The Hambletonian is 100 years in and less than 100 days out

by Bob Heyden

The second century of the Hambletonian is now underway and the sport’s signature event is less than 100 days out. What better time to take a look at, and wonder, if what we saw the past 100 years can in any way be duplicated, or bettered, in the next century.

1. Will Anne Stoebe put her name with Hambletonia-winning female trainers Linda Toscano, Paula Wellwood, and Nancy Takter this Aug. 8?

2. Will anyone be able to do what Scott Zeron did and take down three Hambletonian trophies before turning 35?

3. Can John Campbell’s record six Hambletonian victories be eclipsed?

4. Will Muscle Hill, now 20, still have his fastball in the second hundred after already having a first-crop winner (Trixton, 2014), a Triple Crown winner (Marion Marauder, 2016), and a filly (Ramona Hill, 2020) emerge victorious?

5. Will we ever hold a Hambletonian again on a Sunday as we did in 1968 in Nevele Pride’s dominant Triple Crown year?

6. Will we see a horse win the Hambletonian but no other race ever, as Calumet Butler did in 1931?

7. Will the streak of seven-figure Hambletonians — that stands at 44 and no other horse race can claim — continue?

8. Will we ever climb back up to $1.5 million as the Hambletonian was from 2005-12?

9. Several trainers and drivers have gone back-to-back in the Hambletonian, but will we ever see one win three straight?

10. Will anyone younger than Peter Haughton (21) get a check in the Hambletonian or win a Hambletonian heat (1980, Final Score) or win it all (1982, Speed Bowl) younger than Tommy Haughton at 23 and 25, respectively?

11. Will anyone match what Deweycheatumnhowe did in 2008 and win the Hambletonian unblemished at 2 and 3 at that point?

12. Will anyone win the Hambletonian and the Triple Crown in their very first appearance like Howard Beissinger did in 1969 with Lindys Pride?

13. Any chance we’ll see both Hambletonian heat winners come from the second tier in the same year like Joie De Vie and Duenna (both post 12) did in 1983?

14. Will we see another Hambletonian winner also having won a claiming race on his PPs as Historic Freight did just seven weeks prior to capturing the 1984 Hambletonian?

15. Can we ever roll another pair of 10s as we did in 2023 when Tactical Approach and Heaven Hanover won the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks, respectively, from the outermost spot on the gate?

16. Will we ever see another amateur driver win the Hambletonian as Harrison Hoyt did in 1948 and Mal Burroughs did in 1997?