Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Hambo Handle $9 Million Plus

August 6, 2005

For the first time in harness racing history, a total handle surpassed $9 million. On Saturday, the Hambletonian program reaped a wagering count of $9,015,019.

The previous Meadowlands and harness racing record was $8,819,235 set on August 3, 2002 when two additional races were tacked on to the traditional 15-race Hambletonian Day program. In 2003 and 2004, the total handle cracked $8 million.

Fueling the $9 million handle, which was generated by $3,398,009 bet on-track and the balance at simulcasting locations throughout North America, was the 80th edition of the Hambletonian, which this year carried a record $1.5 million purse. Betting into the Hambletonian pool was $1,269,523, the highest ever.

On a sunny Saturday, a crowd of 31,245, the best since 1990, witnessed the Hambletonian in person at the Meadowlands and wagered $3,398,009, the highest on-track handle since 1994.

The $1.5 Million Hambletonian Final
Times: :27 :55 1:24 1:52.3
PP Horse Driver
6 Vivid Photo Roger Hammer
5 Classic Photo Ron Pierce
1 Muscle Memory Cat Manzi
3 Strong Yankee Brian Sears
7 Self Professed Eric Ledford
10 Mr Dream OM David Miller
8 Muscle Bound Mike Lachance
9 Gettingdowndirty Paul MacDonnell
2 Racino George Brennan
4 Northern Ensign John Campbell

                           Trainer-driver Roger Hammer gives Vivid Photo a victory
                                    kiss August 6 after winning the $1.5 million Hambletonian.

"I knew things were right with the horse but you need a lot of luck in a race like this to win," trainer-driver Roger Hammer said (see him holding the Hambo trophy in the photo at the top of this page. "This horse never showed racing off the pace, but I figured I could out-brush all of them. I didn't know what the fractions were; I was only worried where Ron (Pierce, the driver of favorite Classic Photo) was. I've never used the whip on this horse, but the second time I tapped him I knew it was over. I knew he was a strong finisher."

"I figured everybody thought I'd drive him crazy, so I did the opposite today," said Hammer, 59, who was making his Hambletonian debut.

Vivid Photo, who is out of the Garland Lobell mare Miss Garland, has now won 10 of 12 starts this year, and has banked $866,393 in his career. He is also in the midst of a nine-race win streak. The gelding is owned by Roger Hammer & Todd Schadel of PA, trained and driven by Roger Hammer. The mile time of 1:52.3 was a world record for a three-year-old gelded trotter.
$750,000 Hambletonian Oaks
Times: :28 :56.3 1:25.1 1:53.4
PP Horse           Driver
4 Jalopy Jeff Gregory
8 Blur Brian Sears
2 Flawless Bluestone David Miller
9 Magenta Hall Mike Lachance
5 Twin B Senorita Jim Morrill Jr.
3 Margarita Nights Jack Moiseyev
6 Vyingforthecrown John Campbell
7 Pink Ribbons Ron Pierce
1 Jersey Gal Luc Ouellette
10 Dodger Blues George Brennan

"I give my filly a lot of credit, she just kept on digging in," winning driver Jeff Gregory said. "I knew that Blur was finished, but I was just hoping that we had enough real estate to beat her."

Jalopy is leased by Menhammar Stuteri of New Canaan , CT , trained by Jonas Czernyson and driven by Jeff Gregory. Jalopy, a homebred, sired by Donerail and out of the Supergill mare Another Gill, won for the third time in eight starts this year, and has $427,412 in career earnings.

Did you know that...The purse for the Hambletonian more than doubled to $838,000 when the race moved to the Meadowlands in 1981. In 1983, the race surpassed $1 million for the first time and remained at or aboved that level every year. This year marks a $500,000 jump in the value of the race to $1.5 million. The winner receives 50 percent of the purse.

Did you know that....there are about 14,000 Standardbred foals born annually in North America. Of those, about 5,000 are trotting-bred youngsters. Of those 5,000, only 20 make it to the starting gate for the Hambletonian and the Hambletonian Oaks.