Historic Hambletonian items in new exhibit

The Hambletonian, America's richest trotting race, is featured in a multimedia museum exhibit in the historic town of Cranbury, where the Hambletonian Society office relocated four years ago.

The exhibit, "The Hambletonian: Its Trotters, Their Connections and the Racing Event 1926-2009," features trophies, posters, memorabilia, ephemera and photographs from the 84 editions of the legendary race, including an award-winning video presentation of the 75th anniversary of the Hambletonian created by the Meadowlands of East Rutherford and narrated by Sports Illustrated's Frank Deford, according to a press release from the Hambletonian Society.

The exhibit was made possible largely through items loaned by Mary Lou Dondarski, an avid collector of Hambletonian memorabilia associated with the race since she began working for the Hambletonian Society more than 15 years ago.

Mark Mullen, a Cranbury resident, president of Fair Winds Farm in Cream Ridge, and a Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey director, has loaned the museum the Hambletonian trophy won by Mack Lobell in 1987.

John Campbell, of River Vale, who drove Mack Lobell to victory, donated a set of his racing colors. He won six Hambletonians, the most of any driver in history.

New Jersey possesses an extensive equine history and many of standardbred racing's archives and record books include the accomplishments of trotters and pacers bred, raced, owned or trained in the Garden State.

The founding sire of the breed, Hambletonian, born in 1849 and considered the father of all modern-day standardbreds, was foaled and raised in New York, but the Hambletonian race named in his honor has been held in New Jersey longer than any other host state — a record 28 years.

The race began in 1926 to promote the breeding of trotters and was lured away from the cornfields of DuQuoin, Ill., in 1981 by the Meadowlands.

The 2009 Hambletonian, which carries a purse of $1.7 million, will take place Aug. 8 at the Meadowlands. The race will be broadcast live on NBC from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.T

he Hambletonian exhibit is in the Cranbury Museum, 4 Park Place East, Cranbury, which is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays through June. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

For more information, call 609-655- 2611.