Hambletonian 10 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hambletonian 10 |
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Rysdyk's Hambletonian 10
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| Breed | Standardbred |
| Gait | Trot |
| Mile record | 2:48 1/2 |
| Sire | Abdallah |
| Grandsire | Mambrino |
| Dam | Charles Kent Mare |
| Damsire | Bellfounder |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1849 |
| Died | 1876 |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Bay |
| Breeder | Jonas Seeley, Jr. |
| Owner | William Rysdyk |
| Honors | |
| Hambletonian Stakes Harness Racing Hall of Fame Immortal (1953) |
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Hambletonian 10, also known as Rysdyk's Hambletonian, was a very famous American horse. Born on May 5, 1849, he became a founding father of the Standardbred horse breed. Standardbreds are horses specially bred for harness racing, where they pull a driver in a two-wheeled cart called a sulky. Hambletonian 10 was a "trotter," meaning he moved his legs in diagonal pairs. He is so important that he was added to the Immortals category of the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame.
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Hambletonian's Early Life and Unique Build
Hambletonian 10 was born on a farm in Sugar Loaf, New York. His breeder was Jonas Seely, Jr. Hambletonian's father was a horse named Abdallah. Abdallah was a grandson of a very famous horse called Messenger. Interestingly, Abdallah was not very good-looking and had a difficult personality. He was even sold for only $5 to a fish peddler!
Hambletonian's mother was known as the Charles Kent Mare. She was sired by an imported horse named Bellfounder.
A farm worker named William Rysdyk took care of Hambletonian and his mother. William loved the foal so much that he bought them both from Jonas Seeley for $125. He believed Hambletonian would become a great horse.
Hambletonian had a special body shape. He was lower at his shoulders (called the withers) but higher at his rear (called the croup). This gave him very strong back legs. This strength helped him push off the ground with great power when he trotted. He passed this unique build on to his children.
Hambletonian's Racing Debut
Hambletonian 10 made his first public appearance when he was only six months old. This happened at the Orange County Fair in Goshen. People were very impressed with him. Horse experts started calling him "Rysdyk's Abdallah colt."
Another horse, Abdallah Chief, was also a son of Abdallah. His owner, Seeley C. Roe, thought Hambletonian was not a good trotter. He believed Hambletonian was only good for show. To settle this, Hambletonian and Abdallah Chief raced in 1852. They were both pulling light wagons with their owners driving. Hambletonian won the race!
Mr. Roe still wasn't happy. So, they held a time trial. Abdallah Chief trotted one mile in 2 minutes and 55½ seconds. Then, Hambletonian trotted the same mile in 2 minutes and 48½ seconds. This was Hambletonian's only time trial, and he proved he was the faster trotter.
Hambletonian's Impact as a Sire
Hambletonian 10 started his career as a breeding horse, or "stud," when he was two years old. His owner, William Rysdyk, let him breed with four mares (female horses). Hambletonian quickly became known for producing fast horses.
William Rysdyk then offered Hambletonian's services for a fee of $500. This was a lot of money back then! William Rysdyk made a good fortune from Hambletonian's breeding services.
In the 1860s, one of Hambletonian's sons, Dexter, set a new record. Dexter trotted a mile in just 2 minutes and 17¼ seconds. A man named Robert E. Bonner bought Dexter for $25,000. Mr. Bonner did not like racing or betting. So, Dexter was used only for private driving, and no one knows if he could have trotted even faster.
Since then, almost every fast Standardbred horse has Hambletonian 10 in its family tree. He produced about 1,335 foals during his 24 years as a stud. Most North American Standardbreds today can trace their family lines back to Hambletonian through four of his sons: George Wilkes, Dictator, Happy Medium, and Electioneer.
Hambletonian's Legacy and Honors
Hambletonian died on March 27, 1876, at the age of 27. Both he and his owner, William Rysdyk, are buried in Chester, New York.
Seventeen years after Hambletonian's death, a large granite monument was placed over his grave. Many people who remembered the horse fondly donated money for this monument. The road where he is buried is now called Hambletonian Avenue.
The most important harness race for trotters in North America is named in his honor: the Hambletonian Stakes.
Hambletonian is also the official mascot of Chester Academy in Chester, NY. This is the school near where he is buried. The school's sports teams are called the Chester Hambletonians. You can see Hambletonian's image all over the village of Chester, NY.
