A costly Hambo drive

Trond Smedshammer has received a 30-day suspension as a result of his drive behind Here Comes Herbie in the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands in which he moved off the pylons while leading in the stretch and allowed his stablemate Blue Mac Lad clearance to advance to a third-place finish. Smedshammer's suspension is scheduled to run from Aug. 28 through Sept. 26.

Smedshammer received the suspension--but no fine--during a hearing with the New Jersey Racing Commission Board of Judges Monday. He has the right to appeal and ask for a stay. The ruling reads that during the suspension "he is ruled off all grounds, with the reason being that while driving the number four horse Here Comes Herbie in the eighth race on Aug. 5, he bore out allowing the number two horse Blue Mac Lad to needlessly pass on the inside which constitutes what is properly known as helping. Also, he failed to maintain reasonable control of his horse at the top of the stretch, driving in a careless manner which affected the outcome of the finish."

If Smedshammer accepts the penalty he would miss some stakes action, but the suspension is scheduled to expire at the start of the two-week Grand Circuit meet at The Red Mile that runs from Sept. 26 through Oct. 7.

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