A look at this 100th Hambletonian — but first…
by John Berry
This Mane Attraction will take a close-up look at harness racing’s greatest single event — the Hambletonian.
But, first, a tribute.
While the Hambletonian celebrates its historic 100th anniversary, the idea for this — the grandest-of-all events for our sport — took place 103 years ago and Goshen, NY seems to get the credit for being the “cradle” for the idea of the event.
Actually, the Hambletonian was patterned after a very popular sweepstakes event that took place over the old Belmont Driving Club one mile oval, located in Narberth, PA., a suburb of Philadelphia, about 8½ miles north and west of Philly.
A live-wire salesman from Chicago, Harry O. Reno, and his relative, William M. Wright, then owner of Calumet Farm, a leading breeder of standardbreds, met up in Philadelphia as Reno wanted to buy a mare to race in his part of the land — the Midwest.
Reno also wanted to search for the best way to create an event on par with that Belmont Sweepstakes and the result was the “foaling” of the H. O. Reno Pacing Derby, which proved so successful that maybe, just maybe, something could become a possibility for 3-year-old trotters.
Reno’s idea was passed along to one of harness racing’s most iconic journalists, Joseph Markey, well known for his contributions to the Horse Review.
Other prominent breeders hopped on the band-wagon — make that sulky — and, after settling many arguments in naming this event, the name “Hambletonian” was chosen as the most appropriate.
The first Hambletonian was held in Syracuse, NY at the New York State Fair, but only after the original winning bidder — the Sesqui Centennial in Philadelphia — was forced to withdraw due to what was described as financial collapse.
The first Hambletonian featured a purse of $73,451,32; the highest until 1950!
Guy McKinney, a son of Guy Axworthy, won that event for driver/trainer Nat Ray — the first stride of 100 — and here we are.
The Hambletonian is now an iconic part of our sport’s grand history, but, personally, I am saddened that, along the way, we have destroyed some of that history, instead of continually building on it.
Harry Reno and the H. O. Reno Pacing Derby are completely erased from history, and, the Nat Ray free-for-all trot, honoring that winning driver of the very first Hambletonian, has also been, sadly, erased from history, as well, as his event was renamed some years ago.
In these eyes, this was a gross injustice to Nat Ray and our history, especially in light of the fact that Nat Ray was inducted into our sport’s Hall of Fame as an immortal in 1978.
Can we NOT continue to destroy our grand history from 1788 when Messenger came across the Atlantic, or even further back than that with the Narragansett Pacers a century-and-a-half earlier?
To protect our future, we must care enough to protect our grand history, instead of destroying it.
Now, on to this year’s Hambletonian with some observations of the eliminations and my HRU morning line.
Having written quite extensively about the proper way to build a morning line, I take pride in doing an accurate one, not so much in pinpointing what the exact final odds will be, as that is nearly impossible, but, rather, making sure that the odds do not reflect probable payoffs that exceed 100 per cent of the net pari-mutuel pool.
In this case, since the takeout in the win pool is 17 per cent in New Jersey (it can be different in every jurisdiction) the “magic number” in making a correct morning line starts at 120.
When odds are calculated with that number (120 x 0.17), the final number is 99.6, a bit lower than the winner’s receiving the entire net pool of 100 per cent; the leftover known as breakage.
My morning line, quite simply, is where I think the BDHC (Broken Down Horseplayer’s Club) money will be distributed, not necessarily my belief in what horse will win.
Note: Odds make no difference to this handicapper and, remember: Hardly a man is now alive, that paid his mortgage at 3-5!
Here we go!
1. 15-1 — Meshuggah (Bjorn Goop/Marcus Melander) Very lucky to have drawn the rail! Left well off the wings, elected to stay put on the backside, got shuffled to the back of the pack and closed fastest of all as the field fanned out. In his homeland, Sweden, Goop has one of the most successful stables and has competed with much success in France, Spain and Norway, among other countries, as well. Meshuggah has gait speed and will be forwardly placed — maybe even a quarter move — and was used only the last three-sixteenths in his elimination.
2. 4-1 — Super Chapter (Yannick Gingras/Marcus Melander) Overwhelming 1-20 favorite in his elimination and took charge handily seven-sixteenths in and picked up the pace thereafter and used impressive :26.2 finale for handy score. Owns second fastest winning mark of these at 1:50.3 (Emoticon Legacy went 1:50.2 at Woodbine Mohawk Park).
3. 6-1 — Emoticon Legacy (Louis-Philippe Roy/Luc Blais) Made confident quarter move to the top, cleared a stride or two before the half, was able get a soft breather third panel and was untouched whip-wise at the end to hold off four of his rivals closing in.
4. 7-2 — Maryland (Dexter Dunn/Marcus Melander) Been a bridesmaid in four starts this season but has seemingly improved every start. In his elimination, left alertly but way, way wide around opening turn, smartly found nice spot in fourth, out again halfway through, reached second turning for home and was one stride late at the wire with an impressive :26 finale.
5. 15-1 — Maximus Mearas S (Scott Zeron/Lucas Wallin) Improved a spot early with inside breaker but really lollygagged early on and gapped badly. Followed some live cover-flow when it developed on backside but still gapped final bend. But, once straightened away, showed explosive trot.
6. 12-1 — Nordic Catcher S (Ake Svanstedt/Svanstedt) Been reputable in all starts this season and used post 1 to perfection to out-sprint rivals to opener and opened even more daylight three-eighths in. Looked comfortable turning for home and trotted final panel in :26.2 to hold off Maryland by a nostril. A bit more work here.
7. 30-1 — Gap Kronos S (Tim Tetrick/Ake Svanstedt) Uneventful journey from post 3, made mild bid — very mild — but never threatened winner and out-trotted by Maximus late.
8. 12-1 — Blank (Andrew McCarthy/Marcus Melander) As usual, lollygagged off the wings again from outside post, could still see ’em all turning for home and trotted second fastest final panel in explosive effort late.
9. 12-1 — Greenma (Trond Smedshammer/Smedshammer) Relaxed early on — just like previous three — picked up live cover-flow second over turning for home and needed one more long stride for the tie or the win. That one stride may have cost him several lengths and better post.
10. 10-1 — Go Dog Go (Todd McCarthy/Carter Pinske) Favorite going in last week with unblemished record and off huge lifetime best mile. Again, unhurried early and went into the outer flow three-eighths in to begin churning away, but tough to gain on :26 and change final panel.
Enjoy the Hambletonian!
MAY THE HORSE BE WITH YOU!
