Anniversary years

by Bob Heyden

When we talk about anniversary years, it’s important to start with the obvious one:

1926: It’s been one hundred years since the Hambletonian got started. The better than $73G pot would not be surpassed for 23 years.

1936: The Canadian Pacing Derby had a $1,275 pot in Year 1 with Better Times winning it in 2:07.

1946: The Little Brown Jug gets going with Ensign Hanover taking home the lion’s share of the $35,358 purse. It was also the last non-Horse of the Year season. Harrington Raceway opened on Aug. 15. Good Time is foaled. He would be the sports first repeat HOY (1949 and 1952).

1956: Scott Frost becomes the first back-to-back HOY. The Pacing Triple Crown era begins with Belle Acton taking the first Messenger Stakes. Woodbine Raceway gets underway on June 12.

1966: Frank Ervin campaigns the very first three-time HOY Bret Hanover (1964-66). Romeo Hanover wins the Pacing Triple Crown for 29-year-old trainer Jerry Silverman, still the youngest to do so. George Sholty and William Myer shared the driving duties. Roosevelt Raceway founder George Morton Levy enters the Hall of Fame. A 1:53.3 TT is the new speed standard thanks to Bret Hanover at The Red Mile.

1976: The Meadowlands Racetrack opens on Sept. 1. Ray Remmen wins the first race in East Rutherford, Greg Wright the first training title, and Buddy Gilmour the first driving title, making it a Canadian sweep. Keystone Ore gives Stanley Dancer his seventh HOY trophy, still an all-time best.

1986: A New Jersey-sired Hambletonian winner for the very first time, Nuclear Kosmos, by Lana Lobell’s Speedy Somolli. Ulf Thoresen — four-time World Driving Champion — puts Norway on the Hambletonian map doubling with countryman Per Henriksen. Redskin sets the still-existing freshman $ mark $1,407,263. We lost Billy Haughton in July. Valley Victory and Peace Corps are foaled. Samshu Bluegrass gets the Older Pacing Mare division underway in the Breeders Crown. John Campbell, 31, surged past Herve Filion into No. 1 all-time in earnings. Fittingly he does so on the very first “Million Dollar Babies” night at The Meadowlands the last week of July with over $5 million up for grabs on a single night. Forrest Skipper and Jate Lobell, an incredible 31-for-31 combined, go 1-2 in HOY voting.

1996: Continentalvictory wins the Hambletonian in straight heats over the boys in a record 3:45 combined. She rides that day to HOY honors. Jennas Beach Boy sets the new race standard 1:47.3 in June over Riyadh. Hot Lead wins the Meadowlands Pace.

2006: Harrah’s Philly opens on Sept. 10. Tioga Downs opens its doors on July 9. Muscle Hill is foaled. A 2-year-old named Foiled Again steps onto the track for the very first time. Herman Heitmann trained the youngster who — combined at 2 and 3 — was an ordinary seven-for-27 to the tune of $57G.

2016: Marion Marauder has the sport’s last Triple Crown season. For the only time in the 78 years of HOY balloting, the top two come from the very same division: Always B Miki over Wiggle It Jiggleit.

2026: Hopefully it provides plenty of its own copy.