What was your very first Hambletonian?
by Bob Heyden
Some industry insiders shared memories of the first time they witnessed the Hambletonian.
Hector Clouthier, Jr.: “I was 7 years old and my father took me and my older brother to Good Time Park in Goshen, NY to see the 1956 Hambletonian. It was a two-day drive from northern Ontario. The winner was The Intruder trained and driven by Ned Bower. Allwood Stables from New Jersey bought The Intruder for $35,000 but never raced him as a 2-year-old. The Intruder came 11th in the first heat but won the next two to claim victory. He won the final in 2:02. The purse was [almost] $100,000. Interestingly there were 20 horses lined up behind the starting gate. The highlight of the trip was meeting Ben White who was born in Ontario. Of course, Ben was the man who drove and trained the famous Rosalind. He also won four Hambletonians and seven Kentucky Futurities. It was a spectacular trip for a 7-year-old and solidified my interest in harness racing.”
Greg Wright, Jr.: “2011, the Broad Bahn year. My next was the day Jujubee won the Muscle Hill [2021].”
Andrew Filion: “It was the year Jackie [Moiseyev] won it, 1991, Giant Victory. The next year had a great finish too when Alf Palema got up. Of course, it would tough to ever top the 1989 dead heat with Park Avenue Joe and Probe.”
Jerry Glantz: “I never made it to DuQuoin. It was the 1996 Continentalvictory year.”
Mary Pat Rhodes: “Definitely my first was the year Prakas won [1985]. My favorite was 1996, Continentalvictory. I was standing on the TV stand by the paddock. I watched Mike Lachance drive like I’ve never seen before. It was brilliant.”
WAS ABC FREIGHT THE FATHER OF THE MODERN DAY HAMBLETONIAN?
The late 1970s precocious Clint Galbraith trainee, ABC Freight, sired the 1984 Hambletonian winner Historic Freight. But, it was ABC Freight’s son Garland Lobell that changed everything. Though not a Hambletonian starter himself, Garland Lobell sired Andover Hall, who was the Hambletonian favorite in 2002. Andover Hall then sired a pair who won it: Perfect Spirit in 2017 a decade after Donato Hanover from his first offering in 2007. Garland Lobell sired the undefeated Broadway Hall who in 2011 sired Hambletonian winner Broad Bahn. Garland Lobell also sired Conway Hall who then sired the sport’s first Triple Crown winner in 32 years Windsong’s Legacy (2004). Windsong’s Legacy only made it to age 7, and although his time was cut short, it was enough to gift us Chapter Seven who just had the entire field in the Yonkers Trot and is a two-time Hambletonian winning sire with Atlanta and Cool Papa Bell. Did I mention he also sired Walner?
FAMILY TRADITION BY THE DECADES
1982 — Two-time HOY Cam Fella was the first to bank $2.04 million for his career.
1994 — Cam Fella’s son Cam’s Card Shark set the single season $ mark of $2.264 million.
2001 — Cam’s Card Shark’s son Bettors Delight led the sport at $1.7 million.
2011 — Bettors Delight’s full brother Roll With Joe also led the entire sport over $1.4 million.
2024-25 — Twin B Joe Fresh just passed $2.5 million for her career and is taking dead aim on the top two female pacers, Eternal Camnation and Anndrovette, about $1.2 million away from previously unchartered waters. Twin B Joe Fresh is a daughter of Roll With Joe, full brother to history’s all time #1 stallion Bettors Delight.
