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HAMBLETONIAN SOCIETY LOOKS TO FUTURE FOR AMERICA'S TROTTING CLASSIC
Hambletonian Society • September 12, 2025
With the conclusion of the $1 million Hambletonian 100 celebration, which set industry-wide handle and attendance records on August 2 at The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ, the Hambletonian Society Board of Directors is now turning its attention to the future of the sport’s most prestigious race ...
CRANBURY, NJ --September 12, 2025 -- With the conclusion of the $1 million Hambletonian 100 celebration, which set industry-wide handle and attendance records on August 2 at The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ, the Hambletonian Society Board of Directors is now turning its attention to the future of the sport’s most prestigious race.
Formed in 1924 to sponsor the Hambletonian, the Society has, for more than a century, overseen the event’s format, venues, and host-track agreements. The race was initially awarded to the New York State Fair in Syracuse, where rainouts disrupted two of the first three editions. In 1930, the Hambletonian found a long-term home at Good Time Park in Goshen, NY, where it remained for 26 years. The Du Quoin State Fair in Illinois then carried the Hambletonian tradition forward until the opening of the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey, which has hosted the event for the past 44 years.
Under Society by-laws, the Hambletonian is opened annually to prospective host-track bids unless already secured under a multi-year contract. The Meadowlands is contracted to host through 2026; however, the track did not exercise its exclusive right of renewal, which expired September 1, 2025.
In the interest of ensuring the long-term health and prominence of America’s Trotting Classic, the Hambletonian Society will now open the event to host-track proposals beginning with the 2027 edition. All tracks, including the existing host track, are able to bid if Society by-law requirements are met.
Gallie Getaway worked out a perfect pocket trip on the way to pulling off a 12-1 surprise in the Saturday night feature at The Meadowlands, a $16,000 claiming handicap pace for horses in for a tag of no less than $20,000 and no more than $25,000 ...
Driver Dexter Dunn worked out a pocket trip with Brandon Blvd behind Al Papi, angled to the inside in the stretch to find open space, and rushed home from there to post a 1-1/2-length win over Melillo in 1:48.2 in the $300,000 Grade 2 Max C. Hempt Memorial, for 3-year-old pacers, at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Al Papi finished third ...
Wrong Sounds Right picked up his third win in his last four tries Friday night at The Meadowlands after taking the featured $80,000 Garden State for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the trot ...
Yellow Jacket worked out a perfect trip along the inside and was unleashed at just the right moment by driver Vinny Ginsburg to take the featured $45,000 New Jersey Home Grown for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers Saturday night at The Meadowlands ...
he Hambletonian Society voted Thursday (Aug. 13) to move the $1 million Grade 1 Hambletonian to Harrah’s Hoosier Park, in Anderson, Ind., after a 46-year run at the Meadowlands, in East Rutherford, N.J. ...
It figures that after a Hambletonian Day (Saturday, Aug. 8) of racing that was pulse pounding and breathtaking – not to mention record breaking – that The Meadowlands would ease up on the throttle some the week after ...