Cushing's outstanding October earns top driving honours

Mitchell Cushing put together another outstanding month at Plainridge Park Harness Racing, earning Driver of the Month honors for October 2026 following a series of impressive performances and record-setting victories.

During October, Cushing recorded 25 wins, 23 second-place finishes, and 16 third-place finishes, while his drives generated an impressive $402,955 in purse earnings. He finished the month with a strong 44% in-the-money percentage.

Cushing has also been a major force throughout the 2026 Plainridge Park racing season. He currently sits second in the driver standings with 146 victories, just five wins behind leader Matthew Athearn. His season totals include 110 second-place finishes, an impressive 48% in-the-money percentage, and $1,922,028 in purse earnings at The Ridge.

OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS

One of Cushing’s most memorable victories came in a $42,000 Massachusetts Breeders Stakes event aboard Sting Me. The impressive performance produced a new lifetime mark for Sting Me, established a Plainridge Park track record for 2-year-old pacing geldings, and made him the fastest Massachusetts-bred pacing gelding in history.

Another notable October victory came on Tuesday, October 13, when Cushing guided Pastrnak to victory in a special $20,000 pace for 3-year-old Massachusetts-bred pacers at Plainridge Park.

With his consistent success, major stakes victories, and record-setting performances, Cushing continues to establish himself as one of the leading drivers at Plainridge Park.

Congratulations to Mitchell Cushing on being named the October 2026 Driver of the Month!

PLAINRIDGE PARK HARNESS RACING

Recognizing excellence on the track.

 

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