In addition to the race on the track, Hambletonian Day is a chance to salute champions of days gone by.
This year, the trotters will be led to the post by four-time Hambletonian winning driver Mike Lachance. Lachance, 66, is now retired, but he won the race four times between 1994 and 2003. He’s fourth on the all-time money winning list with $192 million and 10, 422 victories. Lachance will also present the trophy to the winning driver of the Hambletonian.
Lachance winning the 1996 Hambletonian with Continentalvictory
Lachance will be driving the four-year-old trotter Chukkar, owned by the Arden Homestead Stable and Janice Connor. Chukkar will be competing in the Hambletonian Amateur Drivers race on Friday at The Meadowlands with Peter Gerry driving.
Chukkar will be pulling a high wheel sulky from the collection of the Harness Racing Museum in Goshen, N.Y. The Miller High Wheel Cart #1 was produced in about 1903. At the time of production, the manufacturer characterized it as, “in a class by itself.”
Jim Campbell, who trained 1995 Hambletonian winner Tagliabue, will present the trophy to the winning trainer of this year’s Hambletonian champ. Sylvia Hovde, who cared for 2009 Hambletonian winner Muscle Hill, will present to the winning caretaker.
Substituting for William Mulligan, breeder of the 2016 Hambletonian winner, Marion Marauder, will be the manager of Mulligan’s Marion Farms, Lynda Barnhart. Barnhart will present the trophy to the person who bred this year’s Hambletonian winner.
(with files from the Hambletonian Society)