Ralph Hanover p,3, 1:53.4 ($1,828,871), who won pacing’s Triple Crown in 1983, was euthanized on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the age of 28. He was buried at Mac Lilley Farms in Ontario, where he has been residing since Grand Royal Farms shut down some years ago.
Ralph Hanover was fed Sunday morning, ate his meal, and then laid down in the field. When the graying stallion showed signs of distress and couldn't get up, the decision was made to euthanize him.
Ralph Hanover was trained by Canadian Stew Firlotte and driven by Ron Waples, and in what would today be considered unusual circumstances, both men also shared ownership of the colt along with Grants Direct Stable and Pointsetta Stable (Firlotte and Dale Baker and Dave Henderson). The colt was syndicated for approximately $7 million early in his 3-year-old campaign.
As a 2 year old Ralph Hanover, a son of Meadow Skipper out of the Tar Heel mare Ravina Hanover, won seven of 15 starts, including the Bluegrass in Lexington, where he took his mark of 1:54.1.
As a 3 year old, in addition to winning pacing’s Triple Crown, Ralph Hanover established a new single-season earnings record when he banked $1,711,990.
In addition to the Little Brown Jug, Cane Pace and Messenger—the three jewels of the Crown—he won 17 other races, including the Meadowlands Pace, Adios, Prix d’Ete, Tattersalls, Simcoe and Queen City Stakes, the forerunner of the North America Cup.
He also set world records on a five-eighths mile track (1:54) and half-mile track (1:55.3). Ralph Hanover was retired to stud duty at Almahurst Farm near Lexington, Ky., and stood in Kentucky for six years until moving to Ontario for the 1990 breeding season. He sired the winners of $17.4 million, but none of his offspring came close to emulating their sire.
|
Home :: News Archive :: Racing Reports :: Sale Reports :: Calendars :: Guide Directory :: Contact The Staff
Advertising Rates & Information For: Horseman And Fair World Magazine :: HarnessRacing.com :: Harness Racing Weekend Preview
Website Design by eLink Design, Inc. A Lexington Web Design Company :: Hosted by Intelliwire, LLC, An Offsite Backup Company
Site contents may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
© 2012 Horseman Publishing Co., Lexington KY, All Rights Reserved
Advertising Rates & Information For: Horseman And Fair World Magazine :: HarnessRacing.com :: Harness Racing Weekend Preview
Website Design by eLink Design, Inc. A Lexington Web Design Company :: Hosted by Intelliwire, LLC, An Offsite Backup Company
Site contents may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
© 2012 Horseman Publishing Co., Lexington KY, All Rights Reserved