And so it was a sweet and sorrowful winner’s circle, filled with tears and hugs for the connections of Sweet Lou, as he won the final race of his career, the $500,000 TVG final for open pacers on Saturday night (Nov. 29) at the Meadowlands, in 1:48 by 3-3/4 lengths.

The race unfolded with Bettor’s Edge (Matt Kakaley) going to the lead first at the :26.2 quarter-mile mark, with Sweet Lou and driver Ron Pierce tucked in third. No sooner had the field straightened down the backstretch than Pierce had Sweet Lou on the move, rushing up to take the lead by the three-eighths and holding it to the :54 half with Bettor’s Edge tucked in behind.