Proof of the American Dream

Forgotten for the moment were the prize burnt-sugar cake, the first-place parsnips, the Ferris wheel, and other folksy pleasures of the Du Quoin state fair. In this small Southern Illinois town (pop. 6,691), harness racing fans could even forget the aura of scandal that periodically haunts the sport-such as last June's scandal at Yonkers Raceway, which involved an amazingly low Exacta payoff, indicating a betting coup. But here, at the 46th running of the Hambletonian, no betting was allowed or ever had been by long tradition. The U.S.'s most prestigious race for standardbreds, and the middle leg of the Triple Crown for three-year-old male trotters,*the Hambo was a reminder of the luster that once belonged to a sport redolent with nostalgia and grassroots Americana.

As a horse race, the Hambletonian is an exacting test of both speed and endurance. The winning trotter must take two out of as many as four heats, run an hour apart around the one-mile clay track. This year only four of the nine entries figured to have a chance of capturing the coveted trophy and top prize of $64,885 out of the $129,770 total purse. Two of the early favorites were Hoot Speed and Speedy Crown, half-brothers sired by the co-holder of the mile world record, Speedy Scot. Hoot Speed was supposed to have the necessary endurance but was unlucky in his post position. Speedy Crown had already won eight of ten races this year -including two wins over Hoot Speed-but he had been beaten by his half-brother in their last meeting. Their most likely challengers were Savoir, the only gelding in the field and a strong stretch threat, and Quick Pride, who had won the Yonkers Futurity. As it turned out, the race was a surprisingly easy affair for the bay colt Speedy Crown. In two straight heats, one of them the second fastest in Hambletonian history (time: 1:57.2), Speedy Crown bested his only serious challenger, the fast-closing Savoir. It was the second victory in three years for Driver Howard Beissinger and the colt's owners. Frank and Tom Antonacci of Long Island, who won the 44th Hambletonian with Lindy's Pride. And the crowd loved it when the announcer told them that the Antonacci brothers had made their money by collecting garbage in New York. It was, after all, proof that the American Dream still survived, even in harness racing.

*The Yonkers Futurity on July 2 was the first leg, with a purse of $110,795. The third leg, the Kentucky Futurity, will be run on Oct. 8 for an estimated $65,000.

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