On Saturday, November 16, Easy Lover Hanover propelled off of a second-over trip in Woodbine Mohawk Park’s $34,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers. He fired through the stretch to a 1:51.4 score and past the $1-million mark in career purse earnings.

Those that follow Woodbine Entertainment’s live Standardbred product don’t need to be told who Easy Lover Hanover is or what he has come to represent on the racetrack.

Under the tutelage of trainer Ben Wallace, the six-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere has blossomed to become a tough, professional racehorse – one that has more than proven his worth on Canadian harness racing’s brightest stage.

The harness racing industry, especially in southern Ontario, doesn’t need a refresher in regard to the Classy Lane barn fire of 2016 and the impact it had on scores of horsepeople. It goes without saying that Wallace and his operation were delivered a knockout blow by the gut-wrenching turn of events.

Those events, though – as unfathomable and horrific as they were – ultimately laid the groundwork for Easy Lover Hanover to join the Wallace fray. Along with other racehorses, owner Brad Grant plucked an underperforming Easy Lover Hanover from Tattersalls’ 2016 January Mixed Sale in an effort to restock Wallace’s barn. Now, almost four years later, the bay is officially a millionaire. What an odyssey.

Easy Lover Hanover, pictured victorious on November 16, 2019 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

In discussing the Easy Lover Hanover ride with The Hamilton Spectator, Wallace spoke of the gelding’s ascension and the type of “throwback” racehorse that he has become.

"These [kinds] of horses do not get much attention paid to them by the people who are Grand Circuit or young horse-focused,” Wallace said. “But I do have the small-time owners and trainers comment on ‘Easy Lover’ and how great it is to see him do well. He's a bit of throwback doing what he has done, but what's wrong with that?"

To read The Hamilton Spectator article on Wallace and Easy Lover Hanover, click here.

(With files from The Hamilton Spectator)