Dr. Gregory Beroza, aka HorseDoc ‘Speaking Horses,’ was onsite on the $1M Hambletonian and $500K Hambletonian Oaks. Learn on for the total recap.
Sat., Aug. 3, 2024 — The 2024 Hambletonian and Oaks Championship races on the Meadowlands have been among the many most enjoyable in all of Harness Horseracing Historical past. We acquired to look at the nail-biting Hambletonian and interviewed profitable driver Yannas Gingras, coach Nancy Takter, proud father and Corridor of Fame driver Jimmy Takter, and retired Fall of Fame Driver Billy O’Donnell.
There have been 10 gifted contestants in each the Hambletonian for three-year-old trotters, and 10 entries within the Hambletonian Oaks, open to three-year-old trotting mares. There was an anticipated high-stakes match-up battle within the Hambletonian between this 12 months’s two super-stars, ‘Karl’ and ‘TCI’. Nonetheless, any horse in both of those traditional races had an opportunity of profitable.
2024 Pre-Hambletonian race followers crowd the rail. Photograph credit score: GBeroza
The day began with excessive solar and warmth however shortly turned to torrential downpours on the very starting of the $1M Hambletonian Stakes. The rain solely subsided shortly after the nail biting end. This 8-min documentary memorializes the drama and achievement of the 2024 Hambletonian Day with a tremendous closing stretch efficiency by ‘Karl’.
This was Coach Nancy Takter’s second consecutive Hambletonian win, making her the primary feminine coach in historical past to do such. Her first 2023 Hambletonian win was with Tactical Strategy. That is the fourth time a feminine coach received the Hambletonian since 1926. Linda Toscano received in 2012 with Market Share and Paula Wellwood received in 2016 with Marion Marauder.
2024 Hambletonian Winner ‘Karl’-Driver Yannick Gingras . Photograph credit score: Chris Tully/Hambletonian Society
Nancy now ties her Corridor of Fame Coach father, Jimmy Takter who received the Hambletonian in 2014 with Trixton and in 2015 with Pinkman. Each father and daughter share this back-to-back achievement with coach Per Eriksson for his 1991 win with Big Victory and 1992 win with Alf Palema. Retired Coach Jimmy Takter nonetheless holds the household greatest lifetime achievement with 4 whole Hambletonian wins, whereas daughter Nancy Takter at present seems to be coaching at one of the best of her profession.
Hambletonian Trophy. Photograph credit score: Walter Wlofarczyk/Hambeltonian Society
2024 Hambletonian Awards Winner’s Circle. Photograph credit score: GBeroza
Karl’s 2024 Hambletonian win gave HOF Driver Yannick Gingras his first Hambletonian Championship. He was winless in 13 earlier Hambletonian challenges. Gingras has over 9,000 profession wins with whole purses of roughly $240 Million. Karl acquired off to a sluggish begin monitoring Highland Kismet down the bottom. Karl completed sturdy within the closing eighth mile carefully beating Highland Kismet. Takter stated of Karl, “If any horse might deal with the one submit place after which the rain, it’d be him. He’s so skilled.” Within the Winner’s Circle, an emotional Gingras acknowledged, “That is the race everybody desires to win, and now I can say I’ve received it. This win was an equally emotional expertise for the followers.
Warrawee Michelle received the 2024 $500K Hambletonian Oaks for Driver-Coach Ake Svanstedt.
2024 Oaks Winner ‘Warrasee Michelle’ Driver-Coach Ake Svanstedt. Phoot credit score: Chris Tulley/Hambletonian Society
Dr. Gregory A. Beroza, DVM, DACVS, DABVP has been a practising veterinarian and advisor for 42 years; and HorseDoc® ‘Speaking Horses’® media host, writer, and advisor since 2007. Dr. Beroza is a multimedia host and broadcasts his productions, together with a brand new Podcast, by way of his WuzUpDoc Media web site: www.WuzUpDoc.com. He may be discovered on Twitter, Fb, Youtube and different social media sources.
Because of ‘HorseDoc’ Sponsors: Alex Nichols Company; BMB IT Options, Chestnut Vale Feed, Cosequin Joint Well being Complement, Douglas Elliman Actual Property, Nice American Insurance coverage-Equine Division; Hopscotch Air Taxi; Jaguar; JSR Farriers-Equine Transport; Land Rover; Nutrena; Oheka Fort Lodge & Property; Ramard Nutraceuticals; Vary Rover; Supporting Methods; Ultravet Medical Gadgets
