by Bob Heyden

As we inch closer to Hambletonian 100, here’s a comparative look back at some top trainers.

First, we’ll take a look at Billy Haughton and Stanley Dancer.

1. The first time they competed in the same Hambletonian was in 1957 when Haughton was eighth with Flicka Frost and 13th with Marmion Hanover, while Dancer was 10th with Lord Chuck.

2. The first time they each cashed in the same Hambletonian was in 1967 when Haughton was second with Keystone Pride and Dancer got the last check with Dazzling Speed.

3. The last two four heat Hambletonians were in 1975 and 1976, with Dancer getting the job done with Bonefish, followed the next year by Haughton and Steve Lobell.

4. Both Haughton and Dancer trained five Hambletonian winners and drove four of the five themselves.

5. Each won their final Hambletonian in the bike at age 56. Haughton was victorious with Burgomeister in 1980, while Dancer guided Duenna to victory in 1983.

6. No trainers in history have won more Triple Crown races than Haughton/Dancer.

7. Haughton’s 1949 Hambletonian debut saw the oldest ever driver win: Fred Egan (78) with Miss Tilly. Dancer’s 1953 Hambletonian debut saw the youngest driver win it: Harry Harvey (27) with Helicopter.

Second, just like with Haughton and Dancer, comparisons can be made between Jimmy Takter and Per Eriksson.

1. Takter and Eriksson were born in neighboring towns — about 25 kilometers (a little over 15 miles) apart — in Sweden. Takter was born in Mantorp and Eriksson in Linkoping in the fall of 1960, 18 days apart.

2. Eriksson’s Hambletonian debut came at age 22 in 1983 when he finished seventh with Desert Night. Takter was 26 in 1987 with Sir Taurus sixth in an elim.

3. Eriksson’s first winner was a son of Speedy Crown named Prakas, while Takter’s first starter and first Horse of the Year were also Speedy Crowns: Sir Taurus and Moni Maker, respectively.

4. Both paid $2.60 winning their first Hambletonian: Eriksson with Prakas in 1985 and Malabar Man for Takter in 1997.

5. Both were second choice with their last Hambletonian winner: Eriksson had Alf Palema ($8.40) in 1992, and for Takter it was $5.60 for Pinkman in 2015.

6. Eriksson and Takter were the first two trainers to finish 1-2 in the same Hambletonian at The Meadowlands. Eriksson did it in 1992 with Alf Palema and King Conch followed by Takter in 1997 when Malabar Man bested Take Chances.

7. Eriksson is the first Swede to win three Hambletonians, while Takter is the first to win four.

8. Eriksson and Takter combined to win seven Hambletonians with seven different drivers! Bill O’Donnell (Prakas), Mickey McNichol (Alf Palema), and Jack Moiseyev (Giant Victory) for Eriksson and it was Mal Burroughs (Malabar Man), Ron Pierce (Muscle Massive), Brian Sears (Pinkman) for Takter who also drove Trixton to victory himself.

WHO ‘NOSE’ THE CLOSEST HAMBLETONIAN FINISHES?

It’s been 99 years and 100 winners so far. But before another name is added to the list on Aug. 2, let’s take a closer look at the closest Hambletonian finishes.

Of course, the dead heat of 1989 between Probe and Park Avenue Joe remains the ultimate, but nine other Hambletonians were decided by a nose.

1. Guy McKinney in the first edition, 1926, over Guy Dean. Next to nothing separated the two sons of veteran stallion Guy Axworthy.

2. Keno was second best, barely, in 1931 to Calumet Butler.

3. John Simpson, Sr. was a scant nose off in 1950 with Stars Pride.

4. Frank Ervin was just a buck shy in 1954 with Princess Rodney.

5. For the first, and only time ever, back-to-back Hambletonians were decided by a nose. In 1955, Scott Frost edge Galophone with Joe O’Brien edging Billy Haughton. That nose would force Haughton to wait 19 years for his first Hambletonian win in 1974 with Christopher T. That nose was also the first of two nose wins in the Hambletonian for Joe O’Brien, the only driver to do this twice! This was the first ever nose decision for a Triple Crown winner in the Hambletonian, since 1955 was the start of the Trotting Triple Crown and the Pacing counterpart began a year later.

6. In 1960 Isaac was the second nose loss for John Simpson, Sr., who did win it all in both 1957 (Hickory Smoke) and 1964 (Ayres).

7. Quick Song was second best by just that much in 1962 to A Cs Viking, and Frank Ervin joined John Simpson, Sr. as the only other driver to twice be edged out on harness racing’s biggest stage.

8. In 1975 Yankee Bambino just missed to Bonefish in the next to last four-heat year.

9. Marion Marauder in 2016 ended the longest gap, 41 years, between nose finishes (NOT counting the 1989 dead heat of course). Yannick Gingras drove Southwind Frank to that oh-so-close second place finish. Marion Marauder remains the sport’s last Triple Crown winner.

In summation, there were nine Hambletonians and one dead heat that were oh so close.

The first and the last Triple Crown winners — both Scotts, Scott Frost and Scott Zeron (Marion Marauder) — benefitted from the photo finish camera. There’s only been one nose in the 21st century (2016), but from 1954-62 there were an incredible four-for-nine. There are 63,360 inches in a mile race and 10 per cent of all Hambletonians have been decided by just a couple of them. Let’s hope for some continued excitement, and photo finishes in the next century.