There are just 86 days to go.

One of harness racing’s most-storied events is celebrating a remarkable milestone this year at Meadowlands Racetrack as the 100th edition of the Hambletonian will take place in just under three months, on Saturday, Aug. 2.

The Hambletonian, as well as a laundry list of supporting stakes events, will take place on the first Saturday in August. That day is so special on the Big M’s calendar, that it is the only card of the 94 this year at the mile oval that takes place during the day. Post time is noon and the $1 million USD Hambletonian for three-year-old trotters tops a card that features nine other major events – including the $500,000 USD Hambletonian Oaks for sophomore filly trotters – on a day where purses for the program are estimated at $3.24 million USD.

“Hambletonian Day is the most popular event in harness racing,” said Jason Settlemoir, Meadowlands’ Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “It always brings out a big crowd and features the very best horses, trainers and drivers in the world. For true harness fans, it is a 'can’t miss' day at the races.”

Maryland, the standout two-year-old from 2024 who received divisional honours at the O'Brien and Dan Patch awards, is the early favourite to win The Hambletonian after winning six of nine starts a year ago, good for earnings of just over $1.675 million, making him the richest freshman trotter of all time.

The Marcus Melander-trained son of Chapter Seven-Crucial is certain to open up at No. 1 in Big M track announcer Ken Warkentin’s weekly “Road to The Hambletonian” Top 10, which will make its debut during the first week of June and will come out for 10 straight Wednesdays.

A national television audience will once again be able to watch The Hambletonian live, as FOX Sports will broadcast the event as part of its “America’s Day at the Races” series.

In the coming months, there will be a plethora of special events surrounding “America’s Trotting Classic” with details to be announced. For complete statistical data, upcoming events, upcoming prep races and everything else Hambletonian, visit The Hambletonian Society’s website at hambletonian.com and Facebook page.

With The Meadowlands now having the first race of every race card go to the gate without a post-time drag and begin promptly at 6:20 p.m., the track’s live simulcast show will now begin 15 minutes earlier, at 5:30 p.m., every live racing night.

Dexter Dunn, the Dan Patch Driver of the Year Award winner five of the last six years, will be Dave Little’s guest on Saturday night on the track’s “In the Sulky” interview segment. It will begin at approximately 5:35 p.m. Dunn and Little will discuss the New Zealand native’s fabulous 2025 in which he won a record six Breeders Crown titles. In addition, Dunn will weigh-in on Maryland and Captain Optimistic, who are big-time 2025 Hambletonian and Meadowlands Pace contenders, respectively.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)