Who Are You Calling ‘Moose’?

One of the first things veteran horseman Doug Hamilton heard when he brought Gokudo Hanover home from the 2013 Harrisburg yearling sale was “What are you going to do with that moose?” With hindsight being what it is, Hamilton should’ve retorted with “I’m going to cash some cheques, baby!”

The 68-year-old Hamilton has told Trot Insider that the good-hearted ribbing over Gokudo Hanover didn’t come from a fellow horseman on the track. The barb didn’t come from some random raceway employee, nor did it come from an apron dweller that opted to throw out a cheap quip, either. The comment actually came from Hamilton’s special lady friend, Valorie Sutton, who, interestingly enough, is a co-owner of the horse – yes, the horse that just may not be the most beautiful equine that ever lived.

“He (Gokudo Hanover) was actually sort of homely looking,” Hamilton admitted to Trot Insider, just days after the gelding reeled off his fourth win since March 28.

When you boil everything down, what matters more? A racehorse’s cosmetic look or his career purse earnings line? Trot Insider was not sharp enough to ask Hamilton that question in particular, but, in this case, the answer is rather apparent.

Hamilton explained that he plucked Gokudo Hanover out of Harrisburg for $17,000. He told Trot Insider that he usually buys two or three babies at the fall sales every year. Hamilton said that his owners love the sport of harness racing and are always looking for some excitement from the industry. That being said, they do want some return on their investment as well – owners are not in the game to just simply throw their money into some sort of proverbial pit.

In the case of the “homely” Gokudo Hanover, co-owners Sandbur Farms (of Demotte, Indiana), Val Sutton (Momence, Illinois) and Joseph Hemmingway (South Holland, Illinois) are probably looking at a nice little ROI. What is for sure is that the three-year-old is providing the owners with quite a thrill.

Okay, stop if you’ve heard this before. Two-year-olds can be growthy, green and slow learners. The babies can have all the speed in the world, but at the same time they can have no idea how to carry it sometimes. The two-year-olds can be hot and perplexing. They can make your hair turn grey – hey, they can make your hair fall out at times. What they can also do is make staking choices and racing plans very hard.

With Gokudo Hanover, Hamilton has had to make some tough choices. The brown performer has been gelded, and he was staked lightly heading into 2015, his three-year-old campaign. He initially qualified last fall and recorded three relatively common lines in maidens at Pocono Downs. He finished the year winless and with $4,500 on his card. Gokudo Hanover’s ‘moose’ moniker probably loomed like the other large animal in the room.

After being given some time away from the races, ‘Gokudo’ qualified at the Meadows on three separate occasions during the winter. He made his three-year-old pari-mutuel debut in the Gilmour Series at the Meadowlands. He paced in ‘53’ and change and finished seventh.

Enter John Campbell.

Harness Racing’s most celebrated reinsman took over the driving duties on Gokudo Hanover after his Gilmour race. The brown gelding has won five of his last seven races since that decision. “Me and John go back a long time,” Hamilton told Trot Insider. “He’s taught this horse a lot. It’s not just a coincidence that he has found this success all of a sudden.”

Gokudo Hanover is currently riding a three-race win streak, a string that has seen him notch victories over the Meadowlands in 1:50.3, 1:51 and 1:51.1. The moose has banked $48,504 since March 7. Take that, good looks.

Hamilton said that the horse’s owners are “extremely happy” – yes, even ‘Val The Jokester.’ Also, the veteran horseman told Trot Insider that the ownership group has been presented with offers to buy Gokudo Hanover, but that his lack of staking is working against him in that respect.

“He’s worth more to us right now than to anyone else,” said Hamilton, who is enjoying the ride.