Bret Hanover
| Bret Hanover | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Breed | Standardbred |
| Sire | Adios |
| Grandsire | Hal Dale |
| Dam | Brenna Hanover |
| Damsire | Tar Heel |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 19 May 1962 |
| Died | 21 November 1992 |
| Country | USA |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Hanover Shoe Farms |
| Owner | Richard Downing |
| Trainer | Frank Ervin |
| Record | 68: 62-5-1 |
| Earnings | $922,616 |
| Gait | Pace |
| Driver | Frank Ervin |
| Mile record | 1:53.3 (T) |
| Groom | Dave Willoughby |
| Major wins | |
|
Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace (1964) Roosevelt Futurity (1964) Cane Pace (1965) Little Brown Jug (1965) Messenger Stakes (1965) Realization Pace (1966) Empire Pace (1966) Prix d'Automne (1966) |
|
| Awards | |
| 1964, 1965, 1966 United States Harness Horse of the Year Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers World Pacers Mile Record (twice) |
|
| Honors | |
| United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame (1994) | |
Bret Hanover (May 19, 1962 – November 21, 1992) was an outstanding American Standardbred racehorse. He was one of only nine pacers to win harness racing's Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers and won 62 of 68 starts. He was the first horse to be voted United States Harness Horse of the Year three times and remains the only pacer to have received that honor.
He was foaled at Hanover Shoe Farms in Hanover, Pennsylvania, on May 19, 1962. Bret Hanover was by the leading sire Adios and out of Brenna Hanover by Tar Heel, a Little Brown Jug winner and a leading sire. At the yearling sales of 1963 Bret Hanover sold for $50,000 the highest priced yearling that year.
Trained and driven by Frank Ervin in his 1964 debut season in racing, Bret won all 24 of his starts, including the Fox Stake, Battle of Saratoga, Goshen Cup, Review-Little Pat Stake, American National, McMahon Memorial, Roosevelt Futurity, Ohio Standardbred Futurity, Meadow Lands Farm Stake, Star Pointer Stake and Lawrence Sheppard Pace. He earned $173,298 and was named USTA Horse of the Year, the first two-year-old ever to have been given that honour.
As a 3yo in 1965 Bret Hanover won the Cane Pace, Commodore Pace, Matron Pace, Hanover-Hempt Stake, Battle of Saratoga, Reynolds Memorial and Arden Downs Pace remaining unbeaten. The Arden Downs was this 35th consecutive win. His next start was at Springfield at the Illinois State Fair track in the Review Futurity where Bret Hanover was beaten for the first time. In the first heat he was beaten into second place by Adios Vic however he won the second heat in faster time to claim the stakes win. In the Horseman Futurity at Indianapolis ‘Bret’ won the first heat in 1.55.0 to equal the fastest race mile in history but Adios Vic beat Bret Hanover in the second heat in 1.56.3 to force a race-off. Adios Vic then won the race-off inflicting defeat on Bret Hanover who had previously lost a single dash at Springfield but had not lost a race. In September Bret Hanover won the Little Brown Jug setting a world record in the first heat despite rain delaying the start of the race. His time for the two heats was 1.57 and 1.57 2/5 which was also a two heat world record for a race on a half mile track. He beat Tuxedo Hanover by 3 ¼ lengths in the first heat and 2 lengths in the second before a record crowd of 41.200. Adios Vic, the only horse to have beaten Bret Hanover was fourth in both heats. Bret Hanover won the Messenger Stakes at Roosevelt Raceway to claim the Triple Crown. He won 21 of 24 starts as a 3yo, earnt $340,975 and took U.S. Horse of The Year honors again.
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