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Hanover (thoroughbred horse)
Encyclopedia
Hanover was a champion American
Thoroughbred
racehorse that won his first 17 race starts. He was the only American stallion to head the Leading sire in North America
list for four consecutive years until Bold Ruler
did so in 1965.
, bred at Colonel E. Clay's Runnymede Farm
. Hanover was by Hindoo
from Bourbon Belle by Bonnie Scotland. At the farm's yearling sale in May 1885, Hanover was sold to the Dwyer Brothers Stable
for $1,250, where he joined Tremont
, also born in 1884, and who was a very precocious two-year-old.
, at age two, Hanover won all three races he contested: the Hopeful Stakes, the July Stakes, and the Sapling Stakes
. With Tremont retired, the Dwyers turned to Hanover as the mainstay for the Dwyer Stable. Hanover started in twenty-seven races at the age of three, racing at distances ranging from four furlongs (800 meters) to two miles (3,200 m.), he won 20 times (including the Belmont Stakes
which he won by fifteen lengths) and finishing out of the money only once. Before finishing his first two seasons of racing, Hanover had won 17 consecutive races.
After several losses at age four, and an obvious lameness to the right forefoot, Hanover was nerved and given the remainder of the year to recover. At age five he was defeated three times in his first four starts, but finished the season with 9 wins from his 17 race starts. For most of his racing career Hanover raced against older and top class horses, while conceding them large weights. Hanover stopped racing as America's greatest earner with a career total of $118,887. From his 50 race starts he won 32, was second 14 times, and third twice, only unplaced twice.
for four consecutive years (1885–1889). His offspring include Hall of Fame inductee Hamburg
, as well as David Garrick, Halma, Compute, The Commoner, Handspring, Half Time, and Yankee. He was also the damsire of Triple Crown
winner Sir Barton
.
While pawing, Hanover was unable to feel the pain in his unnerved foot, and broke his coffin bone. This led to septicimea, and his condition worsened before he was humanely euthanized in March 1899.
Following creation of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
, Hanover was part of the first group of horses inducted in 1955.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse that won his first 17 race starts. He was the only American stallion to head the Leading sire in North America
Leading sire in North America
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the year...
list for four consecutive years until Bold Ruler
Bold Ruler
Bold Ruler was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse.Bred by the Wheatley Stable of Gladys Mills Phipps, Bold Ruler was foaled on April 6, 1954 at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky to Nasrullah and Miss Disco by Discovery...
did so in 1965.
Background
He was chestnut coltColt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
, bred at Colonel E. Clay's Runnymede Farm
Runnymede Farm
Runnymede Farm is an American horse breeding farm located outside Paris, Kentucky on U.S. Route 27, the Paris-Cynthiana Road. Breeders of Thoroughbreds, the farm was established in 1867 by American Civil War Colonels Ezekiel Field Clay and Catesby Woodford....
. Hanover was by Hindoo
Hindoo (horse)
Hindoo was an outstanding American Thoroughbred race horse who won 30 of his 35 starts, including the Kentucky Derby, the Travers Stakes and the Clark Handicap. He later sired the Preakness Stakes winner Buddhist and the Belmont Stakes winner and Leading sire in North America, Hanover.He was a bay...
from Bourbon Belle by Bonnie Scotland. At the farm's yearling sale in May 1885, Hanover was sold to the Dwyer Brothers Stable
Dwyer Brothers Stable
Dwyer Brothers Stable was an American thoroughbred horse racing operation owned by Brooklyn, New York businessmen, Phil and Mike Dwyer.The Dwyer brothers hired trainer Evert Snedecker and purchased their first Thoroughbred, Rhadamanthus, in 1874. In October of that same year they acquired Vigil...
for $1,250, where he joined Tremont
Tremont (horse)
Tremont an American Thoroughbred racehorse who, according to the New York Racing Association, was acclaimed by 19th Century Thoroughbred Horse Racing historians as the best two-year-old ever bred in the United States....
, also born in 1884, and who was a very precocious two-year-old.
Racing record
Trained by Frank McCabeFrank McCabe
Frank Reilly McCabe was an American basketball player who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics. McCabe played collegiately at Marquette University....
, at age two, Hanover won all three races he contested: the Hopeful Stakes, the July Stakes, and the Sapling Stakes
Sapling Stakes
The Sapling Stakes is an American Grade III Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early September at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey. Open to 2-year-olds, it is raced on dirt over a distance of six furlongs for a purse of $150,000....
. With Tremont retired, the Dwyers turned to Hanover as the mainstay for the Dwyer Stable. Hanover started in twenty-seven races at the age of three, racing at distances ranging from four furlongs (800 meters) to two miles (3,200 m.), he won 20 times (including the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
which he won by fifteen lengths) and finishing out of the money only once. Before finishing his first two seasons of racing, Hanover had won 17 consecutive races.
After several losses at age four, and an obvious lameness to the right forefoot, Hanover was nerved and given the remainder of the year to recover. At age five he was defeated three times in his first four starts, but finished the season with 9 wins from his 17 race starts. For most of his racing career Hanover raced against older and top class horses, while conceding them large weights. Hanover stopped racing as America's greatest earner with a career total of $118,887. From his 50 race starts he won 32, was second 14 times, and third twice, only unplaced twice.
Stud record
After his racing career ended, Hanover was sold to Colonel Milton Young and sent to his McGrathiana Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, where he enjoyed a very successful breeding career, becoming the leading sire in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for four consecutive years (1885–1889). His offspring include Hall of Fame inductee Hamburg
Hamburg (horse)
Hamburg was an American Thoroughbred race horse bred in Kentucky by James E. Kittson, brother to Norman W. Kittson who had been partners in Erdenheim Stud. His sire was the great Hanover by another great, Hindoo....
, as well as David Garrick, Halma, Compute, The Commoner, Handspring, Half Time, and Yankee. He was also the damsire of Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
winner Sir Barton
Sir Barton
Sir Barton, , was a chestnut thoroughbred colt who in 1919 became the first winner of the American Triple Crown.He was sired by leading stud Star Shoot out of the Hanover mare Lady Sterling. His grandsire was the 1893 English Triple Crown champion, Isinglass.Sir Barton was bred in Kentucky by...
.
While pawing, Hanover was unable to feel the pain in his unnerved foot, and broke his coffin bone. This led to septicimea, and his condition worsened before he was humanely euthanized in March 1899.
Following creation of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
, Hanover was part of the first group of horses inducted in 1955.