In this week's edition of Rewind, Robert Smith has chosen a topic with a definite "Hambletonian Theme" to coincide with this year's classic. Later today, yet another chapter will be added to this famous race, first held in 1926. He takes a trip back to 1976, fifty years ago, and recalls that year's exciting and unforgettable Hambletonian that took a very long time to conclude.
When a race has a history that dates back a hundred or more years, it will naturally have seen a lot of ups and downs, twists and turns, and at least a "bazillion" other odd and unusual happenings. This week's Rewind recalls some unusual and very serious happenings that took place during the 1976 Hambletonian. It was indeed a strange one!
The original Hambletonian trophy was rather large, as shown in this photo from 1928.
The following excerpt from the Sept. 4, 1976 edition of the New York Times somehow summed up the happenings of that year's Hambletonian in concise fashion.
DU QUOIN, Ill., Sept. 4 — "The richest race in trotting history, the $263,524 Hambletonian, for 3-year-olds, was won here today by Steve Lobell in a rush of world records, injuries and four strenuous heats—spread over five hours in the sun—that nearly cost the colt's life."
Summary Of 1976 Hambletonian
Steve Lobell and driver Billy Haughton, winner of the 1976 Hambletonian, in a new record time of 1:56.2 in winning the second heat at Du Quoin, Illinois. (Photo courtesy of the Hambletonian Society.)
The 1976 Hambo, held at Du Quoin, turned out to be a long and arduous day for everyone involved, especially the horses. A huge field of 18 horses went postward. The starter had two tiers of nine behind the starting gate. This was an unusual start to the afternoon's proceedings and, as the day wore on, many more calamities took place.
In the opening heat, the cleverly named Zoot Suit was the winner for the Clearview Stable of New Haven, Conn., with driver Vernon Dancer. In the second stanza, it was Billy Haughton driving Steve Lobell, who finished a dismal 14th in the opener, rebounding for the win. In the third, the filly Armbro Regina and driver Joe O'Brien outlasted the boys with a thrilling win, setting a new record for trotting fillies of 1:56.3.
She came into this showdown after finishing 17th in the opener and second in the next heat. Earlier winners Steve Lobell was fourth and Zoot Suit second in a near dead heat with the winner. By now the field had been reduced slightly from 18 to 15 starters as the afternoon wore on. While this was a huge field, it still trailed the 1953 version won by Helicopter, which had 23 starters. Imagine that!
Still with no two-heat winner emerging, the race went to heat number four. Armbro Regina cut the early fractions with Zoot Suit in the second spot for much of the mile. Steve Lobell made his move very late in the race, in the final sixteenth, and secured the win by a half-length. Armbro Regina finished second but was placed third for interference, thus moving Zoot Suit up to second. The time of the final was a leisurely 2:02.3.
Billy Haughton and Steve Lobell, winner of the 1976 Hambletonian, close on the outside for a narrow win over Zoot Suit (Vernon Dancer) and Armbro Regina (Joe O'Brien). This was the fourth heat of the afternoon for each of these horses. (Photo courtesy of the Hambletonian Society.)
It turned out to be the sixth time that four heats were required to decide a winner, and the second year in a row. I believe it was also the last. Once the race was declared official and all the necessary pomp and ceremony was over, most observers were undoubtedly relieved that the long ordeal was over.
Three hours or less after the race (reports vary on the time) was completed, the winning horse Steve Lobell went into shock during an attack of heat exhaustion and collapsed in his stall. He almost died. Once the "alarm" was sent out, an emergency team was quickly assembled.
He was revived after two hours of intensive care by a team of a dozen stablehands and a veterinarian, who eventually said, "He should be alright, but he does need rest." Long before he collapsed, he had gone through a melodramatic day with his driver Billy Haughton.
He was reported to be plagued with sore feet and weak knees, an ongoing issue. In the first heat he lost a shoe and finished 14th. In the third he cut his foreleg. It was serious enough that Billy Haughton wanted to scratch him but gave in to the owner's pleading to continue.
When his day on the track ended, Steve Lobell owned two parts of the Trotting Triple Crown. But he also had a narrow escape from death. For the second straight year it took four heats to crown a winner.
A closing quote in the New York Times summed up the day by saying, "Nothing came easily for anybody on this glaring, hot afternoon at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds."
The following year, what could have been a "replay" of this year's race almost happened but thankfully did not. In that race, driver Billy Haughton, after winning the opening heat with his fine colt Green Speed, said he would have forsaken a possible victory if his horse had not won the second heat.
He stated, "I don't believe in racing more than two heats in this weather; I just don't think it's worth risking a horse's life." He had talked it over with the owners and was almost certain they would have followed his wishes.
As it turned out, Green Speed won his second and final heat in convincing fashion, thus removing the possibility of what happened the previous year. The Hambletonian rules required that the champion win two heats. If the first three heats did not produce a winner, then a race-off would follow as a three-horse race. Apparently Haughton was not up for that again!
Undoubtedly, as a result of the happenings of the 1976 Hambo, the rules were eventually changed. Beginning in 1981, a three-heat maximum was adopted as part of the race's official rules. The winning co-owner of Steve Lobell was quite outspoken about the day's happenings despite his obvious good fortune.
Richard Herman, a lawyer from Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, said, "I hope the members of the Hambletonian Society will abolish this antiquated system of racing four heats. It's inhumane to go with a horse four times in this weather. They need to hold the race in two divisions."
Billy Haughton, winner of the 1976 Hambletonian with Steve Lobell. Shown in the background was his winning time in the second heat, 1:56.2. The winning time tied the all-time record set in 1972 by Super Bowl and driver Stanley Dancer. (Photo courtesy of the Hambletonian Society.)
Takeaways From The 1976 Hambletonian
- In the second heat, Nevele Thunder, already a winner of 22 races in 36 starts, tripped and broke a bone in his left foreleg, thus ending his career.
- Joe O'Brien was driving with a cracked pelvis incurred in a recent race. He finished second in the race-off but was set back for interference. This caused a loss of $34,000 in purse money.
- This year marked just the second time that wagering was allowed on this race while it was held at Du Quoin. This was the 20th year at the Illinois location.
- This was the 51st Hambletonian in history.
Quote For The Week: "A fence lasts three years, a dog lasts three fences, a horse lasts three dogs, and a man lasts three horses...." - Old German proverb. It is meant to remind us of life's lessons on how our time on earth is only temporary. We should strive to always practice gratitude.
Who Is It?
Can you name this noted Canadian-born driver who won the Hambletonian?
Who Else Is It?
Can you identify this young fellow in a photo taken about 50-plus years ago at a Driving Championship?
(The correct answers will be posted here by Robert as a comment in a few days.)