CHRIS GOODEN NAMED PRESIDENT'S AWARD RECIPIENT BY USHWA
“Grief is the last act of love we can give to those we loved.” ...
WASHINGTON, PA -- January 6, 2026 -- “Grief is the last act of love we can give to those we loved.”
Documenting the Honor 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 19 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 Honor 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 and USHWA President Michael Carter. It showed Myers laying in his bed and being pushed through the hospital as family, friends, horse people 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,” Gooden said. “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 honor his friend’s legacy.
“After the Honor Walk video was released in March, I remember calling Chris and telling him to pack his bags and get ready for Florida,” Carter said. “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 honors the best of harness racing, both human and equine. The banquet will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida.
USHWA is the leading organization of communicators covering the Standardbred horse. USHWA conducts the official annual balloting for the sport’s most prestigious honors, including induction into the Hall of Fame and Communicators Hall of Fame, as well as the selection of Horse of the Year, Trotter and Pacer of the Year, and divisional champions. Each year, USHWA hosts the Dan Patch Awards Banquet, the Association’s principal fundraising event, honoring the best and brightest performers in North American harness racing.
Sponsorship information for the banquet is available through Shawn Wiles at swiles@rwcatskills.com. Advertising in the souvenir journal may be arranged through Kim Rinker at trotrink@aol.com. Tickets are available through Judy Davis-Wilson at zoe8874@aol.com or by Elizabeth Lewis-House at Elizabeth.Lewis-House@winbakfarm.com. For room reservations, please visit the official hotel link. Additional information regarding the banquet and associated USHWA meetings will be available soon at www.usharnesswriters.com.
