Elimination winner Celebrity Bambino drew post one for Saturday’s $1 million Hambletonian Stakes final at The Meadowlands and was established as the 2-1 morning-line favorite as he seeks to give trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras their first wins in the trotting classic for 3-year-olds.
Author: by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager
Sylvia Hanover new No. 1 in Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll
Sylvia Hanover became the fourth different horse to ascend to No. 1 in this year’s Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, taking over the top spot from It’s My Show in Tuesday’s Week 8 edition of the rankings, which also saw two newcomers join the Top 10.
2023 Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands Racetrack
Saturday (Aug. 5) the Meadowlands Racetrack showcases the 98th Hambletonian, also known as “harness racing’s greatest day.”
Batavia hosts NYSS frosh filly pacers Wednesday
For the second consecutive day, the New York Sire Stakes will set up shop at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 2) when the 2-year-old pacing fillies come to town. There are two divisions sporting short and evenly matched fields that will go postward for a total of $110,100 in purses.
Draw dates and times for Honesdale (PA) Fair racing meets
Pennsylvanians and other fair horsemen looking to race at the Wayne County Fair in Honesdale, Pa., during its two two-day meets in early August need to be aware of the following draw information, which is not listed in the PA Fair Guide (the schedule of races listed in the Guide is correct).
Meadowlands stakes entries for Hambletonian Day announced
The number of horses entered for Hambletonian Day Grand Circuit stakes are as follows.
Matt Bax seeks rare Hambletonian, Oaks double
Four trainers will head into Saturday’s Hambletonian Day card at The Meadowlands with the opportunity to win both the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks, a feat accomplished previously by only three conditioners. Just one trainer in Saturday’s group is in his first year at the helm of a stable, Canadian Matt Bax. The 34-year-old, who has taken the leading role with the family stable from his father John, will send out Southwind Coors in the $1 million Hambletonian, the sport’s premier event for 3-year-old trotters, and Righteous Resolve in the companion $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for sophomore female trotters.
Catalogue entries closing for Blooded Horse Summer Sale
Catalogue entries for the 68th annual Blooded Horse Summer Sale, to be held Wednesday (Aug. 30) at the Champions Center in Springfield, Ohio, will close Friday (Aug. 4).
Two fairs to begin OHHA August live streams
The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association will continue its 2023 Ohio County Fair racing season with live-streaming coverage of the second day of racing from the Columbiana County Fair in Lisbon and the first day of racing from the Auglaize County Fair in Wapakoneta on Tuesday (Aug. 1).
McIntosh sweeps Battle of Waterloo eliminations
Hall of Fame conditioner Bob McIntosh will send out a pair of hopefuls in the Battle of Waterloo final next week, following a sweep of the two C$15,000 eliminations contested Monday night (July 31) at Grand River Raceway.