It’s Hambletonian time (almost)

by Bob Heyden

We’re about a week from Hambletonian Day, so let’s take a look at some numbers, facts, and Hambletonian happenings, especially with 100 now in the books.

DECADES OF SUCCESS

Chuck Sylvester is the only Meadowlands Hambletonian trainer to win in three different decades: 1987, 1989, 1998, 2002. His debut came in 1982 with a $6,000 yearling named Diamond Exchange who broke in his heat. Diamond Exchange was 23 2-3-4 with $26,017 at that point. Does that look like the horse who would become, in just the very next summer, The Meadowlands first 1:55 winner?

FAST ‘VICTORY’

The very first sub 1:51 trotting mile in Meadowlands history came in the 2002 Cashman on Hambletonian Day when Victory Tilly and Stig Johansson stopped the teletimer in 1:50.4.

IMPROBABLE OCCURRENCES

That same year of 2002 saw a couple of occurrences that, at least on paper, appeared improbable. Chip Chip Hooray entered Hambletonian Day on the year just 4 1-0-1 with $59,200, yet took down the big one. Even stranger might be the case of Art Major who was in the Oliver Wendell Holmes with a 10 4-0-1 slate good for just $27,570 in 2002. Could anyone have guessed at that moment that he would be the sport’s No. 1 earner at year’s end with $1,562,779?

‘MONI’ ‘MAN’

Malabar Man and Moni Maker were both Hambletonian Day stars in the late 1990s. He won it in 1997 and she was the only five-time Hambletonian Day winner: two in 1996 on Oaks Day and a record three Cashmans (1997, 1998, and 2000).

YA NEVER KNOW

In 2001 both the Hambletonian and Oaks winner were undefeated going in Scarlet Knight (eight-for-eight) and Syrinx Hanover (four-for-four). But just nine years later Bar Slide was just five-for-18 lifetime and Muscle Massive five-for-13 and each emerged victorious. Remember that Alf Palema was only three-for-17 career in 1992, Tagliabue was one-for-seven in 1995, and back to 1993 when American Winner was 5 1-0-1 for less than $3,000 at age 2.

SEVEN AND SEVEN

Consider that Swedes Jimmy Takter and Per Eriksson combined for an incredible seven Hambletonian trophies, with seven different drivers. Eriksson had Prakas (1985, Bill O’Donnell), Giant Victory (1991, Jack Moiseyev), and Alf Palema (1992, Mickey McNichol), while Takter debuted with Malabar Man (1997, Mal Burroughs) followed by Muscle Massive (2010, Ron Pierce), Trixton (2014, who Jimmy drove himself) and Pinkman (2015, Brian Sears).

SHOW ME THE MONEY

Hambletonian Day payoff No. 1 came in the 2012 NJ Classic and Sweet Rock erupted between horses for Brett Miller to the tune of $184.80. He was just 20 1-6-1 with $48,403 lifetime entering the big day.

IMPROBABLE?

In 1987, Rule The Wind, as a 2-year-old went to the post eight times with a pair of victories but just $2,170 to show for it. Then some 265 days then went by without a race. So, it was pretty shocking to see him start in the Hambletonian without a 3-year-old start. Even more surprising was his second-place elim finish to Armbro Goal. He tired in the final however.

BY GEORGE

It’s the 20th anniversary of the 2006 Hambletonian Day where Georges were everywhere. George Zoffinger was The Meadowlands CEO, George Foreman the Hambletonian guest of honor, and George Brennan was the new world record holder at 1:46 4 with Holborn Hanover.

19) David Reid and Geoff Stein were part owners of Moni Maker, but a few years prior they were also in the 1992 Oaks with Gin Gin Hanover.

THEY MADE ‘EM TOUGH BACK THEN

In year one at The Meadowlands, Smokin Yankee was the defending Dan Patch 2-Year-Old Male Trotter of the Year and entered the Hambletonian with a 38 22-7-3 slate. Panty Raid was that year’s 3-Year-Old Filly Trotter of the Year and she entered the Oaks with a 32 18-4-5 record lifetime. Baltic Speed, three years later, had 34 starts going into the Hambletonian where he was favored.

MORE MELANDER HAMBLETONIAN GLORY?

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Stefan Melander and Scarlet Knight taking the Hambletonian. A 9-year-old named Marcus Melander made his Meadowlands debut in 2001 rooting on his uncle. Could 2026 be Marcus’ Hambletonian breakthrough year?

ONCE IN A LIFETIME

Todd McCarthy debuted in America’s Trotting Classic in 2022 and did something never approached on Hambletonian Day before. He scored with two $100 plus winners: Kobe’s Gigi ($105) and Cool Papa Bell ($106). What I did not know until scouring through old programs was that the night before he drove a 2-year-old in the Kindergarten named Once In A Lifetime.