The Hambletonian, or Hambletonian Stakes, is the premier event in
American Harness Racing . The race, held annually
each August at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, NJ, is named for
Hambletonian 10 – widely regarded as the “Father of the American Trotter.” This
year’s Hambletonian takes place on August 3rd. A live streaming
broadcast can be viewed here on our site, and all the
pre-, during and post-race action can be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Since 1926, the Hambletonian Stake has been an extraordinary
showcase for the wonderful stories that surround the great trotters, their
connections and the memorable races they've contested for more than
three-quarters of a century, embodying the inevitable changes and evolution of
harness racing through those years. No matter the setting, regardless the
format, or the field of trotters going to the gate, the Hambletonian remains the
ultimate prize in the sport. The Hambletonian has been televised
nationally as far back as 1964; in fact in 1975 it moved from its traditional
day, Wednesday to Saturday, where it has been raced since, in order to
accommodate live television. CBS broadcast the Hambletonian from 1994 to 2006. A
new partnership with NBC was formed in 2007. The event has also been helped by
its proximity to Manhattan, the media capital of the world, and the Hambletonian
has enjoyed unprecedented coverage, both electronic and print. The
Hambletonian at the Meadowlands showcased some of the great stars of the modern
era, such as: Mack Lobell, Muscles Yankee, Self Possessed and Triple Crown
winners Windsong's Legacy and Glidemaster. The historic dead-heat between Park
Avenue Joe and Probe and the filly victories of Duenna and Continentalvictory
contained all the drama and romance of a best seller. John Campbell's six
victories (one with a trotter trained by his younger brother) and amateur driver
Mal Burroughs trilling win with his home-bred Malabar Man is the stuff of great
legends.