The Meadowlands has hosted many great harness racing events for almost a half-century, and this Saturday, Aug. 3 will be no exception.
An international television audience will see an extraordinary Hambletonian program, telecast along with the prestigious Whitney card from historic Saratoga Race Course live on FOX Sports (3-6 p.m.; locally on FOX 5 New York).
In baseball, the hot stove league is the sport's off-season. The phrase does not denote an actual league, but instead calls up images of baseball fans gathering around a hot stove during the cold winter months, discussing their favourite teams and players in anticipation of the upcoming season.
When Standardbred racing was taking their winter break from stakes racing a year ago, its “hot stove league” was boiling over talking about the 2023 season. When the talk came around to predicting the winner of the 2024 Hambletonian, two colts had established themselves as the winterbook favourites: Karl and T C I.
To understand the magnitude of the anticipation for this year’s $1.05 million USD Hambletonian, we have to go back to Oct. 6, 2023.
It was the first matchup between the unbeaten two-year-olds (pictured above), which was held at The Red Mile. In that race, Karl swept around T C I after the quarter, with T C I stalking him in the pocket. After a memorable stretch duel, and after a lengthy look at a tight photo, the conclusion was T C I had his nose in front at the wire to win the International Stallion Stakes.
Three weeks later, Karl exacted his revenge in the Breeders Crown. As he did in Lexington, driver Yannick Gingras took Karl to the top past the quarter. On this night, Karl would not be denied, as he evened the score with his two-year-old rival, donning the Crown before going on to be named the winner of the Dan Patch Award while T C I was named the O'Brien Award winner.
As we headed into the 2024 stakes season, any Hambletonian talk would start with the same two names: Karl and T C I. Their ownerships would choose different paths to the big race, preventing the dynamic duo from going head-to-head – until Hambo Day, that is.
The Nancy Takter-trained Karl raced exclusively at The Meadowlands, rattling off consecutive victories at the mile oval on May 11 and May 18, before completing a three-race New Jersey Sire Stakes sweep with a win in the final on May 31.
One month later, Karl returned to The Meadowlands in the Reynolds Stakes on June 29. From post position eight, Karl was dominant, winning his division for his 13th victory in 14 lifetime starts.
The Ron Burke-trained T C I, on the other hand, took his show on the road. He recorded wins in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes on May 31 at The Meadows and Pocono Downs on June 8. Three weeks later, he went to The Meadowlands and won a division of the Reynolds the same night as Karl.
July was a rollercoaster of a month for the two colts. On Independence Day, T C I broke at the start of the Zweig Memorial at Vernon Downs and was taken back to last. Although he made a massive recovery, T C I tasted defeat for the first time in 2024, eventually finishing fourth, while beaten just two lengths.
The next stop for both colts was the Stanley Dancer in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 13. Just like the Reynolds, the two colts again would not meet, as they drew into separate divisions.
Karl raced first and took command as he usually did. But on this night, Karl showed vulnerability not seen in his career, tiring in the final strides to finish third behind Sig Sauer and Tony Adams S.
Less than an hour later, T C I lost as well, going first-over past the half before racing gamely to the wire but unable to gain on winner Situationship and runner-up Caballero. He, like Karl, finished third.
All of a sudden, the clear picture that was the three-year-old division was now a bit cloudy. The two top colts had been defeated, and with that, a total of 20 competitors dropped into the box for the Hambletonian eliminations.
Again, the prolific pair drew into separate divisions. Karl stepped up to the plate first and delivered his best performance of the year, winning in 1:50.3.
Then, it was T C I’s turn, and he won the second elimination for fun, as driver David Miller changed tactics, taking T C I aggressively to the front. Just as Karl did in his elimination, T C I put forth his finest performance of the season, stopping the clock in 1:50.4.
So here we are, 10 months after that first matchup in Lexington where they hit the wire together. By the way, if there wasn’t already enough pressure and drama, let’s add this flammable log to the fire.
Three of the greatest names in harness racing are trainer Ron Burke and drivers Gingras and Miller -- all U.S. Hall of Famers. Burke and Gingras have teamed up to win many of the sport’s biggest events on numerous occasions throughout their careers, but will be on separate sides on Saturday afternoon.
Miller is closing in on his first outright Meadowlands driving title. He drives T C I for Burke, while Gingras guides Karl.
Ironically, none of the above has ever won “America’s Trotting Classic.” One can only imagine how desperately each wants to win his first Hambletonian.
The two colts, along with Burke, Gingras and Miller, don’t have to wait any longer to try again for their first grasp at the Hambletonian brass ring. The dream matchup that the entire racing world has been anxiously waiting for isn’t a dream any longer. Just like the UFC’s Dana White, The Meadowlands has delivered the championship fight that everyone wants to see.
The 16-race program, featuring all of the sport’s greatest stars and many of the sport’s greatest races, has a first-race post time of noon. The Hambletonian has a post time of 4:45 p.m.; the Whitney (from Saratoga) 5:42 p.m.; and the Hambletonian Oaks 6:06 p.m.
In addition to the Hambletonian, there are nine other stakes events that will be contested on the card. To read more about the undercard, click here.
The fields for the Hambletonian and Oaks are listed below.
$1.05 million USD Hambletonian Stakes
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Karl - Yannick Gingras - Nancy Takter - 6-5
2. Mars Hill - Todd McCarthy - Tony Alagna - 20-1
3. Highland Kismet - Bob McClure - Mark Etsell - 5-1
4. T C I - David Miller - Ron Burke - 5-2
5. Security Protected - Tim Tetrick - Marcus Melander - 20-1
6. Bellas Musclehill - Scott Zeron - Nifty Norman - 15-1
7. Secret Agent Man - Andy Miller - Julie Miller - 12-1
8. Sig Sauer - Andrew McCarthy - Noel Daley - 4-1
9. Private Access - James MacDonald - Luc Blais - 10-1
10. Amazing Catch - Dexter Dunn - Ake Svanstedt - 20-1
$525,000 USD Hambletonian Oaks
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Elista Hanover - David Miller - Annie Stoebe - 9-5
2. Warrawee Michelle - Ake Svanstedt - Ake Svanstedt - 8-1
3. R Melina - Todd McCarthy - John Butenschoen - 5-2
4. Allegiant - Scott Zeron - Vernon Beachy - 3-1
5. Miss I La - Joe Bongiorno - Noel Daley - 20-1
6. Buy A Round - Andrew McCarthy - Noel Daley - 6-1
7. French Champagne - Andy Miller - Ake Svanstedt - 9-2
8. Paulina Hanover - Tim Tetrick - Noel Daley - 20-1
9. Date Night Hanover - Dexter Dunn - Marcus Melander - 15-1
10. Drawn Impression - James MacDonald - Luc Blais - 12-1
There will be a Hambletonian recap show on the CBS Sports Network that will be shown twice on Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. and Aug. 11 at 2 p.m. The broadcast will be hosted by Greg Blanchard with Emily Ratcliff and Michael Carter providing analysis and interviews.
The Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) will have all day coverage of Saturday’s card on its Youtube channel, with Blanchard, Carter and Mark McKelvie manning the microphones.
The entire day’s events can also be seen on both The Meadowlands YouTube Channel and Facebook pages.
As part of the Hambletonian excitement, someone will win a new car on Hambletonian Eve. That night, someone will drive out of The Big M in a brand new 2024 Toyota Camry LE AWD in the track’s HorsePlay Giveaway, which takes place every race day until the car is given away on Friday, Aug. 2. The HorsePlay Giveaway is sponsored by Purple Haze Stables. The contest has patrons throwing little plastic horses into the car that will be given away for a chance to win it. Of those horses that end up on the track, kids can get involved. Children who help out picking up the plastic horses off the track will receive a free ice cream at the Café.
If you like casino gaming, and giving to good causes, check out Hambletonian Charity Casino and Poker Night at The Meadowlands on Friday, Aug. 2. The Standardbred Retirement Foundation and The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame are the event’s sponsors. The evening’s festivities will include an open bar, dinner, poker, roulette, craps, blackjack and raffle prizes. The poker tournament has limited seating, so it is highly recommended you purchase tickets in advance. The grand prize is a trip for two to Las Vegas (which includes hotel and airfare). Second prize is $350 USD, with third prize at $175 USD.
The Hambletonian Day betting menu is sure to please, offering non-stop action from race one – which gets underway at noon – until the 16th and final dash – which goes at approximately 7 p.m.
Since it is the last day of the Championship Meet, all wagers will offer mandatory payouts, and, in addition, there will be $350,000 in guaranteed pools.
In addition, multi-leg lovers can get in on the “Cross Country Pick-5,, a wager where a player has to correctly select the winners of Race 8 at Monmouth, Race 9 at Saratoga, Race 12 at The Meadowlands (Hambletonian), Race 10 at Saratoga and Race 11 at Saratoga (Whitney).
The best place to be on Hambletonian Day is in the middle of all the action and activities at the track. The doors will open at 10 a.m. and the first race goes at noon. There will be a $5 USD admission, but that includes a commemorative 99th Hambletonian hat for adults and kids.
Big M management is encouraging everyone to wear their best summer attire – especially in dining areas Trotters, Pink, the Skybox Suites, Lounge and Victory Terrace.
Guaranteed dining/seating available for purchase includes a $300 Promenade Table, which seats four people and table purchase includes admission; a $100 Cafe Table, which seats our people and the $100 is food credit for use at the Cafe (admission not included); as well as second-floor Lounge seating, with tables of two and four available along with four-person couch, with purchase being a beverage and food credit for Victory (admission not included).
Festivities include live music in the Backyard by the Craig Sailer Project, carnival rides and games throughout the Backyard and a Hambo Hat Contest. Sign up or the Hambo Hat Contest is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Clubhouse Lobby with prizes from $50 to $500 USD. In addition, 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.
Click here for a free program for Hambletonian Day.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)