Hambletonian’s move could cause ripple effect locally
The impact of the $1 million Grade 1 Hambletonian moving from the Meadowlands, East Rutherford, N.J., to Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Anderson, Ind. Is likely to cause a ripple impact on racetracks in the East, including those in Pennsylvania – including The Meadows.
The significance of the impact has local reactions ranging from the feeling of putting the industry in peril in Pennsylvania to adjusting as the harness racing focus moves toward the Midwest.
The Hambletonian Society, Cranbury, NJ, voted Thursday to move the prestigious race, after a 46-year run at the Meadowlands, heretofore recognized as the Mecca of the harness racing industry.
“I just think it’s a sad state of affairs,” said Hall of Fame driver and the industry’s all-time leader in driving wins Dave Palone. “Everybody kind of believes that the Hambletonian’s meant to stay in (New) Jersey and it’s a Meadowlands thing and just a great race card. Although we all know the Midwest has picked up steam and that’s one of the elite places to race right now – Indiana or Kentucky. I don’t know how much that’s going to hurt the Meadowlands, which is on kind of life support as it is.”
A horseman at The Meadows, who preferred anonymity, has a bleak outlook.
“It’s not good for the sport. It’s going to hurt us,” the horseman said.
Others are calling for staying the course and working to make the situation better locally and statewide.
“Other than the stake program at the Meadowlands, it’s become just a Jersey-based, New York-based place to race,” said owner and trainer Norm Parker. “I mean, it’s not like it used to be when we were younger when the goal was to get to the Meadowlands to race. It still is per se. But the classes aren’t there. It’s more just a local place to race for those people that live out there. Now, with everything happening in Kentucky and Indiana –
Obviously, they’ve taken a lot. They’re fighting their own battles with trying to get the casino gambling (in New Jersey) and without that happening, their management was up in the air. That’s why they didn’t renew their contract.
“It’s always sad when something as traditional as the Hambletonian leaves. But it doesn’t always mean the end of an era or anything. Sometimes, it’s better. Who knows? We’ll have to play it out. I always thought going to the Meadowlands was like our WPIAL football teams going to Acrisure Stadium to play a championship game. You felt like you were on the big stage. I’m assuming Hoosier will do just as well with the Hambletonian. It’s just going to be different. But everything in our industry is different.”
The Hambletonian Stakes has had six venues in its 100-year history. The seventh, Harrah’s Hoosier Park, came with an incentive-laden contract to relocate to the Midwest’s premier racino. In partnership with the Indiana Horse Racing Commission and Indiana Standardbred Association, Hoosier Park’s bid to host the event from 2027 through 2029 was accepted.
“No decision regarding the Hambletonian is taken lightly by the board,” said John Campbell, president and Chief Executive Officer of the Hambletonian Society.
“The Hambletonian has enjoyed a long and successful run at the Meadowlands since 1981. All Meadowlands management teams have been great partners in promoting the race and the surrounding events. However, the board received a proposal, that it accepted, from Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with the support of the Indiana Racing Commission and Indiana Standardbred Association that will only guarantee continued opportunity and growth for the Hambletonian and the sport.”
Entertaining proposals to host the Hambletonian became necessary when the Meadowlands did not exercise its exclusive right of renewal for the Hambletonian in September 2025. Under society by-laws, the Hambletonian must then be opened annually to prospective bidders unless already secured by contract. The race must also be conducted in daylight hours and on a track no smaller than seven-eighths of a mile.
The Hambletonian Society owns and administers 164 of the most important events in harness racing, including the $1 million Hambletonian, $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, $400,000 Hambletonian Maturity and the $7 million Breeders Crown series. The board of directors that governs these events consists of 26 of the sport’s stakeholders and Campbell.
Patty Key, owner of Winning Key Farm and wife of the late accomplished owner Bob Key, respectfully declined comment on the move. Winning Key Farm, one of the most prolific and successful Standardbred breeding and racing operations for the last four decades in Worthington, PA, sponsored this year’s Hambletonian.
The Keys, in partnership with the late John Glesmann, bred and raced 1993 Hambletonian champion American Winner.
Added Mark Weaver, owner with the Burke Racing Stable, Fredericktown: “I guess New Jersey is the big loser and Indiana’s a big winner. As a whole, the industry has kind of shifted from the East coast to the Midwest over the past six or eight years. The two best programs are Ohio and Kentucky and then Indiana. Pennsylvania needs to get its act together. The original agreements with the slots didn’t have the revenue factored in the amount of eye gaming or slots being played on phones or computers; and that’s a huge percentage. The horse industry has lost a lot of revenue because none of that goes to the horse industry.
“We are close to moving Sweet Lou out of Pennsylvania because of the direction Pennsylvania is going. He’s the best stallion in the world. I’ve always had pride with him standing in Pennsylvania and calling Pennsylvania the best. But there are other states where it makes more sense for him.”