by Bob Heyden

Here are 10 fun facts about the Hambletonian that you might not know.

DAY BY DAY

The Hambletonian has actually been held on each and every day of the week. Go ahead and try to think of any other race that can say this.

Here’s the breakdown:

Monday — twice (1926 and 1928); two of the first three ever contested.

Tuesday — three times (1927, 1929 and 1957), including the debut year in DuQuoin.

Wednesday — 36 times, including 14 in a row from 1932-45.

Thursday — four times.

Friday — twice.

Saturday — 51 times. The very first time was Speedy Streak in 1967. The next time, Bonefish (1975), started a streak of 50 straight which takes us to today, Karl (2024).

Sunday — only once, when Nevele Pride won on Aug. 25, 1968.

MONTH AFTER MONTH

The Hambletonian has been contested in three different months: August (88 times), September (10 times) and October (just once).

FIRST WHEN IT COUNTED

These four finished worse than 10th in a Hambletonian Day race yet still won the final! In 1953, Helicopter was 17-1-1, in 1956 The Intruder was 11-1-1, in 1958 Emilys Pride was 1-12-1, and in 1976 Steve Lobell was 14-1-4-1.

SLOW AND STEADY

In the first 21 editions of the Hambletonian there was only one sub :30 first quarter. It was in 1928 when they went :29 ½.

TOUCH OF GREY

The first sub 1:00 half came in edition #10 (1935) when Greyhound ruled the day. One of the two heats had a :59 ¾ half.

WHATTA GUY

The first winning Hambletonian sire Guy Axworthy, had an unspectacular racing career. A foal of 1902, he took a 2:08 ¾ mark at age 4. He lived a long life siring the 1926 and 1927 winners, Guy McKinney and Iosola’s Worthy and then, one more, Lord Jim (1934), from his final crop.

TROLLING THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

In both 1979 and 1980, Pat Troll was the caretaker of Hambletonian winners Legend Hanover and Burgomeister. Corinne Tripp was the regular caretaker of Legend Hanover, but was so nervous that she watched the race from the grandstand, thus giving Troll the call from off the bench.

SAVING HIS BEST FOR LAST

In the 1972 Hambletonian, in both of Super Bowl’s heats, he motored home in :28.2, the fastest quarters on this record day when he won on 1:56.2, a new Hambletonian standard.

THANKS DAD

All five check earners in 1983 were sired by a previous Hambletonian winner. In order of finish, Duenna by Green Speed (1977), Winky’s Gill by Bonefish (1975), Speedy Claude by Speedy Somolli (1978), and Joie De Vie by Super Bowl (1972) and Astro Hill by Speedy Crown (1971) that finished fourth in a dead heat. This turned out to be the lone time a son/daughter of Greed Speed ever got any Hambletonian money.

THRIVE AFTER FIVE

The last check earners in the 99 editions of the Hambletonian might have been quiet and virtually unnoticed on that day, but a bunch made some noise after that day.

In 1954, Stenographer might not have gotten to the photographers stand, but was later named Horse of the Year.

In 1971, Quick Pride led the way in earnings at 3 ($231,210), just as he did at 2 ($179,514).

In 1976, Quick Pay turned the tables on everyone by capturing the Kentucky Futurity.

In 1977, Cold Comfort was not able to go with his stablemate Green Speed but later was a force to be reckoned with as a free-for-all star and Roosevelt International Trot winner.

In 1981, Banker Barker was favored twice in the New Jersey debut of the Hambletonian won by Shiaway St Pat, but still cruised to divisional honors.

In 1984, Baltic Speed won the first sophomore Breeders Crown and sired, from his very first offering, Valley Victory and Peace Corps.

In 2013, Spider Blue Chip was not a threat on the first Saturday in August, but got it together for a mini-Breeders Crown upset for Chuck Sylvester.

In 2014, Resolve was not a headliner come Hambletonian Day, but a couple of years later he resurfaced with Ake Svanstedt and took down the Yonkers International Trot.

In 2016, Bar Hopping was the public choice, but a Triple Crown winner named Marion Marauder ruled the day. Bar Hopping turned it around post career and sired Trotter of the Year Bella Bellini.