Near Sugar Loaf in Orange County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Hambletonian
Photographed by Clifton Patrick, April 12, 2008
1. Hambletonian Marker and Monument
Hambletonian foaled here May 5, 1849. Progenitor of America's famed Trotters and Pacers.
Erected by The Hambletonian Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Sports. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1927.
Location. 41° 18.758′ N, 74° 18.034′ W. Marker is near Sugar Loaf, New York, in Orange County. It is on Hambletonian Road 0.9 miles north of East Ridge Road, on the right when traveling north. This marker is in front of the relocated Hambletonian 10 birthplace monument that once rested on the exact spot of Hambletonian's birth, a hundred or so yards north of the present roadside marker location. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 85 Hambletonian Road, Chester NY 10918, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York and in the Hudson Valley. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sugar Loaf Community of Craftsmen (approx. 0.9 miles away); Sugar Loaf School District #4 (approx. one mile away); Furybrook Farm (approx. 1.4 miles away); Pet Cemetery (approx. 2.1 miles away); Wisner Tract (approx. 2.2 miles away); Hoop Snake Hill (approx. 2.3 miles away); First Post Office in Chester (approx. 3.2 miles away); Florida Presbyterian Church (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sugar Loaf.
Regarding Hambletonian. Rysdyk’s Hambletonian was foaled on May 5, 1849, in a swampy field on the Jonas Seely farm just outside the Hamlet of Sugar Loaf, which is in the Town of Chester.
A monument on the spot was dedicated on Aug. 13, 1935. This monument was moved across Hambletonian Road, and placed next to Banker’s barn in 1995 when a developer built houses on the site.
When Hambletonian died in 1876, he was buried in a coffin in the yard of William Rysdyk’s residence on what is now known as Hambletonian
Photographed by Ted Hansom, August 13, 1935
2. Hambletonian birthplace celebration and dedication of monument.
Hambletonian monument dedication at the Wakely Banker farm in Sugar Loaf on August 13,1935.
left to right:
W. Sanford Durland
Harry Kningle
Frank Dalage
Carrie Houston, grandaughter of Jonas Seely
Joseph J. Mooney, President, Hambletonian Assoc.
Dr. Seely Cummings, grandson of Jonas Seely
Some years later, an obelisk of Missouri granite was erected through the efforts of the National Association of Trotting Horse Breeders. An ornate wrought-iron fence was placed around it, and a formal dedication took place in 1893.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. - Hambletonian Monument, in the village of Chester.
Also see . . . Hambletonian 10, Wikipedia. “Hambletonian—or Hambletonian 10, as he was registered—was an American race and stud horse who profoundly influenced the sport of harness racing. The stallion was born in Sugar Loaf, NY on May 5 1849.” (Submitted on October 4, 2009, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2009, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. This page has been viewed 1,958 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 30, 2009, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide view photo of the marker showing its location along the roadway, or showing it has been removed. A closeup photo of the additional marker on the boulder. • Can you help?
