# Colonial Trot

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{{short description|Harness stakes race for 3-year-old trotters}}
{{Infobox horseraces
| class         = 
| horse race    = The Colonial
| image         = 
| caption       = 
| location      = [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania](/source/Philadelphia%2C_Pennsylvania), U.S. (inaugural)
| inaugurated   = 1968
| race type     = [Harness race](/source/harness_racing) for [standardbred](/source/standardbred) [trotters](/source/Horse_gait)
| website       =
| distance      = 1 mile
| surface       = Dirt
| track         = [Liberty Bell Park Racetrack](/source/Liberty_Bell_Park_Racetrack) (inaugural)
| qualification = 3-year-olds 
| weight        = 
| purse         =
| bonuses       = 
}}

The '''Colonial Trot''' was a [harness racing](/source/harness_racing) event for three-year-old [standardbred](/source/standardbred) [trotters](/source/Horse_gait) raced at a distance of one mile. The race was created in 1968, joining the [Dexter Cup](/source/Dexter_Cup), the [Yonkers Trot](/source/Yonkers_Trot), the [Hambletonian](/source/Hambletonian_Stakes), and the [Kentucky Futurity](/source/Kentucky_Futurity) to form the "Big Five" races for three-year-old trotters.

==History==
Edward J. Dougherty, then president of [Liberty Bell Park Racetrack](/source/Liberty_Bell_Park_Racetrack), organized '''The Colonial''', the track's first $100,000 race. The event was created after the track in [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia) failed to secure the [Hambletonian Stakes](/source/Hambletonian_Stakes) in the mid-1960s.<ref name="The Times. (1968)">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1193073446/?match=1&terms=colonial%20trot%20hambletonian%20society|title=Bell's Biggest Race Ever, The Colonial, On Sept. 14|newspaper=The Times|date=September 6, 1968|page=26|access-date=2026-03-24}}</ref>

The Colonial Trot, a one-mile race for three-year-olds, was staged for the first time on September 14, 1968. The Colonials' debut marked a significant addition to Philadelphia's sports schedule.<ref name="The Philadelphia Inquirer. (1968)"/> Co-sponsored by the Liberty Bell and William Penn Associations,<ref name="The Times. (1969)"/> it was the newest among the nine $100,000 harness races in the United States. The inaugural Colonial Trot featured Dart Hanover, Eric B., [Nevele Pride](/source/Nevele_Pride), Master Yankee, Jostle, Keystone Spartan, and Snow Speed. The seven three-year-old trotters raced for a [purse distribution](/source/purse_distribution) of $50,000, $25,000, $12,000, $8,000, and $5,000 for the top five finishers.<ref name="The Philadelphia Inquirer. (1968)">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/179842002/?match=1&terms=Colonial%20Trot|title=Six Battle for 2d Place at Liberty Bell|last=Chevalier|first=Jack|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=September 14, 1968|page=23|access-date=2026-03-24}}</ref> [Stanley Dancer](/source/Stanley_Dancer) piloted Nevele Pride to victory in the 1968 event. The Colonial's first record was set at 1:59 by Nevele Pride.<ref name="The Times. (1969)">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1194737071/?match=1&terms=Colonial%20Trot|title=Liberty Bell's 2d Colonial Could Be 'Battle Of Dancers'|last=Thomas|first=Russ|newspaper=The Times|date=September 7, 1969|page=53|access-date=2026-03-24}}</ref>

When Philadelphia's Liberty Bell Park Racetrack went out of business in 1985, the 1986 Colonial Trot was carried over to [Rosecroft Raceway](/source/Rosecroft_Raceway) in [Fort Washington, Maryland](/source/Fort_Washington%2C_Maryland).<ref name="The Baltimore Sun. (1986)">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/378170336/?match=1&terms=Colonial%20Trot|title=Rosecroft holds Colonial Trot|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=October 18, 1986|page=19|access-date=2026-03-24}}</ref> The Colonial became a stakes event under the [Hambletonian Society](/source/Hambletonian_Society) and was considered the first step toward the [Hambletonian Stakes](/source/Hambletonian_Stakes).<ref name="The Boston Globe. (1995)">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/440837780/?match=1&terms=Colonial%20Trot|title=Trotters not so hot at Foxboro|last=Indrisano|first=Ron|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=April 24, 1995|page=50|access-date=2026-03-24}}</ref>

Following Rosecraft Raceway's withdrawal due to financial difficulties, [Foxboro Park](/source/Foxboro_Park) paid $50,000 to host the 28th running of the event. The five-eighths-of-a-mile oval was selected by the Hambletonian Society over Hoosier Park, The Meadows, Pocono, and Meadowlands.<ref name="The Boston Globe. (1995) 3">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/440837823/?match=1&terms=Colonial%20Trot|title=Foxboro about to trot out 18 of nation's best|last=Indrisano|first=Ron|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=April 20, 1995|page=51|access-date=2026-03-24}}</ref> Foxboro Park presented The Colonial on April 22, 1995.<ref name="The Boston Globe. (1995) 2">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/440841452/?match=1&terms=Colonial%20Trot|title=Foxboro to host Colonial Trot|last=Kinsley|first=Bob|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=April 1, 1995|page=78|access-date=2026-03-24}}</ref> From 1996 onward, it was relocated to [Woodbine Racetrack](/source/Woodbine_Racetrack) in [Toronto, Ontario](/source/Toronto%2C_Ontario).

The Colonial was resumed in 2007 at [Harrah's Philadelphia](/source/Harrah's_Philadelphia) after a three-year hiatus.<ref name="Standardbred Canada. (2011)">{{cite web|url=https://standardbredcanada.ca/news/8-19-11/can-broad-bahn-break-colonial-jinx.html|title=Can Broad Bahn Break Colonial Jinx?|date=August 19, 2011|website=standardbredcanada.ca|access-date=2026-03-24}}</ref> Ahead of the 2013 season, the stakes event was moved from Harrah's Philadelphia to [Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs](/source/Mohegan_Sun_at_Pocono_Downs), with the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association instituting a year-to-year alternation between the two tracks.<ref name="Standardbred Canada. (2013)">{{cite web|url=https://standardbredcanada.ca/news/1-4-13/pocono-adds-three-stakes-2013.html|title=Pocono Adds Three Stakes For 2013|date=January 4, 2013|website=standardbredcanada.ca|access-date=2026-03-25}}</ref>

==Distances==
At its inception in 1968, the Colonial Trot was raced over a distance of one mile.

==Locations==
*1968–1985: [Liberty Bell Park Racetrack](/source/Liberty_Bell_Park_Racetrack), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
*1985–1994: [Rosecroft Raceway](/source/Rosecroft_Raceway), Fort Washington, Maryland, U.S.
*1995: [Foxboro Park](/source/Bay_State_Raceway), Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
*1996–2004: [Woodbine Racetrack](/source/Woodbine_Racetrack), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
*2007-2012: [Harrah's Philadelphia](/source/Harrah's_Philadelphia), Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
*2013-: [Pocono Downs](/source/Pocono_Downs), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.

==Records==
; Most wins by a [driver](/source/Driving_(horse)):
* 3 – [Stanley Dancer](/source/Stanley_Dancer) (1968, 1972, 1985)<ref name="Lexington Herald-Leader. (1985)">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/688402194/?match=1&terms=Colonial%20Trot|title=Nevele Jason wins Ben White Stake|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|date=June 16, 1985|page=132|access-date=2026-03-24}}</ref>

==Colonial Trot winners==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Winner !! Driver !! Trainer !! Owner !! Time !! Notes
|-
| 1968 || [Nevele Pride](/source/Nevele_Pride) || [Stanley Dancer](/source/Stanley_Dancer) || — || — || 1:59 || Stakes and world record; $50,803
|-
| 1969 || [Lindy's Pride](/source/Lindy's_Pride) || [Howard Beissinger](/source/Howard_Beissinger) || Howard Beissinger || Frank and Tom Antonacci (Lindy Farms) || 2:00 2/5 || $50,835
|-
| 1970 || Timothy T. Tops || John F. Simpson Jr. || — || John F. Simpson Sr. || 2:03 1/5 || —
|-
| 1971 || [Speedy Crown](/source/Speedy_Crown) || Howard Beissinger || Howard Beissinger || Frank and Tom Antonacci || — || —
|-
| 1972 || Super Bowl || Stanley Dancer || — || — || — || —
|-
| 1973 || Flirth || [Ralph N. Baldwin](/source/Ralph_N._Baldwin) || Ralph N. Baldwin || — || 2:01 2/5 || $51,747
|-
| 1974 || Keystone Gabriel || Peter Haughton || — || — || 2:01.3 || —
|-
| 1975 || Meadow Bright || [Del Miller](/source/Delvin_Miller) || Del Miller || Del Miller ([Hanover Shoe Farms](/source/Hanover_Shoe_Farms)) || 2:02 || First filly to win
|-
| 1976 || Armbro Regina || [Joe O'Brien](/source/Joe_O'Brien_(harness_racing)) || — || Armstrong Brothers || 2:00.4 || $63,382
|-
| 1977 || [Green Speed](/source/Green_Speed) || [Billy Haughton](/source/Billy_Haughton) || — || — || 1:58 4/5 || Stakes record
|-
| 1978 || Florida Pro || [George Sholty](/source/George_Sholty) || — || — || 1:58.2 || Stakes record; $56,675
|-
| 1979 || Chiola Hanover || Jimmy Allen || — || — || 2:02 1/5 || —
|-
| 1980 || Noble Hustle || Doug Ackerman || — || — || 2:00.1 || $46,109
|-
| 1981 || Keystone Triton || Eldon Harner || — || Max Buran & Abe Farber || 2:01 || $66,182
|-
| 1982 || Jazz Cosmos || Mickey McNichol || — || — || 1:58.1 || $48,219
|-
| 1983 || Power Seat || [Bill O'Donnell](/source/Bill_O'Donnell_(harness_race_driver)) || — || Angelo & Orante C. Roncone || 1:59.1 || $75,000
|-
| 1984 || Why Not || Mickey McNichol || Joe Caraluzzi || — || 1:59 1/5 || —
|-
| 1985 || Piggvar || Stanley Dancer || — || — || 1:58.0 || Track record; $38,077
|-
| 1986 || Everglade Hanover || Hakan Wallner || Hakan Wallner || — || — || —
|-
| 1987 || [Mack Lobell](/source/Mack_Lobell) || [John Campbell](/source/John_Campbell_(harness_racing)) || — || — || — || —
|-
| 1990 || Jeanne's Somolli || Rod Allen || Carl Allen || [L. Walter Houston](/source/Walt_Houston) || 1:56.4 || —
|-
| 1991 || Mr Chin || — || Oswaldo Formia || — || 1:54.4 || —
|-
| 1992 || Herschel Walker || — || Jan Johnson || Tomas Bertmark || 1:58.3 || —
|-
| 1993 || GEO Hanover || Per Henricksen || — || — || 1:58.2 || —
|-
| 1994 || Keystone Graham || Ron Pierce || — || — || 2:00.3 || —
|-
| 1995 || Keystone Galactic || Roger Hammer || Roger Hammer || Roger Hammer || 1:58.2 || —
|-
| 1996 || Tony Oaks || John Eades || John Eades || Antonio DeRossi || — || —
|-
| 1997 || Famously || Brian Allen || Jim Cruise Jr. || — || 1:56.4 || —
|-
| 1998 || Brylin Image  || John Holmes || — || — || 1:57 1/5 || —
|-
| 1998 || Exactitude  || Trevor Ritchie || — || — || 1:57 1/5 || —
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Harness races in the United States
Category:Harness races for three-year-old trotters
Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1968
Category:1968 establishments in Pennsylvania

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Colonial Trot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_Trot) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_Trot?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.