Horse Racing Results

American Harness Racing: looking back on races at Meadowlands | Hambletonian, US Harness Racing

Meadowlands Racetrack – Saturday 8 August 2009

The American Harness Racing great day. That Saturday, a generous 10 events’ program took place on Meadowlands Racetrack, the temple of American harness racing, that is the equivalent to our national Hippodrome de Vincennes (Vincennes Racetrack).

Among these 10 races were 4 major events, the most prestigious being the legendary Hambletonian. Considered as the greatest event in the world for trotters aged 3 it was named after great sire Hambletonian 10. Born on 5 May 1849, he passed away in 1876. Although he never competed in a race he sired over 1,300 foals and fillies in 24 mating seasons. 99% of all American trotters trace up their bloodline to him.

Some of the horses who won the Hambletonian have become a legend in Harness Racing: Nevele Pride, Mack Lobell, recently Donato Hanover as well as Swedish Scarlet Knight, the only European trotter to have won it so far.

But let’s get back to 2009 84th Hambletonian: The winner was top favourite Muscle Hill (see photo opposite), driven by Brian Sears. Muscles Yankee’s son was in the lead throughout the race and shot off in the home stretch, with a 1′08  »5 record. All the time in the winner’s trail Explosive Matter arrived in 2nd position. Calchips Brute finished 3rd.

View the video:

The other events of the day:

- Hambletonian Oaks (9th race), for mares aged 3: the winner was Broadway Schooner also driven by Brian Sears. She was neck-in-neck with Raising Rachel and favourite Elusive Desire. Video of the event:

- Nat Ray (7th race) is an international event for horses aged 3 and over, and is also a qualifying event to the Harness Racing World Cup. Lucky Jim won it hands down. In the first half of the racetrack he remained in the pack. Glen Kronos, trained by Lutfi Kolgjini, was in the lead all this time. Lucky Jim then took the lead and largely defeated his competitors, particularly Swedish Glen Kronos, as he shot off in the home stretch. As for Gift Kronos, he finished 3rd. View the race:

- The programme also featured two fine events for horses aged 2. Outsider Poof She’s Gone won the Merrie Annabelle Trot for fillies (2nd race). View the video:

- In Peter Haughton Memorial for males (3rd race), Holiday Road outdid the other horses by his speed. He took the lead halfway through the home stretch and beat the record for this event at a 1′10 »9. Pilgrims Taj and Lucky Chucky respectively finished 2nd and 3rd. View the video:

It is true that in some respect American harness racing slightly differs from the approach to trot that people have in Europe and more particularly in France, but it is nonetheless good fun. The events almost always take place on a circular racetrack with mobile start and few participants. The most famous distance is the mile, i.e. 1,609 m. Minimum speed is 1′10 » to the km. There are also a few star jockeys namely (randomly) John Campbell, Brian Sears, Ron Pierce, Tim Tetrick…and others.

You will soon know more about them, as well as about horse trainers, their methods, the equipment, the veterinary care, the auctions, etc. Find out more on Meadowlands Racetrack official website and on Hambletonian Society. Join us and become too the owner of an outstanding trotter!