Hall of Fame

 



hambletonian

Year of Birth: 
1849
Immortal: 
Yes
Elected as Immortal: 
1953
Year of Death: 
1876
Gait: 
Trotter
Record: 
t,T2:48 1/2
Sire: 
Abdallah
Dam: 
Charles Kent Mare
Sire of Dam: 
Bellfounder
Biography: 

Foaled in 1849 by Abdallah 1 out of the Charles Kent Mare, Hambletonian was purchased with his dam from breeder Jonas Seeley for $125 by William Rysdyk, a Chester, New York farmer. In late October 1852, as a three-year-old, Hambletonian was matched in a trial with Abdallah Chief. Hambletonian won in 3:03. A day or two later he trialed in 2:48 (2:48 1/2 on some watches, so Rysdyk always gave the time as 2:48 1/2). Rysdyk only trialed his colt this one time, then placed him in stud in Chester and bred him to local mares. An increasing production of speedy offspring soon made Hambletonian the top sire of what was to become known as the Standardbred horse. In twenty-four seasons, he sired over 1,300 foals, many of them champions and including foundation sires Dictator, Happy Medium, George Wilkes and Electioneer. Hambletonian lives today in just about every trotter and pacer racing, which is why he is known as the "daddy of 'em all." His stud fees earned Rysdyk in excess of $200,000. The great progenitor Hambletonian died on Monday, March 27, 1876 in Chester, New York, where a tall monument marks his grave.

 Hambletonian Ave., Chester, NY

Published in the Harness Racing Museum's 1994 book, The Immortals