by Bob Heyden

Will the 100^th Hambletonian follow in the exciting footsteps of its milestone predecessors?

Let’s hope so. Here’s a closer look at three of the most memorable Hambletonians.

1950: Lusty Song wins the richest edition, $75,209. It was the first time since 1926 that the initial year offering of $73,451 had been bettered. Del Miller becomes the first driver to capture the Little Brown Jug (Dudley Hanover) and the Hambletonian in the same season. It was Miller’s third try at the Hambletonian after finishing fourth (1946) and sixth (1948) and probably most amazingly Lusty Song was a mind-numbing 19-for-32 as a freshman. The winner’s price was $5.40, not as the favorite.

1975: Bonefish in yet another nose finish gets the measure of Yankee Bambino. Neither ever competed again after this the sixth of seven four heat Hambletonians. This purse was $232,192, the new high-water mark by $72G. Stanley Dancer won his third as a driver and fourth overall. Bonefish was the winter book favorite ($3.20) and would go on to a spotty siring career. He actually passed in Sweden the week after the 1988 Hambletonian. He was second with Firm Tribute, fourth with Bolla and the fifth-place finisher Supergill was out of a Bonefish mare. Continental Stable had a strong run with Bonefish fillies such as Conch, Crevette, Victorious Tail, and the dam of Moni Maker, Nans Catch. Not bad for a son of 1968 Triple Crown winner Nevele Pride who went for $27,000 in the fall of 1973 to Canadian A. M. Cuddy.

2000: Yankee Paco, a chestnut son of Balanced Image who would grab a second credit just three years later with Amigo Hall. Doug McIntosh was the winning trainer. There was $1,210,000 on the line for first time. Three-time Hambletonian winning conditioner Per Eriksson was second in his Hambletonian finale before going back to his homeland of Sweden. Hall of Famer Dave Magee made his lone Hambletonian appearance finishing fifth with 9-5 post time favorite Dreamaster. Ray Schnittker duplicated what he had done in his Hambletonian debut just three years earlier. He was third then with the longest shot in the field Armbro Plato at 47-1. In 2000 with Armbro Trick he was third again as the second longest shot at 40-1.

THE MOST HAPPENIN’ HAMBLETONIAN?

Upon closer look/review of all 99 Hambletonians, it appears that more was going in 1985 than in any other year. See if you agree.

1. Bill O’Donnell wins his lone Hambletonian en route to a $10 million season, the first for any driver.

2. The 1:54.3 final — won by Prakas — was the first sub-1:55 Hambletonian.

3. How great was Hans Enggren’s day? He was breeder and part owner of Prakas in the richest Hambletonian at $1,272,000. That pot was $53G higher than the Historic Freight ($1,219,000) purse just a year earlier. He also bred runner-up and heat winner Torway ($76.40).

4. This was the last time Stanley Dancer would enter a pair: Bon Sport was seventh overall and Piggvar was fifth and third, but sixth overall in summary.

5. This was the third-straight year that the ownership group also bred the winner. In 1983 Clearview Stable had Duenna, in 1984 ABC Stables had Historic Freight and Enggren (1985) as breeder and part owner of Prakas.

6. There was a father-son driving appearance in the final. Jan Nordin qualified both Master Willie and Ron B Hanover. His dad, Soren, opted for Ron B Hanover and finished second in the final and third overall while Master Willie with Jan was ninth in the 1:54.3 record finale.

7. This year was the first Hambletonian simulcast. Simulcasting had been ruled unconstitutional late in 1983 but was up and running some 21 months later.

8. It was a family affair, as Tina Eriksson was the caretaker of Prakas for her 24-year-old husband Per, who became the youngest to condition a Hambletonian winner.

9. There were 37,652 in attendance; a New Jersey Hambletonian best.

10. Nihilator set the track and world record of 1:49.3 that day also. O’Donnell thus won with a new Hambletonian mark, a new world mark, and the richest ever trotting event.

YOUR FAVORITE HAMBLETONIAN OR MEADOWLANDS PACE?

The key word is favorite. Let’s say you chose the first Meadowlands Pace (1977), and the first Meadowlands Hambletonian (1981). Those two share something in common. No favorite won. In the 1977 Pace, Escort was 4-1 third choice, and in the 1981 Hambletonian, Shiaway St Pat was the 6-5 second choice in the three-horse race off.