Year after his death, Myers still mourned by Meadows community
A baby boy lost his daddy. A loving partner lost her mate. The Meadows lost a friend and harness racing lost a rising star.
Harness driver Hunter Myers, 27, was in a tragic accident during the 11th race March 19, 2025, at the North Strabane Township track.
He was thrown from the sulky and hit his head so hard on the track that it killed him – the only fatal accident on The Meadows surface in its 60-plus years.
Six horses were involved, which rocked the harness industry all over the world. One year later, it doesn’t seem real as family and friends continue to mourn and grieve.
The memories of Myers and the final race remain.
Dave Palone, the winningest driver in the history of the sport, saw a younger version of himself in Myers.
Palone, 64, said in the aftermath of the tragedy, he considered walking away from his dream job.
“It was just a typical day, trying to pass time in between races and we’re just standing there playing with our whips,” Palone said. “I’m watching him swing it because he was taking up golf. I’m giving him half a lesson and he’s just awful. His swing is just terrible. I’m like, ‘You’re doing this wrong. Your grip sucks. …’ I said, ‘Listen, we’re going to come back in after this race, and I’ll fix it for you. It’s not that big a deal. You’ll be fine.’
“And then that happens and it’s just … I thought so much of that kid and not because he was an immense talent. But he was. I saw Brian Sears and David Millers come in here and race against the top guys and they are in the Hall of Fame. Of course they impressed me, but they didn’t impress me any more than Hunter impressed me. He was such a good kid, nice kid. I know God has a reason for everything. I just don’t get it. How could he be here and be gone?”
Pastor Joe DiDonato, who has ministered at The Meadows more than 31 years, was called to The Meadows upon Myers’ accident.
“Hunter was an upbeat guy and as good a person to be around, “DiDonato said, “as anybody I ever met there.
“I never thought I would be in the middle of something like that. I had been down to Allegheny General Hospital in the trauma unit countless times over the years after bad wrecks and bad injuries. Every time the horseman eventually recovered and was back working again. I never thought I’d deal with the death of one of our own. I just felt numb, even though I was there to encourage the family, there really isn’t a whole lot you can say when a tragedy like that occurs.”
Hitting home
Myers, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, was considered a rising star in the industry, driving mainly at The Meadows and Northfield Park near Cleveland. His son, Hayden, is now a year -and-a-half old and fiancée Chloe Fisher carries forward with the toddler.
Myers started driving horses in 2014 while in high school at Williamsport, Ohio. He was recognized by the Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association with its Peter Haughton Memorial Award, which is presented to a young Ohioan who is an “up and coming” star among harness horsemen. His first win was at Ohio’s Jackson County Fair, where he guided Uptown Dreamer to victory for his father, Michael.
Myers started working with horses full time after graduating in 2016. In 2024, a career-best season, Myers drove the Dan Patch Award-winning 3-year-old trotting filly Allegiant to one of her Grand Circuit victories, the Moni Maker at Scioto Downs. He also drove the filly to a 1:52.3 stakes record victory in the Currier & Ives at The Meadows.
He won more than 300 races in each of the last four years, including two seasons with more than 400 wins. His 455 victories in 2024 ranked ninth best among all drivers in North America.
“I don’t think I’ll ever heal,” said Mike Wilder, an owner-driver at The Meadows. “He lost his life doing something I do for a living and it’s just almost unfathomable. He was way more than a friend to me. I loved him and still do.”
More than being a good driver, Myers most wanted to be a “great dad.”
“Hunter is obviously not coming back,” Fisher said. “I tell myself and a lot of people that I can’t raise a child if I’m down and depressed and crying all the time. I try to keep it together as much as I can. We have two dogs in the house. Between all of that, I feel like I’m doing OK.”
She admits she has moments of sadness, frustration and even worse.
“I feel like I get super mad sometimes just because I’m raising our baby by myself. I feel we were cheated in that way because a child should have a mom and dad,” she says. “In that sense, I’ve always had so many questions. I’ll obviously never get the answers, but it’s hard to understand that he just hit his head so hard.
“About every inch of the house has a picture of Hunter in it, and Hayden does know. He’s looks and he points and he does say ‘dada.’ He knows Hunter is his dad.”
Hunter’s mom and dad reside in Ohio. Kelly Myers said she hurts but will live her life as her son would expect.
“As I think any parent would feel, this is not something anybody should have to go through,” she said. “We miss him every day. He’s got a little boy that’s growing up. I know he was so excited to be a dad and to be here for him.
Even in death Myers helped others.
He donated his organs and was recognized with an Honor Walk, March 20, 2025, at the hospital. The heartbreaking tradition involves loved ones and medical professionals – in this case family, friends and peers – walking the donor down the hallway to where the organs would be retrieved and passed on to save the lives of several people. It’s done to honor the donor’s final ride. Hunter’s ride went viral.
Honoring Hunter
The Meadows racetrack and community will honor and remember Hunter Myers during the Thursday race card. All are encouraged to wear green and decorate horses with green ribbons. Race 11 will be contested with no announcer call, followed by a gathering in the “Hunter Myers Winner’s Circle.”
“It’s very tough,” Ohio-based driver Chris Lems said. “Hunter was my best friend. It’s just terrible. I don’t race at The Meadows full-time. Now, any time I drive over there. I just think about him.”
Added Amy Hollar, track representative for the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association: “I think it’s a testament to Hunter’s personality and the impact he left on our life that we still are mourning his passing. I was personally close to him and it’s time that we stop mourning and basically celebrate the lives we have to honor him because that’s exactly what he would want us to do. Hunter is on our minds every (time) our horses take the track.”