The Breeders Crown at Mohawk. I’m certain they’ll do a great job. The continuation of the Captaintreacherous and Father Patrick progeny on the racetrack. Also our foal crops. The ones we sold last year and the ones we are going to be providing this year. I have high hopes for all of them. Simpson: I’m enthused about the potential good news at The Meadowlands (purse subsidy). Pennsylvania looks solid this year, Indiana, Ohio, New York all look good. Things are looking up quite a bit. I think many owners are enthused. Europeans seem to be investing more and more in our yearlings and racehorses. Sorella: Looking forward to these 4-year-old races. I always wanted to race in the Confederation Cup. I raced one in the Prix d’Ete, he was no good but got a check. Those types of races a great. I like following the horse if he is doing well. Possibly coming back to the Meadowlands for the Graduate series and I guess they race one at Tioga. Those are places that are fun to go to and I’m looking forward to that. Tetrick: Just getting to compete at the highest level and finding that next Hambletonian winner. That’s what I look forward to. Weaver: I really enjoyed the Sweet Lou and Captaintreacherous battle. I’m looking forward to their second crops. Honestly, I’m most looking forward to 2022. That is when the book of mares that Sweet Lou just got will race. I would argue that it is the best book of mares that any sire has ever gotten. What is your favorite part of the holidays? Allard: Christmas Party. I go back home and see all of the family. I don’t think anybody celebrates Christmas like we do. All of my cousins and uncles, we have a big family and everybody goes. There is a lot of food, Santa Claus, music, partying and kids. December 24 is the thing to live for. Brown: We’ve stayed in Florida the last four or five years and didn’t go home (Ohio) for Christmas. This year we are going home. It is just great for everyone to come together, the family, a few friends that come stay with us, some of our help will even come. We all get together on Christmas Eve and have a big dinner. Callahan: Just getting together with family. For Thanksgiving we had my wife’s family and my family over. It is nice that everybody gets along and we had a good day, so I’m looking forward to that again at Christmas. Gingras: Spending time with the kids Christmas morning. It is always special to relax with them. Ginsburg: Food and family time. Johansson: Usually we go away between Christmas and New Years. This year my daughter and I are going to Florida for four days. I think just being able to get away and relax a little is my favorite part of the holidays. Katz: Being in Florida. Simpson: When they are over. I’m just not a big holiday kind of guy. The best thing is getting together with family. Sorella: Travelling, food, family. I was just planning our holiday dinner yesterday for family and friends and then I’m out of here. I’m going to the Dominican Republic for a week to enjoy New Years. I’ve been away for New Years every year for the last five years. I spend it in the warm rather than the cold snowy weather. I’m looking forward to being on a beach with a drink for New Years. Tetrick: Not having to work and hanging out with family. I work a lot. I feel bad when I don’t go to work, so I go quite often. Weaver: Spending time with family and reflecting on the year. Winding down from the year, but at the same time, once the New Year comes we’ll be geared up and looking to get things going. Zeron: I get to see my whole family. We are racing twice a day all over the place. Getting to be all in one place for Christmas is nice. Do you have a favorite holiday food? Brown: I’m a ham guy. My mother makes a sweet potato casserole that is unbelievable. Gingras: All the holiday foods. I love to eat. Ginsburg: Sausage & Peppers. My nanna on my mom’s side always makes it at midnight on Christmas Eve. Johansson: My mom makes the best traditional Swedish Christmas food ever. Anything she makes is good. She is a very good cook, restaurant great. I’m completely spoiled. Weaver: Anything, as long as it is not vegetables. If it is bad for you, I like it. Zeron: Egg Nog