Wendymae Hanover, dam of Western Hanover, dies

Wendymae Hanover p,T1:57, best known as the dam of the multiple Classics Winner and super sire Western Hanover p,2,1:52.1, 3,1:50.4.($2,541,647), died of natural causes and the infirmities of old age at the age of 26 at Hanover Shoe Farms Thursday evening.

 

In addition to Western Hanover, she was the dam of the stakes-winning filly Wendy M Hanover p,2,1:56.1, 3,1:54 ($337,132) and several stakes producing broodmares including the dams of Modern Art p,2,1:51.3, 3,1:50.2, Captain Cambest p,3,1:49.3 and Best Laid Pans p,2,1:57.4h, 3,1:51, 1:50.4 ($401,085).

Wendymae Hanover was a gorgeous filly herself. Those who remember her as a yearling recall that she could pace alongside the lead pony faster than any lead pony that Hanover owned could run. Not only was she a lovely filly but she was a half sister to the multiple stakes winner Walton Hanover p,2,1:54.1, 3,1:53.2 ($802,741) who was 2 Year Old Pacer of 1983, the year before Wendymae was sold as a yearling.

 

In several years in the 1980s it was Hanover’s practice to offer several of its most desirable fillies as “pair fillies.” Two fillies of close to equal value would be led into the sales ring. Bidders would be bidding for their choice of the pair. Wendymae Hanover paired with Nobelee Hanover an Albatross half sister to Direct Scooter. There was no doubt as to which filly would be chosen, since Wendymae was such a striking individual and had performed so well on the leadstrip.

 

The winning bid was for $380,000 and the ticket was signed by Steve Demas who was bidding on behalf of “Wild Bill” Perretti.  Shortly after the sale, the filly developed a lung infection and she became deathly ill. So ill, that she wasn’t able to race at two and three. Mr. Perretti wasn’t in the breeding business then, so he offered her back to John Simpson Sr., who was the president of Hanover Shoe Farms at the time. Mr. Simpson remembered the filly as being one of the nicest fillies that Hanover had ever raised. He bought her back for the highest price that the farms had ever paid for a non record filly. He decided to give the filly to Jim Simpson, now Hanover’s CEO and president to train. She showed speed, but was unable to overcome her breathing problems. She ended up getting a time trial record of 1:57 and earning less than $10,000.