Emmy Award-winning TV personality, style expert, fashion designer, interior designer and New York Times best-selling author Carson Kressley is the 2024 Hambletonian Ambassador.

Kressley, a lifelong horseman who owns and shows Saddlebreds and Standardbreds Roadsters, will ride a Saddlebred from North Wind Stables in Hardwick, New Jersey to lead the post parades for both the $1.05 million USD Hambletonian and $525,000 USD Hambletonian Oaks. He will also present the trophies for both races.

Carson will also be judging the Hambletonian Hat Contest. Fans are encouraged to bring their most creative hat to win the grand prize in the $500 USD hat contest. Prizes will also be awarded for second place( $250 USD), third place ($100 USD) and fourth place ($50 USD), and the most elegant hat wins $100 USD. Contestants can sign up until 2:30 p.m. in the Clubhouse Lobby. Kressley will judge the hats from the winner’s circle following race nine.

Fans are also encouraged to dress to impress and wear their best summer attire, especially in the dining areas Trotters, Pink, Skybox Suites, the Lounge and Victory Terrace. Prize packages will be awarded to the snazziest dressers and a 360-degree camera will be installed in the lobby so fashionistas can strike a pose.

Carson started his career as an independent stylist and became invaluable to prominent designers such as Ralph Lauren. He leaped television and became a breakout star on Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, which won a primetime Emmy and gained a worldwide following for Carson. In collaborations with Oprah Winfrey, Carson revolutionized America’s personal fashion sense of style. He’s hosted multiple TV shows, including Lifetime’s How to Look Good Naked and ABC’s True Beauty, and appeared as a fashion critic and commentator on shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show and Good Morning America. You can also see Carson on BBQ Brawl and Beat Bobby Flay.  

Amongst being a strong supporter of many philanthropic causes, when Kressley is not starring on stage or screen, he can be found astride one of his American Saddlebred show horses, with which he has achieved world champion status. 

(Meadowlands Racetrack)