Spencer Scott - 1940
The 1940 Hambletonian was a very popular one among the Grand Circuit regulars and close followers of the sport, as no one deserved a victory more than Charles W. Phellis of Greenwich, Connecticut, and his trainer-driver, Fred Egan. Phellis’ home bred Grand Circuit campaigners had raced to this time with limited success. In this instance, he was racing the handsome black colt, Spencer Scott. Sickness and temporary lameness handicapped the colt at two, but when he attained his form, he was second only to the 1939 champion, Kuno. After a couple of races in which he was a contender, Spencer Scott whipped all the contenders, including Kuno, in the Noyes Stake at Syracuse in 2:05. He won a heat and second money in the rich Horseman Stake and was again a close runner-up to Kuno. At three, Spencer Scott was the king of the crop and won every stake engagement but one in impressive fashion. Spencer Scott was clearly the best in the Hambletonian. Masterfully driven by Fred Egan, the superb black colt set his own pace and held off the stretch drives of Remus and Kuno to win in 2:02 and 2:03, making Phellis, breeder David Look and Fred Egan a happy trio. Retired to Hanover Shoe Farms with earnings of $52,742.66, the young stallion accomplished much before his untimely death at thirteen. His phenomenal son, Rodney 2, 2:02, 1:572, came within a fraction of dethroning his sire, and retired in 1949 as the leading money-winning trotting stallion.
The first winner whose dam was sired by a Hambletonian winner (Spencer, 1928). Phellis convinced David M. Look, owner of Castleton Farm, to breed his mare May Spencer to Scotland (third to Spencer in 1928) by offering to purchase the resulting foal, the future Hambletonian winner Spencer Scott. For the 15th consecutive year, a Kentucky stallion sired the winner. The last year that bookmakers were permitted at Goshen as pari-mutuel wagering was about to be legalized in New York State.
