American

12 min read

The queen’s terrible demise

She was a really good youngster in the US, winning the Hambletonian Oaks and Kentucky Futurity filly, and blossomed into one of...

American

25 min read

The game superstar who raced herself to death

She was on her way to possibly becoming one of the best trotters in history when tragedy struck. The tale of Sadie Mac is one a...

American

20 min read

The great horse of San Mateo (and the Captain’s mare)

She was one of the most famous trotters around the time Hambletonian was born, but we don’t even know her name. In the mid...

American

21 min read

The terror

In the case of Nevele Pride, it is not only the horse that is legendary, but also his temperament. For every great race-related...

American

15 min read

The last Yankee superstar

He was the last superstar trotter bred by Yankeeland Farms, the legendary Maryland-based farm that closed its doors in 2006...

American

10 min read

The juvenile delinquent

The third horse to win the trotting’s Triple Crown, Ayres, was always an great talent, but at 2 there were question marks...

Struggling to stay sound, he made just a few starts in his career but impressed mightly both by his capacity and his physique. Guy Axworthy then went on to get revenge at stud by becoming one of the first superstar stallions.

The rambunctious one

American

18 min read

An exceptionally fast trotter with soundness problems and chronic mental issues, Arndon sometimes posed a huge challenge to his legendary trainer. But when he did what he was supposed to he was a terrifyingly good trotter – and the first three-year-old to trot in 1:54.

The day the music died

American

9 min read

When Greyhound, by many regarded as the best trotter of all times, retired, his owner, EJ Baker, was looking for other interesting prospects. In 1943 he found The Grey Ghost’s successor when he bought the horse almost everybody thought would break all trotting records. However, less than a year later that horse had passed away. The untimely death of Volo Song has been called one of the greatest tragedies to befall trotting.

The American hero in Moscow

American, European

16 min read

He was the tiny American with a heart of gold who became a star in the Soviet Union. The pioneering trio of Apex Hanover, Bill Fleming and Rowland Wade took on the Soviet stars at their home in Moscow in the 60s. After overcoming unfair tactics by the Soviet drivers, the US trio won the hearts and minds of the home crowd. Although little Apex Hanover (150 cms/14,3 hands) won the Arden Downs and George Wilkes Stakes as a 2-year-old in 1961, there was very little to indicate that this $18,000 yearling purchase would later enter the world stage.

The Civil War casualty

American

24 min read

While Hambletonian is forever immortalized in the history of trotting, what could possibly have turned out been his best son at stud is largely forgotten. One of Hambletonian’s very first foals, Alexander’s Abdallah was a spectacular sire whose life tragically ended way too early during the Civil War.

The first pride of Hanover

American

15 min read

He was the world’s first 1:56 trotter and a prized possession of Lawrence Sheppard’s fledging Hanover Shoe Farms. Peter Manning was a natural talent who improved quickly with little work. In fact, the legendary gelding was so good it required a horse of Greyhound’s caliber to beat his world record.

The $20,000 stumble

American, European

18 min read

A supremely fast trotter, he is most famous for stumbling shortly ahead of the wire in the Hambletonian with victory within reach. Sold to Europe not long after equaling a world record at 4, Brown Berry later likely became a clandestine stallion in France.

The aloof matron

American

13 min read

She was an aloof and difficult mare, preferring to be left alone even when she went blind. Medio is also one of the most important matrons in history.

The freak of nature

American, European

11 min read

When Googoo Gaagaa burst onto the Maryland scene many didn’t know what to think. A world record for 2-year-olds on a half mile track was impressive, but could he really be that good? As it turned out, at his best he was even better. Persistent injury problems caused an early retirement, but the hybrid-bred trotter then went from impressing on the track to impressing at stud.

The life changer

American, European

15 min read

Some horses have the potential to change somebody’s life. A superstar in Quebec, the mare initially named Fontaine Angus was invincible at 2 and became a life changer for her trainer. After a stellar career, Emilie Cas El followed up as a broodmare by producing a Hambletonian-winner.