Western Hanover's Dam, Wendymae Hanover, Passes

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 Hanover

Shoe Farms last 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).

She had her last foal in 2006 and was retired after failing to get in foal in the 2006 breeding season.

Wendymae Hanover was a gorgeous filly herself. Those that 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 Three-Year-Old Pacer of 1984, the year '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. 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.

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.

Wendymae Hanover became a Hanover broodmare. The decision was made to breed her to No Nukes. Her first foal was a medium-small, but gorgeous yearling which Hanover named Western Hanover. That breeding likely changed the course of the standardbred breed.

Wendymae Hanover was laid to rest today alongside the grave of her most illustrious son.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Wendymae Hanover

(Hanover)