Hambletonian Made the Day

Saturday was a perfect August day, hot and sunny, air like a feather... even if it started at 4:30am. I was traveling with a group of horsemen who were invited to participate in the Hambletonian's opening activities, and it felt like a country fair.

We were assigned stabling with several mounted police groups and other non-racing entities. The walk from the barns to the paddock area of the grandstand had to be almost a mile, pleasant enough with inviting brick-lined walkways shaded by tall trees for a country fair effect. Add hot dog vendors, beer, pretzels and hordes of people in lawn chairs and you get a hopeful feeling that maybe racing has a future.

I soon found a spot in the paddock in some shade, opened my Hambletonian program, sipped my beer, and watched people and horses with a degree of contentment. I met a cute blonde lass who looked about 20, who told me that the Hambletonian was so honored in her native Denmark that on the day of the Hambletonian, all racing would be suspended from that 3 to 4pm slot until the USA broadcast was over.

"All racing stops".

She was at the Hambletonian as an assistant trainer to Jimmy Takter. I commented that I saw where he had trained three horses that were all running in the big race. Quite an accomplishment in this day and age. She agreed and invited me to visit the stables in Monmouth County. I accepted, of course.

Later in the afternoon, I scanned the list of assistant trainers in the racing program and spotted a name that looked like it might be Swedish or Danish. I made a note of the horse, number 6, and turned my thought to other things like the woman standing behind me now in the paddock.

Let me mention here, that I find if you are in a walker or wheelchair, it breaks the ice. Sometimes people are awkward, sometimes they turn away, but for the most part, being disabled is mainstream now and most people have a comfort level dealing with it. Even one of the track employees, in his sixties I'd guess, spent several of his breaks chatting with me.

Now this quietly well dressed lady standing at my elbow struck up a conversation. Her name matched her down to earth appearance,... Miller. I looked her up later and she and her husband, Larry W. Miller were from Springport, Indiana. She told me that she and her husband had a small barn and had been involved with racing for about ten years. When I asked her if they were racing today, she told me that it was easy to remember,

"Horse number 8 in the eighth race. His name is Mercedes but we call him Duke. Eight in 8...easy to remember."

I was still chuckling at that when my son-in-law dropped by and asked if I would teach my gorgeous grandaughter, who just turned 18, how to bet horses. She was one of the original riders who thought the Meadowlands was going to be just "Ho-Hum and So Boring" but had succumbed to the music of the Nerds, the awesome crowds and young horsey males milling about.

I told him that anyone who bets on horses is nuts...but that I could help her read the program, at least. Then, as an afterthought, I said,

"Oh, yeah, maybe that number 6 in the Hambletonian."

Well to make a long story short, number 6, Muscle Massive by Muscles Yankee, trained by Jimmy Takter, driven by Ron Pierce, won the Hambletonian. That is the 84th running of the most prestigious race in trotting history...

Yep.

'Nuff, said.

And I don't bet on horses. Who knew?

Turns out that earlier that morning everyone in the horsemen's group had been looking for a quick escape home after the parade. After their commitment was over, all they wanted to do load up horses and boogie. That was... until...they found out that they were having heck of a good time! Most of our group did not start back until well after 4pm in the afternoon. That is a full day.

Now if Meadowsland track management can take some of this successful Hambletonian atmosphere and bottle it, maybe this Eau de Succcess will convince Governor Christie that this industry is truly worth saving. There were thousands of people in the grandstands, paddock, and lawn area.

The country fair venues of the Meadowlands and the family barbecue areas of Monmouth Racetrack should give Governor Christie an encouraging glimpse of how family friendly this sport can be. The betting areas are far enough from the fair activities that gambling can be managed and secured.

Personally, I would like to see slot machines at the track because there are some gamblers who find the intervals between races boring. The income from slot machines will mean larger more profitable purses for horsemen. The State subsidies now carrying horsemen could be backed off to free up money for other areas in the State budget. Also, if the same 8 percent gross revenue tax, dedicated to seniors and the disabled (which now pays for nutrition programs, transportation, PAAD and Senior Gold prescription programs)were in place, it would be consistent with the present NJ Constitution.

One of the horsemen told me that the Governor is hoping that the Standardbred Breeders in New Jersey might buy the Meadowlands. Now that is not a bad idea if they can get financing. Has anyone thought of combining them with a casino entity like Harrah's which has casinos in many states? It does not seem fair that over $171,000,000 in tax credits has been bandied about for rescuing a dead fish like Xanadu when harness racing so obviously has a popular base already in place.

You do not have to bet to have a great time...and I had a ball.

Have a nice day.