Hambletonian Day history

by Bob Heyden

It’s 125 days until the 101st edition of the Hambletonian, number 46 held in East Rutherford, NJ. The race has been examined, and will continue to be, for years. But the day itself often gets overshadowed by the enormity of the world’s primo trotting race.

Here’s a look at a baker’s dozen of happenings on the first Saturday in August since its move to the Garden State.

BLUE DAY FOR ‘RAINBOW’

The 2004 Horse of the Year Rainbow Blue won her first dozen, then on Hambletonian Day in the Mistletoe Shalee broke stride early losing any chance. Her 20-for-21 slate at year’s end was good enough though to gather in year-end honors over the star of Hambletonian Day Windsong’s Legacy.

CLAIM TO FAME

New Bucks appeared on two Hambletonian Day cards, and on July 1, 1995 he won a $40,000 claimer in 1:49.3 for trainer Jim Mullin and driver Jack Moiseyev. The son of Nihilator became the first claimer to do so in sub 1:50, and in the exact same time that his dad won in on Hambletonian Day 1985, the first ever sub 1:50 race winner.

READY OR NOT

Rule The Wind debuted in 1988 in the Hambletonian. A 5½ length qualifying romp prompted the unusual decision. Richie Silverman drove the son of Speedy Crown—Ah So racing for Jerry Silverman, who finished second in his elim at 12-1 and then seventh, parked the mile at 11-1, in the final.

NORWAY’S DAY

Hambletonian Day 2004 was Norway’s Day as Trond Smedshammer trained and drove Hambletonian winner Windsong’s Legacy and Jorgen Jahre, Jr. owned Hambletonian Oaks upsetter Silver Springs.

THE OLD 1-2

The “Old 1-2” took on an entirely new meaning in 1995. Who doubles their career win total, in one day, and winds up in the Hambletonian winner’s circle? A son of Super Bowl named Tagliabue, who was just one-for-seven lifetime going into that day where he won his elim and the final.

STAKING A CLAIM

Claims on Hambletonian Day are not exactly common, but on the 2001 card, in the opener, Ted Wing reached in for $50,000 and corralled Art Attack. He was 21 3-4-2 on the season good for $73,660. Wing would bank 650G the next 5 seasons with the son of Artsplace.

ONCE IN A LIFETIME

Gallo Blue Chip and Eternal Carnation both retired as the richest male and female pacers, a title she still holds. They met exactly once, Hambletonian Day 2001, in the U.S. Pacing Championship. He was second and she failed to cash.

LUCKY 13

Did someone say “Lucky 13” on Hambletonian Day 2009? On that fateful day, Lucky Jim captured the Cashman and became the first trotter to win 13 consecutive races in East Rutherford.

HISTORIC HAMBLETONIAN DAY

Hambletonian Day 2010 was historic. Ron Pierce became the only driver to win America’s Trotting Classic twice with $1.5 million on the line. He won in 2010 with Muscle Massive following Donato Hanover in 2007. It was also on that day in 2010 where Ron Burke showcased his first repeat Dan Patch winner Buck I St Pat as well as his first Breeders Crown repeater Won The West. George Brennan was the meet’s leading driver 237-203 over Brian Sears. Foiled Again was also in action with $1,4547,183 on his dance card and a mere $6 million to go.

JIM CLASS

In 2012, in the Peter Haughton Memorial, Jim Oscarsson drove and trained the winner Aperfectyankee, while Jimmy Takter trained the runner-up Corky, and Jim Campbell trained the show finisher Fashion Blizzard driven by Jim Morrill, Jr.

YOUNG AND YOUNGER

The 1982 Hambletonian featured the youngest winning driver, 25-year-old Tommy Haughton, but he was not the youngest in the heats that day, as 21-year-old Per Eriksson had Cadet Eden. It would be three years until Eriksson won the Hambletonian at 24 with Prakas in 1985 making him the youngest trainer.

LUCKY ‘SEVEN’

Chapter Seven has had a glorious history on Hambletonian Day. He was fourth in the 2011 Hambletonian but was a lifetime best 1:50.1 winner in the Cashman at 4 in his HOY season.

MONI MONI MONI

On Hambletonian Day in 2000, Moni Maker, then 7, figured that day in her Meadowlands swan song. The two-time defending HOY won her third Cashman, the most ever to this day, posted her lifetime mark of 1:52.1, and set a still-existing Hambletonian Day only mark for victories with five.