In this week's Rewind, Robert has penned a special piece intended to coincide with the 100th edition of the fabled Hambletonian, which is scheduled for later today. He recalls a very famous reinsman who was instrumental in popularizing this great race that has showcased the finest trotters since the inaugural in 1926. He drove in the first-ever Hambo and many that followed over four decades.

When the first Hambletonian was held in 1926 at the Syracuse, N.Y. mile track, it was the beginning of a very long existence for this great race that is turning 100 years old today. The trail of historical happenings for this greatest of all trotting races is endless.

Tom Berry was a two-time winner of the Hambletonian, 1930 and 1946. He was one of the greats of his era and was inducted into the U.S. Hall of Fame in 1964. (Harness Racing Museum & HOF photo)

One very interesting gentleman who was a part of the Hambletonian from day one was Thomas E. Berry. He was born in England in 1882 but decided at a very young age that his life calling was a world away. At the tender age of 10, he stowed away — along with a friend — on a horse transport bound for Boston, Ma. His love for horses would carry him halfway across the world!

Soon after the ship set sail for America, the young Berry and the other lad were discovered by ship personnel. Rather than try to punish them or subject them to any negative treatment, they were allowed to work their way across the ocean in the ship's kitchen. It apparently worked out.

Shortly after arriving in Charlestown, Ma., he obtained work in a livery stable. His first foray into the racing world involved working as an apprentice jockey with the runners, because of his small size. He soon developed an interest in harness racing, and several owners allowed him to begin driving their horses.

His first victory in his newfound sport was recorded at Lowell, Ma., when he was just 17 years of age. His first major victory was in the pacing division of the American Derby at Readville, Mass., shortly after the turn of the century. By 1926, he had become one of the nation's top drivers and was known as "The Jersey Skeeter." Berry signed with Hanover Shoe Farms in Pennsylvania and won the Hambletonian and the Kentucky Futurity with Hanover's Bertha in 1930.

His involvement in harness racing would soon become successful, but it was not without his share of mishaps and injuries. In later years, when X-rays became a regular part of the diagnosis of injuries, some doctors told him that about every bone in his body had been broken at some time or other. His major injuries were multiple back fractures and two fractures of the skull. This was, of course, long before the days of protective helmets.

Although many early harness racing records were either not kept or are unavailable, Berry owned a very impressive list of accomplishments over his long career. By the decade of the 1920s, he began a long association with the up-and-coming Hanover Shoe Farms stable in York, Pa. When the farm purchased Guy McKinney, the winner of the inaugural Hambletonian, Berry gave him a mark of 1:59 1/2 that at the time became the sport's fastest trotting mile. It would stand for many years, until 1938.

His first Hambletonian victory came in 1930 when he won that year's classic with Hanover's Bertha. Sixteen years later, he recorded his second with Chestertown in 1946. Although he did not win another Hambo, at the time of his passing he had driven in a record 22 Hambletonians — more than any other driver. He also had horses sharing in the Hambo purse 15 times, another record.

Driver Tom Berry shown after winning the 1946 Hambletonian with Chestertown. The owner is shown hoisting the trophy in the background. This was his second Hambo win, having also won the 1930 event with Hanover's Bertha 16 years earlier. (Hambo Society photo)

A happy winner's circle is shown with the 1946 winner Chestertown and owners Mr. and Mrs. Walter Smith receiving the Hambo trophy from Henry Knight. Driver Tom Berry, 64 at the time, is on the far right. Photo courtesy of Hambletonian Society

He was credited with winning around 100 major stake races — obviously the biggest were his two Hambletonian victories. In an era when 2:00 miles were a rarity, he drove nine trotters and five pacers to their initial 2:00 records. A feat now lost in time, it was an amazing accomplishment back then.

During his heyday, U.S. horsemen seldom raced in Canada. The calibre of races available did not warrant it. Berry did make a few visits in the 1930s when Grand Circuit racing was held at Toronto's Thorncliffe Park. One notable performer he drove during those visits was the later-to-be world-famous Rosalind, when she was a two-year-old.

His love for harness racing never wavered. A few years before he died, he told a racing reporter as he summed up his long career and all the changes he had seen: "If I could live my life over, I'd start right back in it!"

A rather young Tom Berry displays a couple of trophies he had just won during a day of racing.

Three wily veterans of the early era of the Hambletonian are shown dropping their entries in the box at Goshen, N.Y. From left: Fred Egan (2), Tom Berry (2), and Ben White (4). The bracketed numbers indicate the number of Hambo victories each achieved. The span of their dominance covered almost 20 years between 1930 and 1949. (Hoof Beats)

Thomas Berry as he appeared during the later part of his career.

Mr. Berry continued to drive until the age of 79. He died at the age of 80 in Lexington, Ky., where he had made his home for many years, on July 21, 1962. At the time of his passing, his involvement in the annual Hambletonian races placed him in rare territory. He had driven during four decades.

In 1957, after 26 straight years at Good Time Park in Goshen, the Hambletonian Society made a major decision to move this famous race to a new venue. On the afternoon of August 27, 1957, that year's Hambletonian was held at its new home in Southern Illinois at DuQuoin. Veteran reinsman Tom Berry, a well-seasoned campaigner then 75 years young, led the fields to the post with the great retired trotter Pronto Don hitched to a high-wheeled sulky.

Here is a look at the original Hambletonian trophy, which was rather large.

The Hambletonian now has a long and colourful history, covering its 100-year existence. It has survived a century of change and witnessed several generations of people and the continual evolution of equine athletes. It has adapted and prospered through a Depression and was still held during wartime when many races were canceled. Even the recent COVID epidemic failed to stop its continuing presence at the top of all of harness racing.

It has been won by heavy favourites and rank outsiders. It has been won by drivers named simply Tom, John, and Bill, and also by those with such unlikely first names as Flave, Bion, and Malvern. Each year a new chapter is added to an already great story.

Let’s look forward to the next 100 years of Hambletonians! Many people have referred to it as “America’s Greatest Horse Race.”

Quote For The Week: "True friends are like diamonds; bright, beautiful, valuable, and always in style." – Nicole Richie, singer/songwriter

Who Is It?

Can you name the driver pictured above along with his owner? They won the Hambletonian in the 1950s when it debuted in a new location. If you can identify the driver, you’re all set.

Who Else Is It?

Can you identify this driver? He didn’t win the Hambletonian, but he has enjoyed a long and successful career in Canadian harness racing. Who is he?

(The correct answers will be posted here by Robert as a comment in a few days.)