‘Timmy,’ ‘Tony,’ and ‘Anette’ are looking for a ‘Big’ Hambletonian Day

by Bob Heyden

At just 44, Tim Tetrick has had a long history of setting records. He’s set to compete in his all-time best, 20th consecutive Hambletonian.

Tetrick, the richest active driver in the building on Hambletonian Day, will handle Big Ranger for Anette Lorentzon.

Here are some facts about Tetrick:

1. If he wins the Hambletonian this year, Tetrick will have won Hambletonians 14 years apart. That would tie the record Ron Pierce set with American Winner in 1993 and then Donato Hanover in 2007.
2. If Tetrick does win the Hambletonian, it would mean he’s won the first two legs of the 2026 Triple Crown with two different colts. He won the Yonkers Trot with Inexpressable, also for a Swedish-born trainer, Lucas Wallin.
3. If Big Ranger converts and does win the Hambletonian it will be the ninth time in the 21st century that the winning sire, In Range, himself did not compete in the Hambletonian final.
4. Tetrick remains the only driver to debut in the Hambletonian with a filly: Pampered Princess (2007) for Jimmy Takter. She missed the board in the Donato Hanover year after opting to not go to the Oaks. The irony there? Tetrick still won the Oaks, his first of four, with Danae.
5. He was fourth in the 2025 Hambletonian with Gap Kronos far outracing his odds of 72-1.
6. He is the only driver in New Jersey Hambletonian history to be second in the final with a maiden: Spy Proof (2021).
7. There were eight Hambletonians that went for $1.5 million between 2005-12. Tetrick won the finale with Market Share in 2012 and that stands as the richest victory in his spectacular career.
8. He has won a Hambletonian elim in an astounding 10 different years. Only John Campbell in New Jersey Meadowlands history with 11 has more.
9. Timmy has won the Hambletonian Oaks four times, but never with a favorite: 2007 Danae (2007) $50.80, Bar Slide (2010, $8.40), Fashion Schooner ($20.20, 2022) and Heaven Hanover $59.40 in 2023.

10 Nobody else has won the Oaks from post 10. He did it twice and he did it consecutively. In 2022 on the front end with Fashion Schooner [6-1] and then from last to first with Marcus Melander’s Heaven Hanover (28-1) in 2023.

11. He’s the only one who’s won a Hambletonian elimination in four straight years: 2016-19.
12. With a win, he’ll be the first U.S. born driver to win it in 11 years.

13 He is most certainly hoping for a redo of the 2012 Hambo Day on Saturday. Not just Market Share but also standouts Captaintreacherous and Chapter Seven. The 1-2-3 finishers in HOY balloting that season.

HAMBLETONIAN PAIRING FOR THE AGES

Move over Frankie and Anette, for Hambletonian Day 2026, it’s Tony and Anette.

First, let’s take a look at a few minor set of facts.

1. On Aug. 4, 2021 Hambletonian Day, Tony Hall had a single drive on the card in race 3.
2. Lorentzon had one entrant on the card in race 8.
3. They were racing for similar purses — $50,000 in the Muscle Hill for Hall and $60,000 for Lorentzon in the Vincennes.

Lorentzon is sending out the Hambletonian morning-line favorite in Big Ranger and Hall will be there too. Did I mention that they married last May?

“I’ve known Anette professionally since shortly after her arrival to the U.S. [in 2002],” Hall said. “I’ve known her personally for around seven years. She’s one of the best trainers I’ve been around from any standpoint. She knows her horses and her work ethic is second to none. Her training program has taught me a lot about the European style of training. Her program covers all the basics on my book from strength building to keeping a horse sound and happy. A horses positive attitude is what they need.”

When asked what it is like so far being around Big Ranger, Hall said, “Big Ranger isn’t comparable to any horse I’ve been around. And that is in my 30-plus years. He’s special on many levels. He’s never worked a day in his life. In my career, I’ve never seen a horse who loves his work more.”

Here are a few more facts:

She arrived here 24 years ago and he’s been an accomplished driver for three decades.

She specializes in trotters but has never been square in the public’s eye for a race of this magnitude. He — also a newbie to the grandest of stages — stepped onto the Hambletonian Day stage only once and it was beyond memorable. That track record set by Jujubee was equaled in 2022 by Rebuff but this Saturday it looks to be well within the sights of several of the participants, most notably Big Ranger. After all, his 1:50 elimination blowout saw him looking for more.

He holds the record that she is gunning for, but, thanks to fate, hard work, and the seas parting just right, they will do it together on Saturday. No matter how outstanding his Hambletonian Day 2021 was, no matter how fabulous her time with Big Ranger has been, Saturday will be the day the he and she are we, regardless of where their colt finishes.