Hilton Dabson

Hilton A. (Rabbit) Dabson (April 8, 1912 – June 16, 1984) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey and racehorse trainer. In 1933, he was the leading rider at Rockingham Park.

On September 11, 1937, Dabson rode the mud-lark Calumet Dick to victory in the Narragansett Special. He bested Wheatley Stable's Snark and national superstar Seabiscuit over a sloppy track at Narragansett Park to win the rich $28,200 race.[1]

He also won the 1937 Phoenix Handicap at Keeneland Race Course on Preeminent for Hal Price Headley. Eventually, weight gain forced him to become a trainer of race horses. The best horse that he trained was seven-time stakes winner Nance's Lad. Dabson was the rare combination of breeder/owner/trainer, and Nance's Lad won the Fountain of Youth Stakes, Swift Stakes and Peter Pan Stakes. He also established a track record down the Widener Chute at Belmont Park in ​1:08 ²⁄₅ for 6 furlongs on May 14, 1956.

Dabson trained Nance's Ace, who set a World Record for ​5 ¹⁄₂ furlongs in ​1:03 ¹⁄₅ at Tropical Park Race Track on December 27, 1944, as well.

A native of Greensboro, Maryland, he moved to Florida in 1955 and later became a charter member of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association.[2]