Hanover Shoe Farms
Hanover Shoe Farms, Inc. is a North American Standardbred horse breeding facilities. Its traces back to the early 1900s and continues into the present day.
In a book titled Quest For Excellence, Dean Hoffmann, an executive editor of Hoof Beats magazine, chronicled the farm's history as it approached its 75th anniversary in 2001. Hoffmann stated in his opening chapter- "Any businessman, coach, or athlete will tell you that while it's certainly a great accomplishment to rise to the top in your chosen field, it's an even greater accomplishment to remain on top. By that definition, Hanover Shoe Farms leaves you searching for a word more powerful than 'dynasty'".
In 2001 Hanover Shoe Farms set the all-time breeder earnings record regardless of breed with $21,372,418 in annual progeny earnings.
The historic farm encompasses 2,426 acres (10 km2) in and around Hanover, Pennsylvania, USA. It is home to 9 stallions, 336 yearlings and over 500 broodmares. The yearling farm is located near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and a satellite stallion station is located in Lambertville, New Jersey with two more stallions. Hanover Shoe Farm has produced world champion racehorses and its stallions have sired a multitude of winners.
Founded in the early 1900s as Hanover Shoe Stables by Harper D. Sheppard and Clinton N. Myers, owners of the Hanover Shoe Company, a manufacturer and retailer of leather shoes, the racing stable was started as a venture for the two businessmen. Hanover Shoe Stables fell under the management of Lawrence Sheppard, Sheppard's son, in 1922 and in 1926 he purchased a 69 horse dispersal from the estate of A.B. Coxe for $150,000. According to The Kentucky Harness Horse, written by Standardbred historian Ken McCarr, it was "the start of one of the largest and most prominent harness horse nurseries in the world".
In 1926 the farm began to sell small consignments of yearlings at public auction. In 1928 Hanover's Bertha (t,3,T1:59,1/2m, $71,779), a daughter of Peter Volo out of Miss Bertha Dillion who was purchased from the Coxe estate, was retained by the farm and trained by Tom Berry. She set two-year-old trotting record of 2:02 in 1929 and it wasn't until 1934 that her record was equaled by Lawrence Hanover, her full brother. As a three-year-old Hanover's Bertha was undefeated and gave the Stable its first Hambletonian victory. She trotted the first 2:00 mile in an official race while winning the 1930 Kentucky Futurity.
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