The Fillies Against the Boys: Is the 90th Hambletonian a Harbinger of Hillary Clinton’s Political Fortunes?

While political pundits often compare elections to horse racing, it is not very often that the metaphor be taken quite so literally – In a coincidence of top equine and political races converging, a leading trotting filly (girl) has made a rare challenge and decided to take on a group of top colts in one of the nation’s most significant horse races, the $1 million Hambletonian, the first leg in trotting’s Triple Crown, on Saturday August 8, 2015.

The extremely talented filly, Mission Brief, has won more than $700,000 in and has world record in her name. But the Hambletonian challenge will be the hardest yet.

If history is any indication, political and equine soothsayers and handicappers would do well to tune into this “girl against the boys” race. In the 90 year history of the race, only 160 fillies have entered the box to race against the boys, and only fourteen have won. The last winner was 19 years ago.

That victory coincidentally coincided with Hillary Clinton’s political fortune. The last filly to win the race was the great, Continental Victory in 1996 – the same year the Clinton’s won the second presidential term. The previous filly to win before that was in 1983, the same year the Clinton’s won the election for Governor of Arkansas. Then a little known bay filly named Duenna beat the odds and the boys in an emotional and surprising ending.

Would a Mission Brief victory also be a harbinger for Hillary Clinton’s election?

Tune in to what is sure to be an epic girl against boys race live at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, NJ (gates open at noon) or on CBS Sports Network from 4-5:30pm.

Find out more on our Hambletonian mini-site!