| Class: | Triple Crown |
| Horse Race: | Hambletonian Stakes |
| Location: | Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment East Rutherford, New Jersey (since 1981) |
| Inaugurated: | at the New York State Fair, Syracuse, New York |
| Race Type: | Standardbred (Trot) |
| Website: | |
| Distance: | 1miles |
| Surface: | Dirt |
| Track: | Left-handed |
| Qualification: | 3-year-olds |
| Purse: | $1,050,000 (2024) |
The Hambletonian Stakes is a major American harness race for three-year-old trotting horses, named in honor of Hambletonian 10, a foundation sire of the Standardbred horse breed, also known as the "Father of the American Trotter." The first in the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters, the Hambletonian is currently held at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on the first Saturday in August.[1]
The Hambletonian first took place at the New York State Fair in Syracuse in 1926. The race switched from Syracuse to Lexington, Kentucky for the 1927 and 1929 races, however, because of rainouts. Starting in 1930, Good Time Park in Goshen, New York hosted the race until 1956 with the exception of 1943. That year, The Hambletonian was raced at Empire City Race Track, which became Yonkers Raceway in 1950, because of wartime gas rationing. The Du Quoin State Fair in Du Quoin, Illinois gained the rights to host the race in 1957 and held on to it until 1980. Since 1981, the race has been at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
| Year | Winner | Driver | Trainer | Owner | Time | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tactical Approach | Scott Zeron | Nancy Takter | Fielding, LeBlanc, Sbrocco, JAF Racing | 1:50 3/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 2022 | Cool Papa Bell[2] | Todd McCarthy | Jim Campbell | Scott Farber | 1:51 3/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 2021 | Captain Corey | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | SRF, Knutsson, Midnight Sun, Svanstedt | 1:51 0/0 | $1,000,000 |
| 2020 | Ramona Hill | Andy McCarthy | Tony Alagna | Grant, Crawford Farms, Leblanc & In The Gym Partners | 1:50 1/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 2019 | Forbidden Trade | Bob McClure | Luc Blais | Serge Godin & Distinction Capital | 1:51 0/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 2018 | Atlanta | Scott Zeron | Rick Zeron | Rick Zeron, Crawford Fms, Holland | 1:50 4/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 2017 | Perfect Spirit | Åke Svanstedt | Åke Svanstedt | Srf Stable,Delray Beach,FL | 1:50 3/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 2016 | Marion Marauder | Scott Zeron | Paula Wellwood | Wellwood, Keeler | 1:51 4/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 2015 | Pinkman | Brian Sears | Jimmy Takter | Takter, Fielding, McClelland, Liverman | 1:51 0/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 2014 | Trixton | Jimmy Takter | Jimmy Takter | Brixton Medical Ab (Bengt Agerup) & Christina Takter | 1:50 3/5 | $1,006,125 |
| 2013 | Royalty For Life | Brian Sears | George Ducharme | Al Ross, Chip Campbell, Jr., Paul Fountaine | 1:52 1/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 2012 | Market Share | Tim Tetrick | Linda Toscano | Gutnick, TLP Stable, Augustine | 1:52 1/5 | $1,500,000 |
| 2011 | Broad Bahn | George Brennan | Noel Daley | Fam Alber Horse Racing LLC (Leif Alber) | 1:53 0/0 | $1,500,000 |
| 2010 | Muscle Massive | Ronald Pierce | Jimmy Takter | Brixton Medical, Order By Stable et al. | 1:51 0/0 | $1,500,000 |
| 2009 | Muscle Hill | Brian Sears | Gregory B. Peck | TLP Stable, Silva, Southwind Farm, Muscle Hill Racing | 1:50 1/5 | $1,520,333 |
| 2008 | Deweycheatumnhowe | Ray Schnittker | Ray Schnittker | Schnittker, Iannazzo, Gewertz, Baldassare & Deweycheatumnhowe Stable | 1:52 0/0 | $1,500,000 |
| 2007 | Donato Hanover | Ronald Pierce | Steve Elliott | (Lessees) Steve Arnold, David Scharf, Golden Touch Stables | 1:53 2/5 | $1,500,000 |
| 2006 | Glidemaster | John Campbell | Blair Burgess | Robert Burgess, Karin-Olsson Burgess, Marsha Cohen, Brittany Farms | 1:51 1/5 | $1,500,000 |
| 2005 | Vivid Photo | Roger Hammer | Roger Hammer | Roger Hammer, Todd Schadel | 1:52 3/5 | $1,500,000 |
| 2004 | Windsong's Legacy | Trond Smedshammer | Trond Smedshammer | Ann Brannvoll, Ted Gewertz, Patricia Spinelli | 1:54 1/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 2003 | Amigo Hall | Michel Lachance | Blair Burgess | Walnut Hall Limited (Alan J. Leavitt), Robert Burgess, Karin Olsson-Burgess | 1:54 0/0 | $1,000,000 |
| 2002 | Chip Chip Hooray | Eric Ledford | Charles Sylvester | C. Sylvester, M. Prakas, Wingedfoot Farms, N. Goldman | 1:53 3/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 2001 | Scarlet Knight | Stefan Melander | Stefan Melander | Stefan Melander | 1:53 4/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 2000 | Yankee Paco | Trevor Ritchie | Douglas McIntosh | Harry Ivey & Dr. Tom Ivey | 1:53 2/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 1999 | Self Possessed | Michel Lachance | Ron Gurfein | Self Possessed Stable (D. Scharf, J. Silva, L. Domiano, G. Segal) | 1:51 3/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 1998 | Muscles Yankee | John Campbell | Charles Sylvester | Perretti Farms Inc, Irving G. Liverman & David French | 1:52 2/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 1997 | Malabar Man | Malvern C. Burroughs | Jimmy Takter | Malvern C. Burroughs | 1:55 0/0 | $1,000,000 |
| 1996 | Continentalvictory | Michel Lachance | Ron Gurfein | Continentalvictory Stable | 1:52 1/5 | $1,200,000 |
| 1995 | Tagliabue | John Campbell | Jim Campbell | Arlene & Jules J. Siegel | 1:54 4/5 | $1,200,000 |
| 1994 | Victory Dream | Michel Lachance | Ron Gurfein | FA Stable (Frank Antonacci) & Victory Dream Stable (Alan J. Leavitt, et al.) | 1:54 1/5 | $1,200,000 |
| 1993 | American Winner | Ronald Pierce | Milton Smith | Robert Key, John Glesmann | 1:53 1/5 | $1,200,000 |
| 1992 | Alf Palema | Mickey McNichol | Per Eriksson | Karl-Erik Bender, Per Eriksson | 1:56 2/5 | $1,288,000 |
| 1991 | Giant Victory | Jack Moiseyev | Per Eriksson | Jacqueline & Theodore Gewertz, Robins Racing Stable | 1:54 4/5 | $1,238,000 |
| 1990 | Harmonious | John Campbell | Osvaldo Formia | Lindy Racing Stable, Sal Garofalo | 1:54 1/5 | $1,346,000 |
| 1989 | Park Avenue Joe (DH) | Ron Waples | Charles Sylvester | Park Avenue Stable | 2:00 2/5 | $1,131,000 |
| 1989 | Probe (DH) | William Fahy | Osvaldo Formia | Lindy Farms | 2:00 2/5 | |
| 1988 | Armbro Goal | John Campbell | Jan Johnson | James R. Plate, Paul H. Ryan, Michael V. Caggiano | 1:54 3/5 | $1,156,800 |
| 1987 | Mack Lobell | John Campbell | Charles Sylvester | One More Time Stable (Louis P. Guida, et al.) & Fair Winds Farm (E. Mullen) | 1:53 3/5 | $1,046,300 |
| 1986 | Nuclear Kosmos | Ulf Thoresen | Per Henriksen | Lilla Henriksen, Geo. & Gary Hoffman, Stephen Sullivan | 1:55 2/5 | $1,172,082 |
| 1985 | Prakas | Bill O'Donnell | Per Eriksson | Hans G. Enggren, Iain L. Mackenzie, Carl J. Vizzi | 1:54 3/5 | $1,272,000 |
| 1984 | Historic Freight | Ben Webster | Samuel "Skip" Lewis | ABC Stables, Inc. | 1:56 2/5 | $1,219,000 |
| 1983 | Duenna | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Clearview Stable | 1:57 2/5 | $1,000,000 |
| 1982 | Speed Bowl | Tommy Haughton | Billy Haughton | Pony Stable (B. Haughton, D. Miller, P. Soldner, F. Miller, M. Hempt, B. Brown) | 1:56 4/5 | $875,750 |
| 1981 | Shiaway St. Pat | Ray Remmen | Ray Remmen | Shiawassee Farm, Inc. | 2:01 1/5 | $838,000 |
| 1980 | Burgomeister | Billy Haughton | Billy Haughton | Peter Haughton | 1:56 3/5 | $293,570 |
| 1979 | Legend Hanover | George Sholty | Ray Tripp | Messenger Stable (Raymond Galt) | 1:56 1/5 | $300,000 |
| 1978 | Speedy Somolli | Howard Beissinger | Howard Beissinger | Ann Beissinger, Barbara Mumma, Alan J. Leavitt, William Rosenberg | 1:55 0/0 | $241,280 |
| 1977 | Green Speed | Billy Haughton | Billy Haughton | Beverly Lloyds | 1:55 3/5 | $284,310 |
| 1976 | Steve Lobell | Billy Haughton | Billy Haughton | Mill Island Stable (Richard Herman & Murray Siegel) | 1:56 2/5 | $263,524 |
| 1975 | Bonefish | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Stanley F. & Rachel L. Dancer & A. M. Cuddy Stable | 1:59 0/0 | $232,192 |
| 1974 | Christopher T. | Billy Haughton | Billy Haughton | John L. Thro | 1:58 3/5 | $160,150 |
| 1973 | Flirth | Ralph N. Baldwin | Ralph N. Baldwin | Arden Homestead Stable (E. Roland Harriman & Elbridge T. Gerry, Sr.) | 1:57 1/5 | $144,710 |
| 1972 | Super Bowl | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Rachel L. Dancer, Rose Hild Breeding Farm | 1:56 2/5 | $119,090 |
| 1971 | Speedy Crown | Howard Beissinger | Howard Beissinger | Crown Stable, Inc. (Frank & Thomas Antonacci) | 1:57 2/5 | $129,770 |
| 1970 | Timothy T. | John F. Simpson, Jr. | John F. Simpson, Sr. | John F. Simpson, Sr. | 1:58 2/5 | $143,630 |
| 1969 | Lindy's Pride | Howard Beissinger | Howard Beissinger | Lindy Farm, Inc. | 1:57 3/5 | $124,910 |
| 1968 | Nevele Pride | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Nevele Acres, Louis Resnick | 1:59 2/5 | $116,190 |
| 1967 | Speedy Streak | Del Cameron | Frank Ervin | Clarence F. Gaines, John R. Gaines, Kenneth D. Owen | 2:00 0/0 | $122,650 |
| 1966 | Kerry Way | Frank Ervin | Frank Ervin | Gainesway Farm | 1:58 4/5 | $122,540 |
| 1965 | Egyptian Candor | Del Cameron | Stanley Dancer | Rachel L. Dancer | 2:03 4/5 | $122,245 |
| 1964 | Ayres | John F. Simpson, Sr. | John F. Simpson, Sr. | Charlotte Sheppard | 1:56 4/5 | $115,281 |
| 1963 | Speedy Scot | Ralph N. Baldwin | Ralph N. Baldwin | Castleton Farm | 1:57 3/5 | $115,549 |
| 1962 | A. C.'s Viking | Sanders Russell | Sanders Russell | Mr. & Mrs. Andrew C. Petersen | 1:59 3/5 | $116,612 |
| 1961 | Harlan Dean | Jimmy Arthur | Delvin Miller | Max C. Hempt, Delvin Miller, Ray Cleveland | 1:58 2/5 | $131,573 |
| 1960 | Blaze Hanover | Joe O'Brien | Joe O'Brien | S. A. Camp Farms | 1:59 3/5 | $147,481 |
| 1959 | Diller Hanover | Frank Ervin | Ralph N. Baldwin | Hall Stables (Howard M. Hall) | 2:01 1/5 | $125,283 |
| 1958 | Emily's Pride | Flave Nipe | Fred Egan | Castleton Farm & Walnut Hall Farm | 1:59 4/5 | $106,719 |
| 1957 | Hickory Smoke | John F. Simpson, Sr. | John F. Simpson, Sr. | Lawrence B. Sheppard & Archie Mudge | 2:00 1/5 | $111,126 |
| 1956 | The Intruder | Ned Bower | Ned Bower | Allwood Stable | 2:01 2/5 | $100,603 |
| 1955 | Scott Frost | Joe O'Brien | Joe O'Brien | S. A. Camp Farms | 2:00 3/5 | $86,863 |
| 1954 | Newport Dream | Del Cameron | Del Cameron | Octave Blake | 2:02 4/5 | $106,830 |
| 1953 | Helicopter | Harry M. Harvey | Delvin Miller | Armstrong Bros. | 2:01 3/5 | $117,117 |
| 1952 | Sharp Note | Bion Shively | Bion Shively | Clyde W. Clark | 2:02 3/5 | $87,637 |
| 1951 | Mainliner | Guy Crippen | Guy Crippen | Ralph H. Kroening | 2:02 3/5 | $95,263 |
| 1950 | Lusty Song | Delvin Miller | Fay Fitzpatrick | Hayes Fair Acres | 2:02 0/0 | $75,209 |
| 1949 | Miss Tilly | Fred Egan | Fred Egan | Charles W. Phellis | 2:01 2/5 | $69,791 |
| 1948 | Demon Hanover | Harrison R. Hoyt | Harrison R. Hoyt | Mr. & Mrs. Harrison R. Hoyt | 2:02 0/0 | $59,941 |
| 1947 | Hoot Mon | Scepter F. Palin | Scepter F. Palin | Castleton Farm | 2:00 0/0 | $46,267 |
| 1946 | Chestertown | Thomas S. Berry | Harry P. Whitney | Walter E. Smith | 2:02 1/2 | $50,995 |
| 1945 | Titan Hanover | Harry E. Pownall, Sr. | Harry E. Pownall, Sr. | Arden Homestead Stable (E. R. Harriman & E. T. Gerry, Sr.) | 2:04 0/0 | $50,196 |
| 1944 | Yankee Maid | Henry Thomas | Henry Thomas | Arch L. Derby | 2:04 0/0 | $33,577 |
| 1943 | Volo Song | Benjamin White | Benjamin White | William H. Strang, Jr. | 2:02 1/2 | $42,298 |
| 1942 | The Ambassador | Benjamin White | Benjamin White | William H. Strang, Jr. | 2:04 0/0 | $38,954 |
| 1941 | Bill Gallon | Lee Smith | Lee Smith | R. Horace Johnston | 2:05 0/0 | $38,729 |
| 1940 | Spencer Scott | Fred Egan | Fred Egan | Charles W. Phellis | 2:02 0/0 | $43,658 |
| 1939 | Peter Astra | Hugh M. "Doc" Parshall | Hugh M. "Doc" Parshall | Dr. Lowry M. Guilinger | 2:04 1/4 | $40,502 |
| 1938 | Mc Lin | Henry Thomas | Henry Thomas | Hanover Shoe Farms | 2:02 1/4 | $37,962 |
| 1937 | Shirley Hanover | Henry Thomas | Henry Thomas | Hanover Shoe Farms | 2:01 1/2 | $37,912 |
| 1936 | Benjamin White | Benjamin White | Gib White | 2:01 3/4 | $35,643 | |
| 1935 | Greyhound | Scepter F. Palin | Scepter F. Palin | Edward J. Baker | 2:02 1/4 | $33,321 |
| 1934 | Lord Jim | Hugh M. "Doc" Parshall | Hugh M. "Doc" Parshall | Earl L. Mefford | 2:02 3/4 | $25,845 |
| 1933 | Mary Reynolds | Benjamin White | Benjamin White | 2:03 3/4 | $40,459 | |
| 1932 | The Marchioness | William Caton | William Caton | Mrs. Ralph Keeler | 2:01 1/4 | $49,489 |
| 1931 | Calumet Butler | Richard D. McMahon | Richard D. McMahon | Calumet Farm | 2:03 1/4 | $50,921 |
| 1930 | Hanover's Bertha | Tom Berry | Tom Berry | Hanover Shoe Farms | 2:03 0/0 | $56,859 |
| 1929 | Walter Dear | Walter Cox | Walter Cox | William H. Cane | 2:02 3/4 | $60,309 |
| 1928 | Spencer | William H. Leese | William H. Leese | David M. Look | 2:02 1/2 | $66,226 |
| 1927 | Iosola's Worthy | Marvin Childs | Benjamin White | E. J. Merkle | 2:03 3/4 | $54,694 |
| 1926 | Guy McKinney | Nathaniel D. Ray | Nathaniel D. Ray | Henry B. Rea | 2:04 3/4 | $73,451 |