The Hambletonian Stakes is a major American

harness race Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait (a trot or a pace). They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, or spider, or chariot occupied by a driver. In Europe, and less frequently in Australia ...

for three-year-old trotting horses, named in honor of

Hambletonian 10 Hambletonian 10, or Rysdyk's Hambletonian, (May 5, 1849 – March 27, 1876) was an American trotter and a founding sire of the Standardbred horse breed. The stallion was born in Sugar Loaf, New York, on 5 May 1849. Hambletonian has been induc ...

, a foundation sire of the

Standardbred The Standardbred is an American horse breed best known for its ability in harness racing, where members of the breed compete at either a trot or pace. Developed in North America, the Standardbred is recognized worldwide, and the breed can trace i ...

horse breed, also known as the "Father of the American Trotter." The first in the

Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters Triple Crown is a combination of three major races in harness racing. The term ''Triple Crown'' is mostly used in the US, but also in France. The term is also used in thoroughbred racing. United States The Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trott ...

, the Hambletonian is currently held at the

Meadowlands Racetrack The Meadowlands Racetrack (currently referred to as Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment) is a horse racing track at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. The track hosts both thoroughbred racing and harness ...

East Rutherford East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the borough's population was 10,022, reflecting an increase of 1,109 (+12.4%) from the 8,913 counted in the 2010 census.

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

, on the first

Saturday Saturday is the day of the week between Friday and Sunday. No later than the 2nd century, the Romans named Saturday ("Saturn's Day") for the planet Saturn, which controlled the first hour of that day, according to Vettius Valens. The day ...

August August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and the fifth of seven months to have a length of 31 days. Its zodiac sign is Leo and was originally named ''Sextilis'' in Latin because it was the 6th month in ...

Sites

The Hambletonian first took place at the

New York State Fair The New York State Fair, also known as the Great New York State Fair, is a 13-day showcase of agriculture, entertainment, education, and technology. With midway rides, concessionaires, exhibits, and concerts, it has become New York's largest a ...

in Syracuse in 1926. The race switched from Syracuse to

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, Fayette County. By population, it is the List of cities in Kentucky, second-largest city in Kentucky and List of United States cities by popul ...

for the 1927 and 1929 races, however, because of rainouts. Starting in 1930,

Good Time Park Good Time Park was a mile-long race track in Goshen, New York that hosted the Hambletonian harness race from 1930 to 1956. History A largely unmaintained field for the first century of its existence, the area that would become Good Time Park w ...

Goshen, New York Goshen is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 13,687 at the 2010 census. The town is named after the Biblical Land of Goshen. It contains a village also called Goshen, which is the county seat of Orange Count ...

hosted the race until 1956 with the exception of 1943. That year, The Hambletonian was raced at Empire City Race Track, which became

Yonkers Raceway Yonkers Raceway & Empire City Casino, founded in 1899 as the Empire City Race Track, is a one-half-mile standardbred harness racing dirt track and slots racino located at the intersection of Central Park Avenue and Yonkers Avenue in Yonkers, New Y ...

in 1950, because of wartime gas rationing. The Du Quoin State Fair in

Du Quoin, Illinois Du Quoin ( ) is a city in Perry County, Illinois. It is best known for hosting the annual DuQuoin State Fair and the Street Machine Nationals. The population is estimated at 5,761 in the 2020 census. Geography Du Quoin is located at (38.0068, ...

gained the rights to host the race in 1957 and held on to it until 1980. Since 1981, the race has been at the

East Rutherford, New Jersey East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the borough's population was 10,022, reflecting an increase of 1,109 (+12.4%) from the 8,913 counted in the 2010 census.

Records

; Most wins by a driver * 6 – John Campbell (1987, 1988, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2006) ; Most wins by a trainer * 5 – shared by: **

Billy Haughton William Robert (Billy) Haughton (November 23, 1923 – July 15, 1986) was an American harness driver and trainer. He was one of only three drivers to win the Hambletonian four times, the only one to win the Little Brown Jug five times, and the ...

(1974, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982) ** Ben White (1927, 1933, 1936, 1942, 1943) ** Stanley Dancer (1965, 1968, 1972, 1975, 1983) ; Stakes record * 1:50 1/5 –

Muscle Hill Muscle Hill is a trotting stallion, by super sire Muscles Yankee, who won a Breeders Crown race in 2008 and 2009. He is driven by Brian Sears and trained by Greg Peck. Muscle Hill was purchased by Tom Pontone for $55,000 at the Harrisburg Ye ...

(2009)

Hambletonian Stakes winners

References

External links

Sugar Loaf Historical Society

New Jersey Horse Enthusiast Web
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hambletonian Stakes Meadowlands Racetrack Harness races in the United States Harness races for three-year-old trotters United States Triple Crown of Harness Racing Sports in East Rutherford, New Jersey Recurring sporting events established in 1926 1926 establishments in New York (state)