Hambletonian weekend 2025

Photo: Chris Tully

The champions of the 100th Hambletonian and 55th Hambletonian Oaks 2025 have been crowned.

Nordic Catcher (S)

Hambletonian champion 2025 is the Scandinavian bred colt Nordic Catcher by Six Pack – That Woman Hanover by Somebeachsomewhere. Win time was a new stakes record of 1:50m. Trainer and driver is Åke Svanstedt. The favourites Super Chapter and Maryland came second and third. Interesting to see yet another winner with pacing blood up close, after Captain Corey by Googoo Gaagaa in 2021.

See the race here

Conversano (us)

Hambletonian Oaks was won by Conversano, a daughter of champion Muscle Hill and dam is Celebrity Ruth by world champion Archangel. Walspea (by Walner – Speak To Me by Muscle Massive) came second and Delaney Hanover (by Muscle Hill – Danielle Hanover by Cantab Hall) third. Win time 3,1:51.2m. Driver is James MacDonald. Trainer Juan Cano.

See the race here

Revenue S has passed

Press release Revenue Stables:

“It is with a very heavy heart I have to announce that our beloved Revenue left us yesterday after a period of illness that in the end was too much to endure for a 29 year old champion. It has been two very tearful and sad days.
Revenue was one of a kind, on and off the track. He was with his breeder/trainer Lutfi Kolgjini for his whole racing career, from 2yo trotter of the year in Sweden, and together with groom Ulrika, developing him into an international star, ending his racing career outclassing some of the world’s best trotters at the Meadowlands and the Red Mile before retiring to stud. His 1:51.3 win in Lexington was back then the third fastest mile in history. He collected 47 victories in 110 starts and almost 2 million dollars lifetime earnings in the early 2000s, winning races in 7 different countries. As a sire he did very well also, in both Europe and the USA . As the only European bred stallion in history to this day, he sired a Hambletonian winner – world champion Market Share – in addition to two other world champions in Quick Deal (twice) and Break The Bank K., and also unique trotters like Melady’s Monet (2 million dollars and 84 wins), Whiskey Tax, Hot Shot Blue Chip and several trotters who went on to earn a lot of money. His foals have delivered 23+ track records, four world records, several national records and several classic races on both sides of the Atlantic. In his last years he came back to stay with Lutfi at his farm where it all began, and this is where he was laid to rest yesterday.

New article about Mighty Ned

Lisa Harkema has written yet another wonderful article. This time it is “The Wedding Gift” which is the life story of Mighty Ned, from his birth at Walnut Hall Farm in Kentucky, via a racing career in the US to his surprising sale and further success in Euope.

Read it here

Go On Boy won Prix de France

Paris, France:

Go On Boy (by Password) was the favourite to win this year’s edition of Prix de France (Gr.I) after Prix d’Amerique winner Idao De Tillard is out with an injury. There was no upset, and after moving to the top after around half the race, nobody could threaten the favourite who won very easyily in in 1.10,1a / 1:52.4 over 2100 metres.  the mare Inmarosa came second on the inside, and the old fighter Don Fanucci Zet came third. The win was worth €180.000 and Go On Boy just passed the magical € 2 million mark in lifetime earnings.

An invitation to the Elitlopp for the third time seems to be in the air.

Tenor De Baune’s story

A new article has been added to the collection. “The Horse who did the untinkable”. The story of Tenor de Baune. By Lisa Harkema.

When Jean-Baptiste Bossuet looked at the yearling in September 1986, he wasn’t particularly impressed. There just was no “wow” feeling to the chestnut, but breeder Bernard Hallope, keen on selling, offered Bossuet 50 % at a low price if he would start training the horse. Bossuet accepted, somewhat reluctantly, as he knew that many other buyers, including some big-name trainers, had examined the yearling and found him wanting. Could all of them be so wrong? As it turned out, they could.

Breaking him in and then training him carefully – Bossuet isn’t one to rush his youngsters – Tenor de Baune improved steadily but his trainer still didn’t feel any “wow” factor. Hallope didn’t really want to own part of a racehorse and signaled to Bossuet that if he could find a buyer for the remaining half of the horse he was very keen on selling. Close to Christmas 1988, Bossuet persuaded his brother to buy the second half of the 2-year-old horse for a lowly 25,000 francs, less than 4,000 euros. Tenor de Baune was still unstarted but had qualified 3 months earlier. Still, Bossuet thought he had a decent horse, but nothing more, on his hands.
 

Read the full story here

Idao De Tillard double PdA winner!

What a race performance we saw from the 2024 champion in this edition of the Prix d’Amerique! Racing three wide for most of the race, Idao De Tillard (by Severino) crushed all opponents and was simply the best horse in the field. Win time was a very strong 1.11,1/2700m vaulting start took him to a controlled victory. Second was Just Love You (by Love You). Third was UET Elite Circuit Final winner Go On Boy (by Password). Somewhat unusual, fourth place went to Go On Boy’s half brother Josh Power (by Offshore Dream). Frenchman Thierry Duvaldestin trains Idao de Tillard, who also trained the legendary Ready Cash, and is now responsible for two double Prix d’Amerique winners! His son Clément was in the bike. Idao de Tillard’s groom is Norwegian Susanne Ohme. (photo above by Kurt Einevåg. Below screen grab from LeTrot.)

See the race here

The Horse of Your Life

Hambletonian is approaching quick. Here is a tribute to one of  its heroes, double champion Ready Cash.

He was one of the best trotters the world has seen and went on to become an even better stallion before he died too soon. The story of Ready Cash is a fascinating tale of coincidences, but most of all the story of one of the most legendary trotters ever.

Klick here to read his life story

Prix d’Amerique 2025

Here is the most probable lineup for Prix d’Amerique race 2025 next weekend. It is one of the toughest races in the world, is raced over 2700m on the big oval at Vincennes racetrack in Paris, the track that has a height difference of over 20 ft from highest to lowest point. Most of the field have qualified through various races, and a few gets in the race automatically due to high lifetime earnings. Geldings are not alowed to take part. Most horses this year are French, with three exceptions. There are three mares in the field; Irose de la Noé (1),  Just Love You (8) and Emeraude de Bais (12). Two previous champions are racing. Hooker Berry from 2023 and Idao de Tillard from last year. (Click the links to see horses that we have in the gallery section).

Please note that there might be slight changes in the days coming up to next weekend.

  1. Iroise de la Noé – by Tornado Bello – Pollenza de la Noe by Kiwi. 1.11,0/€340 900
  2. Keep Going – by Follow You – Discovery Bond by Royal Dream. 1.09,7/€483 620
  3. Justin Bold – by Bold Eagle – Udine by Coktail Jet 1.10,0/€549 580.
  4. Fakir de Mahey – by Reve de Beylev – Mahey Storm by Dahir de Prelong 1.10,4/€640 460
  5. Idéal Ligneries – by Repeat Love – Ouragane by Elvis de Rossignol 1.09,8/€644 550
  6. It’s A Dollarmaker – by Saxo de Vandel – Salt Lake City by Insert Gede 1.10,9/€652 230.
  7. Josh Power – by Offshore Dream – Balginette by Hasting. 1.09,9/€1.09,9
  8. Just Love You – by Love You – Just In Love by Ever Jet. 1.10,0/€752.050
  9. Hussard du Landret – by Bird Parker – Anakine du Bellay by Look de Star 1.10,3/€1 021 360.
  10. Elvis du Vallon – by Reve de Beylev – Premiere de Beylev by Elvis de Rossignol 1.09,6/€1 031 620.
  11. Hokkado Jiel – by Brillantissime – Victory Jiel by Love You. 1.09,1/€1 035 880
  12. Emeraude de Bais – by Repeat Love – Haute Tension by Biesolo. 1.08,33/€1 047 760
  13. San Moteur (s) – by Panne de Moteur – Aung San Suu Kyi by Ready Cash. 1.19,7/€1 299 153
  14. Don Fanucci Zet (s) – Hard Livin – Kissed By The West by Western Terror. 1.08,7/€1 524 238
  15. Ampia Mede Sm (I) – by Ganymede – Polimpia Slide Sm by Yankee Slide. 1.09,6/€1 567 896
  16. Go On Boy – by Password – Balginette by Hasting. 1.08,4/€1 704 870.
  17. Hooker Berry – by Booster Winner – Osaka Berry by Caballio in Blue. 1.08,6/€1 818 420
  18. Idao de Tillard – by Severino – America de Tillard by First de Retz. 1.09,4/€2 448 660.

New horses in the gallery

Latest addition to the gallery are a number of horses, photography by Amanda Stephens Photo at the Red Mile. Several will be racing in this year’s edition of the Breeders’ Crown.

Tactical Approach
Prince Of Honor
Alrajah One
Blonde Bombshell
Bryant Bros
Buy A Round
Draw The Line
Espresso
Eternal Lee
Joviality
Jiggy Jog
Jujubee
Karl
Mambacia
Mommamia Volo
Mr Bluebird
Periculum
Pickpocket
Pizzelle
Rebuff
Security Protected
Soiree Hanover
Special Way
TCI
Walner Payton
Warrawee Michelle
Excalibur Bi

Idao de Tillard invited to the Elitlopp

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