There’s something for everyone at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Saturday, Aug. 3 when the 99th Hambletonian overall and the 44th in New Jersey comes to East Rutherford for what’s called the “greatest day in harness racing.”
The favorites for the final are Karl and T C I, who won the $100,000 Hambletonian elimination splits Saturday, July 27. The post-position draws for both the $1 million Hambletonian and $500,00 Hambletonian Oaks will be held at a press conference on Tuesday (July 30) at Hogan Equine in Cream Ridge, New Jersey.
Big M TV’s Ken Warkentin and Jessica Otten will serve as the hosts. The conference is open to the public and will be livestreamed. More information is here.
Karl, a 14-time winner, has lifetime earnings of $1.3 million and is trained by Nancy Takter, who trained last year’s Hambletonian winner Tactical Approach. Karl is co-owned by Nancy Taker, her mother Christina, Black Horse Racing and Crawford Farms Racing.
T C I is a 14-time winner with lifetime earnings of $1.4 million and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc., and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. He is trained by Ron Burke.
Christina and Nancy Takter, Black Horse Racing and Crawford Farms Racing own. Trained by, Karl (Tactical Landing-Avalicious)
Hambo Day at Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment is a day of fun for the entire family, including legendary races, carnival rides, games, pony rides, hat contest, food trucks, live music, and giveaways.
Grandstand doors open at 10 a.m. with giveaways beginning immediately, including a 2024 Hambletonian baseball cap for adults and children. The $5 admission can be purchased in advance here or people can pay at the door. The first race is at noon.
What’s at Stake
Known as America’s Trotting Classic, the Hambletonian is the richest trotting race in the world for three-year-olds, with a purse of $1.05 million. The companion filly event, the Hambletonian Oaks, is worth $500,000. There will be 16 races on Hambo Day totaling over $3.5 million in stakes purses.
- $1-million Hambletonian (3-year-old open trot)
- $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks (3-year-old filly trot)
- $300,000 John Cashman Memorial (open trot)
- $275,000 Cane Pace (3-year-old colt and gelding pace)
- $275,000 Sam McKee Memorial (older pace)
- $175,000 Lady Liberty (older mare pace)
- $150,000 Dr. John Steele Memorial (older mare trot)
- $90,000 Shady Daisy (3-year-old filly pace)
- $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final (2-year-old colt and gelding trot)
- $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final (2-year-old filly trot)
Rides, Games, Food Trucks, and Live Music
The Backyard will be filled with free carnival rides, games, pony rides, and a free live concert by the Craig Sailer Project beginning at 11 am. Racing fans can grab a Hambo flag, snag driver selfies, giveaways, and trainer autographs at the HarnessRacing.com tent.
Food trucks include:
- Clyde’s Homemade Italian Ices and Ice Cream
- Love JoJo’s Cookies
- The Empanada Truck
- Cat Like Reflexes
- Carnival Concessions
- Latin Bites
- Green Dog Mobile
- The Original Delicious Lola Josefa’s
- Rods Fish N Chips
- Green Dog Mobile
- Eat My Balls
- Magic Mike’s Smoked Meat
- Rolling Pita
- Star Of The Sea Seafood
- Bitch’n Bacon
- The Mozzarella God
- Mi Sabor Boricua
- Antijitos de mi Tierra
- Naya Sushi On Wheels
- DAW Concessions
There will be Trotter’s Gold golden ale brewed by Ghost Hawk Brewing Co. commemorating 2023 Hambo winner Tactical Approach.
Let Carson Kressley Judge Your Hat
Bring your most creative hat for the chance to win the Hambletonian Hat Contest. First place wins $500, second place $250, third place $100, fourth place $50, and the most elegant hat wins $100. TV personality Carson Kressley will be judging this year’s contest. Kressley will also lead the post-parades for both the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks.
The FanZone Tent will have free swag giveaways all day, and there will also be a driver and trainer autograph session from 10:30 a.m. until noon.
Dress to Impress, Strike a Pose
As this is a premier day in harness racing, everyone is asked to wear their best summer attire (especially in dining areas Trotters, Pink, Skybox Suites, the Lounge & Victory Terrace.)
There will be prize packages for the snazziest dressers, plus a 360° camera in the lobby so fashionistas can strike a pose.
Make Reservations for Hambo Day Dining
There are plenty of dining options all day, including:
- Promenade, $300, admission included. Seats up to four people and is a semi-shaded area along the top of the grandstand seats. More information.
- The 2nd Floor Lounge, $50 – $200, admission is not included. Seats one to four people and is at the center of the action with front row seats to Victory’s giant screens. There are one-person bar seats as well as top tables for two-four people and couches. Table cost acts as food credit for use at Victory. Opens at 10 a.m. and the reservation is valid through the end of live racing. More information.
- Outdoor Cafe, $100, admission not included. Tables are located near the Winner’s Circle and seats up to four people. Table cost acts as $100 food credit for use at the cafe. More information.
- West Tent Dining has great views of the track and finish line. Menu features brisket, beef sliders, mac & cheese, salads and dessert. Call for more information and reservations: 201-843-2446.
- Trotters, West Deck Dining, and Pink Dining are open to Trotters members and horse owners with horses in to go Saturday, Aug. 3. The menu at all three includes boneless ribeye, Atlantic salmon, chicken piccata and a variety of salads and desserts. Call for more information and reservations: 201-843-2446.
Play Poker on Hambo Eve
On Hambo Day Eve, Friday, Aug. 2, someone will win a brand new 2024 Toyota Camry LE AWD as part of the Meadowland Racetrack’s HorsePlay Giveaway, sponsored by Purple Haze Stables. The contest has been ongoing every race day.
The contest requires participants to throw little plastic horses into the car that will be given away for a chance to win it. Kids can pick up the horses that end up on the track for a free ice cream at the track’s café.
The Hambletonian Charity Casino and Poker Night is also happening at The Meadowlands Racetrack on Friday, Aug. 2.
Sponsored by and benefiting The Standardbred Retirement Foundation and The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, the event includes an open bar, dinner, poker, roulette, craps, blackjack and raffle prizes.
Advanced ticket purchase is encouraged, as seating is limited for the poker tournament. The grand prize is a trip for two to Las Vegas, including hotel and airfare. Second prize is $350, third prize at $175. For complete information, go here, reach out to Janet Terhune or John Mayo at (845) 294-6330, or email info@harnessmuseum.com.
Can’t Attend? Catch Hambletonian on TV
Both the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks can be seen on FOX Sports, reported by the TV departments at The Big M and the New York Racing Association (NYRA).
“The Meadowlands is fortunate to be teaming up with NYRA and FOX to present an incredible afternoon of racing on Hambletonian Day,” said Big M Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Many of Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing’s greatest stars and greatest races will be seen by an international audience that day.”
The Hambletonian is race 12 on The Big M program and is scheduled to air nationwide 4:45 p.m. on the main FOX network (locally on FOX 5 New York). The Hambletonian Oaks — race 14 at The Meadowlands — will be shown live at approximately 6:06 p.m. It can be seen on FOX Sports 2.
Live Racing Every Friday
Live racing is every Friday and Saturday at The Meadowlands with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m. The Big M’s live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pregame show begins every racing night at 5:45 p.m.
This Friday marks the first of the final four racing programs of the meeting. Post time is always 6:20 p.m. except on Aug. 3, Hambletonian Day, when post time is noon. On Hambo Day, the pregame show will kick off at 11:30 a.m.
Past performances for every Meadowlands card race are free of charge at playmeadowlands.com.
Brief Hambletonian History
The Hambletonian first occurred at the New York State Fair in Syracuse in 1926, then moved to Lexington, Kentucky for the 1927 and 1929 races. Starting in 1930, Good Time Park in Goshen, New York hosted the race until 1956, except in 1943. That year, The Hambletonian was raced at Empire City Race Track, which became Yonkers Raceway in 1950.
The Du Quoin State Fair in Du Quoin, Illinois hosted the race from 1957 until 1980. Since 1981, the race has been at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
John Campbell is the driver with the most wins, six: 1987, 1988, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2006.
The most wins by a trainer, five, is shared by: Billy Haughton (1974, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982); Ben White (1927, 1933, 1936, 1942, 1943) and Stanley Dancer (1965, 1968, 1972, 1975, 1983).
Stakes record, 1:50 1/5 – Muscle Hill (2009), Ramona Hill (2020).
