It’s a melancholy year to make one’s first Hambletonian trip. But everyone I’ve met at the Meadowlands is putting up a brave face, and they all seem determined to make sure the lovers of racing get what they’ve come to expect from the biggest day in North American harness racing, despite the blows and woes the Big M people have been slammed with as of late.

Darryl (MacArthur, of the Paddock Report at Grand River) and I are here to take in our first Hambletonian, and work. Tomorrow after race six, in the winner’s circle at the Meadowlands, I will receive one of about three awards I’ve ever won (including Best Public Speaking in Grade 6 for a speech about cannibalism). Kindly save some of your cheering power for the big race to send my way in hopes that I don’t barf from bad nerves all over my Golden Pen trophy.

My super-groovy friend Heather Vitale Moffet is here (she hosts a couple of harness racing shows in the US, including Post Time … http://www.youtube.com/user/Posttimeshow) and she put us in touch with Alex Dadoyan, the Assistant VP of Racing at The Big M. Alex took us right where we wanted to go more than anywhere else at the Big M … to the office of Rozie! She handles all of the trophies, including the iconic Hambletonian trophy!

So, here’s the Hambletonian trophy 24 hours out from action. Enjoy the video … we will have plenty more photos and goodies coming tomorrow after the race. Thanks again to everyone at the Big M who has been oh-so-gracious!