E.
Rutherford , NJ –
For the 10 Standardbred riders going postward between the fourth and fifth
races on Saturday, August 4 at the Meadowlands Racetrack, the 25,000-plus fans
expected on Hambletonian Day may be the largest crowd to ever witness a racing
under saddle event in North America . The
race also boasts a number of other “firsts” in Standardbred racing.
Sponsored
by Blue Chip Farms, Winbak Farm, Walnut Hall and Big D’s, the $15,000 purse is
the largest prize ever offered in a North American race under saddle (RUS), or
“monte” event.
The
race also has the most (10) noses on the gate for a North American RUS
event. All riders in the race are required to have U.S. Trotting
Association riders’ licenses, and to have worked a horse under saddle in 2:25
or better, off the gate and before the judges.
Although
it is a non-wagering event, it could be argued that it contains some of the
fastest and richest trotters ever assembled in one occasion for riders.
With combined harness earnings of $3,789,000 the field has average earnings
approaching $400,000. In addition, 8 of the 10 starters boast records of
1:55 or faster.
Probably
the most well-known trotter in the group is Trond Smedshammer’s
Blacktuxwhitesocks 1:53.1 ($716,025). Owned by the Purple Haze Stable,
the 5-year-old son of Credit Winner will be ridden by champion Norwegian rider
Malin Berås. The duo will start from post 10.
The
current North American overall record of 1:54.1 was set in a time trial at The
Red Mile in 2000 with Hall of Fame jockey Julie K rone
riding the famed Moni Maker. Blacktuxwhitesocks’ trainer Smedshammer said that,
“I think he’s got a shot of breaking the record. That’s kind of what I’m aiming
to do. I want to go faster than Moni Maker.”
Considering
that the current North American race record of 2:03.4 was set by Don Swick’s
Preferential and rider Brooke Nickells at The Red Mile in 1995, it is safe to
predict that the mile track race record will be broken on Hambo Day.
The
resurgence of the Racing Under Saddle
program follows a nearly two-decade hiatus from the former Boots and Saddles
series era. Much of the recently increased interest and enthusiasm in RUS
could be attributed to the efforts of Helene Gregory, the Swedish-born wife of
prominent New York Sire Stakes driver Jeff Gregory.
Looking
for a way to rejuvenate the sport she loves, Helene Gregory noted that, “Monte
racing is doing great in Europe so why not try
it here. It also gives the ladies in the sport more opportunity to
compete.”
“We
have a really good field of trotters and we are going to get a lot of
exposure,” Gregory added. Having ridden Standardbreds her entire life,
Gregory’s passion for RUS landed her a mount upon Master Pine. Trained by
Julie Miller, he is a lifetime winner of $612,594 in harness, and scores from
post five.
Also
in the mix is the current North American record holder on a five-eighths mile
track, Armbro Doyle 2:00.2f. The 9-year-old gelding scores from post nine
with Jennifer Connor up. An administrative assistant at Blue Chip Farms,
Connor hails from a harness racing family and was the captain of her equestrian
team at the University
of South Carolina
Returning
from a successful qualifier where he trotted under saddle in 2:00.1 at the
Meadowlands last Saturday is Muscolo. The youngster of the group, he is a
Ray Schnittker trainee, and was a 2012 Yonkers Trot starter. K aren
Isbell returns from the winning qualifier to ride in the event, having also
been in the winner’s circle while riding Thoroughbreds, Arabians, Quarter
Horses and mules.
Riding
the second highest money-winner in the event, Ripped, (1:52.3, $694,802), is
Emma Peterson. No stranger to great trotters, she was the caretaker of
1999 Hambletonian winner Self Possessed. Currently with the Noel Daley
Stable, Peterson was also the caretaker of 2009 Hambletonian runner-up
Explosive Matter.
Fresh
off her win on Hall of Fame Day at Goshen Historic Track, Leigh Nichol will
saddle up Windsun Galaxie once again for the Hambo Day event, starting from the
pylon position, post one.
Leigh
was quick to point out her trepidation surrounding her Goshen
The
head coach for the equestrian team following her Master’s degree at Delaware
State , Nichol was also the head of the
English riding division at South
Dakota State University
When
asked to compare RUS with competitive riding Nichol noted that racing under
saddle is a lot like jumping in that, “you have to look up. You have to
feel a rhythm and stay out of their way.” Excited to have the inside
post, she added that, “I just want to hold on and try to get the heck out of
there!”
The
field for the non-wagering race with a planned post time of 1:20 pm:
Post
Horse
Rider
Trainer
1
Windsun
Galaxie
Leigh Nichol
Tyler
2
Ripped
Emma
Peterson
3 Muscolo
4 Celebrity Playboy Maria Andersson Ron Burke
5 Master Pine Helene Gregory Julie Miller
6 Take My Picture Therese Lindgren Nikolas Drennan
7 Chinese Cuisine Tina Duer John Duer
8 Zuerest Susanne
9 Armbro Doyle Jennifer Connor
10 Blacktuxwhitesocks Malin Berås Trond Smedshammer
