Raceday at the 2024 $1M Hambletonian

Dr. Gregory Beroza, aka HorseDoc ‘Talking Horses,’ was onsite at the $1M Hambletonian and $500K Hambletonian Oaks. Read on for the full recap.

Sat., Aug. 3, 2024 — The 2024 Hambletonian and Oaks Championship races at the Meadowlands were among the most exciting in all of Harness Horseracing History. We got to watch the nail-biting Hambletonian and interviewed winning driver Yannas Gingras, trainer Nancy Takter, proud father and Hall of Fame driver Jimmy Takter, and retired Fall of Fame Driver Billy O’Donnell. 

There were 10 talented contestants in both the Hambletonian for three-year-old trotters, and 10 entries in the Hambletonian Oaks, open to three-year-old trotting mares. There was an anticipated high-stakes match-up battle in the Hambletonian between this year’s two super-stars, ‘Karl’ and ‘TCI’. However, any horse in either of these classic races had a chance of winning.

2024 Pre-Hambletonian race fans crowd the rail. Photo credit: GBeroza

The day started with extreme sun and heat but quickly turned to torrential downpours at the very beginning of the $1M Hambletonian Stakes. The rain only subsided shortly after the nail biting finish. This 8-min documentary memorializes the drama and achievement of the 2024 Hambletonian Day with an amazing final stretch performance by ‘Karl’.

This was Trainer Nancy Takter’s second consecutive Hambletonian win, making her the first female trainer in history to do such. Her first 2023 Hambletonian win was with Tactical Approach. This is the fourth time a female trainer won the Hambletonian since 1926. Linda Toscano won in 2012 with Market Share and Paula Wellwood won in 2016 with Marion Marauder. 

2024 Hambletonian Winner ‘Karl’-Driver Yannick Gingras . Photo credit: Chris Tully/Hambletonian Society

Nancy now ties her Hall of Fame Trainer father, Jimmy Takter who won the Hambletonian in 2014 with Trixton and in 2015 with Pinkman. Both father and daughter share this back-to-back achievement with trainer Per Eriksson for his 1991 win with Giant Victory and 1992 win with Alf Palema. Retired Trainer Jimmy Takter still holds the family best lifetime achievement with four total Hambletonian wins, while daughter Nancy Takter currently appears to be training at the best of her career.

Hambletonian Trophy. Photo credit: Walter Wlofarczyk/Hambeltonian Society

2024 Hambletonian Awards Winner’s Circle. Photo credit: GBeroza

Karl’s 2024 Hambletonian win gave HOF Driver Yannick Gingras his first Hambletonian Championship. He was winless in 13 previous Hambletonian challenges. Gingras has over 9,000 career wins with total purses of approximately $240 Million. Karl got off to a slow start tracking Highland Kismet down the backside. Karl finished strong in the final eighth mile closely beating Highland Kismet. Takter said of Karl, “If any horse could handle the one post position and then the rain, it’d be him. He’s so professional.” In the Winner’s Circle, an emotional Gingras stated, “This is the race everyone wants to win, and now I can say I’ve won it. This win was an equally emotional experience for the fans. 

Warrawee Michelle won the 2024 $500K Hambletonian Oaks for Driver-Trainer Ake Svanstedt.

2024 Oaks Winner ‘Warrasee Michelle’ Driver-Trainer Ake Svanstedt. Phoot credit: Chris Tulley/Hambletonian Society

Dr. Gregory A. Beroza, DVM, DACVS, DABVP has been a practicing veterinarian and consultant for 42 years; and HorseDoc® ‘Talking Horses’® media host, author, and consultant since 2007. Dr. Beroza is a multimedia host and broadcasts his productions, including a new Podcast, via his WuzUpDoc Media website: www.WuzUpDoc.com. He can be found on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and other social media sources.

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