Athearn earns September Driver of the Month honours

Congratulations to Matthew “Matty Ice” Athearn, who has been named Driver of the Month for September at Plainridge Park Harness Racing following an outstanding month in the sulky.

Athearn made 126 starts during September, recording 24 wins, 23 seconds and 18 thirds. He posted a 19% win rate while finishing in the money in an impressive 52% of his starts. His drives earned $314,625 during the month.

Athearn has enjoyed an outstanding 2026 meet at Plainridge Park, with $1,686,387 in earnings while currently sitting atop the driving standings with 124 victories.

 A GRAND SLAM ON SEPTEMBER 22

Athearn came out firing on Tuesday (Sept. 22), winning the first three races on the card with Lyons Shining (1:53, $14.60), Ladysassin (1:52.1, $3.60) and Patrickthepiranha (1:52.3, $3.00). He later returned to the winner’s circle with General Montana N (1:52.1, $6.20) to complete the driving grand slam.

Athearn finished that afternoon with four wins, three seconds and one third from nine drives, hitting the board in an incredible eight of nine starts (89%). FIVE-WIN AFTERNOON & OPEN SWEEP

That wasn’t his only huge performance of the month. On Thursday (Sept. 17), “Matty Ice” was red hot, collecting five victories on the card, highlighted by a clean sweep of all three featured Open races.

Congratulations to Matthew “Matty Ice” Athearn, Plainridge Park Harness Racing’s September Driver of the Month

By Glen McNeil for the Harness Horseman’s Association of New England, Inc