Hambletonian
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The Hambletonian is a United States harness racing event held annually for three-year-old trotting standardbreds. The race is named for the famous trotting horse, Hambletonian 10 (1849-1876), from whose four sons, the lineage of virtually all American standardbred race horses can be traced. It is the most coveted North American race for trotters; among races for pacers, only the Little Brown Jug is as prestigious.
The Hambletonian is the first, and most prestigious event in the United States Trotting Triple Crown races.
[edit] Hambletonian Winners
- 2007 - Donato Hanover
- 2006 - Glidemaster
- 2005 - Vivid Photo
- 2004 - Windsong's Legacy
- 2003 - Amigo Hall
- 2002 - Chip Chip Hooray
- 2001 - Scarlet Knight
- 2000 - Yankee Paco
- 1999 - Self Possessed
- 1998 - Muscles Yankee
- 1997 - Malabar Man
- 1996 - Continental Victory
- 1995 - Tagliabue
- 1994 - Victory Dream
- 1993 - American Winner
- 1992 - Alf Palema
- 1991 - Giant Victory
- 1990 - Harmonious
- 1989 - Park Avenue Joe/Probe*
- 1988 - Armbro Goal
- 1987 - Mack Lobell
- 1986 - Nuclear Kosmos
- 1985 - Prakas
- 1984 - Historic Freight
- 1983 - Duenna
- 1982 - Speed Bowl
- 1981 - Shiaway St. Pat
- 1980 - Burgomeister
- 1979 - Legend Hanover
- 1978 - Speedy Somolli
- 1977 - Green Speed
- 1976 - Steve Lobell
- 1975 - Bonefish
- 1974 - Christopher T.
- 1973 - Flirth
- 1972 - Super Bowl
- 1971 - Speedy Crown
- 1970 - Timothy T.
- 1969 - Lindy's Pride
- 1968 - Nevele Pride
- 1967 - Speedy Streak
- 1966 - Kerry Way
- 1965 - Egyptian Candor
- 1964 - Ayres
- 1963 - Speedy Scott
- 1962 - A. C.'s Viking
- 1961 - Harlan Dean
- 1960 - Blaze Hanover
- 1959 - Diller Hanover
- 1958 - Emily's Pride
- 1957 - Hickory Smoke
- 1956 - The Intruder
- 1955 - Scott Frost
- 1954 - Newport Dream
- 1953 - Helicopter
- 1952 - Sharp Note
- 1951 - Mainliner
- 1950 - Lusty Song
- 1949 - Miss Tilly
- 1948 - Demon Hanover
- 1947 - Hoot Mon
- 1946 - Chestertown
- 1945 - Titan Hanover
- 1944 - Yankee Maid
- 1943 - Volo Song
- 1942 - The Ambassador
- 1941 - Bill Gallon
- 1940 - Spencer Scott
- 1939 - Peter Astra
- 1938 - Mc Lin
- 1937 - Shirley Hanover
- 1936 - Rosalind
- 1935 - Greyhound
- 1934 - Lord Jim
- 1933 - Mary Reynolds
- 1932 - The Marchioness
- 1931 - Calumet Butler
- 1930 - Hanover's Bertha
- 1929 - Walter Dear
- 1928 - Spencer
- 1927 - Iosola's Worthy
- 1926 - Guy McKinney
*Until 1976, there were two heats, and a horse had to win both of them to win. If a different horse won the two heats, a third heat was held, and if a different horse won the third heat, the three winners would come back for a three-horse raceoff. The last time the Hambletonian went four heats was 1976, when Steve Lobell prevailed in near-100 degree heat, prompting changes in the format.
In 1980, the format was changed to two eliminations and a final. If the final was won by a horse who did not win the elimination, a third heat was held, again in the three-horse raceoff format.
In 1989, no separate eliminations were held, due to a shortage of horses, so they returned to the two-heat/runoff format. The first heat was won by Probe, and the second heat was won by Park Avenue Joe. In the race-off, the two horses finished in a dead heat. Standings were compiled by total placings in all three heats, as a result of the tie. Probe was 1st and 9th in the first two heats. Park Avenue Joe was 2nd and 1st in the first two heats. Therefore, Park Avenue Joe was declared the winner. However, the official Hambletonian website now lists both horses as co-winners.
Since 1997, the format was changed to its current version, with eliminations the week before the final. Purists would argue that this is not the original spirit of the Hambletonian, which was designed as much as an endurance competition as one for speed.
[edit] Hambletonian Sites
- 1926-29 -- New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY
- 1927 and 1929 events held in Lexington, KY due to rainouts in Syracuse
- 1930-56 -- Good Time Park, Goshen, NY (site of the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame)
- 1943 event held at Empire City Park in Yonkers, NY due to wartime gas rationing
- 1957-80 -- DuQuoin State Fair, DuQuoin, IL
- 1981-present -- The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, NJ
The Triple Crown of Horse Racing |
United States, Thoroughbred Horses: Kentucky Derby | Preakness Stakes | Belmont Stakes |
United States, Harness Racing Pacers: Cane Pace | Messenger Stakes | Little Brown Jug |
United States, Harness Racing Trotters: Hambletonian | Yonkers Trot | Kentucky Futurity |
United Kingdom: 2,000 Guineas Stakes | Derby Stakes (also known as Epsom Derby) | St. Leger Stakes |
Canada, Thoroughbred Horses: Queen's Plate | Prince of Wales Stakes | Breeders' Stakes |
See Also: Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing | Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers | Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters | American Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing | Canadian Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing * |
*Series is still under review for races. See page for details on race proposals. |
Links: New Jersey Web Sites New Jersey Horse Enthusiast Web