EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ The heats are back in the $1.2
million Hambletonian.
With a nod to history and tradition, the
Hambletonian Society and The Meadowlands Racetrack have revised the format for
the world-renowned trotting classic for 3-year-olds on Aug. 3.
For the first time since 1996, the elimination
heats and the final will be contested on the same afternoon.
In recent years, the eliminations were held one
week before the final.
Returning to its roots, the Hambletonian will again
be a one-day spectacular—with a major difference. Unlike other harness races
contested in heats, the winner does not have to win twice on the same day. The
winner of the final is the Hambletonian champion.
"One of the traits that separate the
Standardbred from the Thoroughbred is the durability of the Standardbred,” said
Jeff Gural, chairman of The Meadowlands Racetrack. “That these horses are able
to compete against the best competition in the world, twice on the same day,
speaks volumes as to how special these equine athletes are. The
Hambletonian has an unparalleled history and part of that history is racing
this American trotting classic in a heat-format. It makes the race more
exciting and more dramatic, especially for those watching live, on-track.
We are very pleased to help bring The Hambletonian back to its roots in
2013."
Elimination heats, if necessary, will reduce the
field for the $1 million final to 10.
"It is truly a spectacle like no other in sports,”
emphasized Tom Charters, president and CEO of the Hambletonian Society which
owns and administers the race. “The return to the heat format for the
Hambletonian was motivated by the desire of both The Hambletonian Society and
Meadowlands to provide the most exciting fan experience in horse racing.
Regardless of how many trotters are entered -- in a single afternoon -- we can
pare down to the championship field that determines the winner of harness
racing's most coveted trophy.
And now with the 21st century
evolution in communication and technology, we can maximize the wagering
opportunity for our customers on-track, across North America and
internationally, which wasn't possible a decade or two ago."
The drama starts Tuesday when the Hambletonian
entries close and the fields for the elimination heats are drawn.
If 13 or fewer horses enter, there will be a single dash
for the Hambletonian with no eliminations with a maximum of three horses in the
second tier as trailers behind the 10 lined up directly behind the mobile
starting gate.
If the entrant count is 14 to 20, the field will be
split into two elimination heats with the top five finishers in each returning
later that afternoon for the final.
If 21 to 30 are entered, there will be three
eliminations. In that instance, the top three finishers in each elimination
advance to the final, along with the fourth-place finisher with the highest
lifetime earnings.
And they must race drug free. The rules stipulate
that Hambletonian contenders not receive “any medication and/or substance
foreign to the natural horse on the day of the race.” That includes Lasix, widely
used to treat respiratory bleeding in racehorses.
The Hambletonian will be carried live on the CBS Sports
Network in a 90-minute telecast starting at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. Post
time for the live card at The Meadowlands will be noon.
The Hambletonian Society and The Meadowlands have
also reached an agreement to keep the race here for three additional years,
extending the contract through 2018. The Meadowlands has been home to the
Hambletonian since 1981.
"The extension of the current contact with the
Meadowlands to keep the $1.2 million Hambletonian through 2018 is a tremendous
benefit to all parties in the Standardbred industry, providing a needed
continuity and signaling long-term optimism for future of the sport in New
Jersey and across North America.” said Charters.
“The Hambletonian Society is pleased to continue
our partnership with the New Meadowlands Racetrack, much like the one we had
with the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority since 1981, and will
strive to maintain and enhance the profile of the Hambletonian as trotting's
greatest event. We appreciate the support of Jeff Gural and his management team
and look to a long and prosperous relationship that includes the $600,000
Hambletonian Oaks and the new $400,000 Hambletonian Maturity for 2014.”
This will be final Hambletonian raced before the
original grandstand. The New Meadowlands Racetrack, currently under
construction, opens on Nov. 23 along what is now the backstretch.
"The Hambletonian is the greatest harness race
in the world and The Meadowlands is the home of the world's greatest harness
racing,” Gural said. “The relationship between the two is perfect. We are
so proud to be able to extend The Hambletonian through the year 2018 as it has
found its home in East Rutherford, N.J. We have made many necessary
changes to provide our customers with a better product at The Meadowlands, but
one thing will not change: The Meadowlands is home to The Hambletonian for many
years to come."
Fans can follow all the action at meadowlandsracetrack.com and
on Twitter at #Hambo13.
