SC Rewind: Ralph Hanover Wins The Triple Crown

In this week's edition of Rewind Robert Smith recalls the great season of 1983 when three-year-old pacer Ralph Hanover took the world of harness racing on a joyful ride as he won Pacing's Triple Crown.   A number of old photos from that glorious year help to tell the story.  

Forty years have come and gone since the sensational Ralph Hanover won harness racing's Triple Crown in 1983.  He was the seventh horse in history to add his name to that illustrious  list (shown below).  To accomplish that feat a horse must win The Cane Pace,  The Messenger Stakes and finally The Little Brown Jug.  An easy feat it is not;  since its inauguration in 1956, the Pacing Triple Crown has had just 10 winners.  The first was in 1959 and the most recent in 2003. In the 40 years since Ralph Hanover claimed the prize just three horses have been successful.  No driver, trainer or owner has ever repeated the accomplishment.  

Ralph Hanover,  a son of Meadow Skipper out of Ravina Hanover, was purchased as a yearling for $58,000 by trainer Stew Firlotte and Ronnie Waples, who had decided to partner on the yearling rather than bid against each other. His ownership became The Waples Stable, Inc., Pointsetta Stables, Inc. (Stewart Firlotte), Grants Direct Stable (Richard Dinner and Norman Keyes).

He started his racing career as a two-year-old and enjoyed a very successful freshman year winning seven of 15 races in 1982 while banking $117,000,  a tidy sum but not spectacular.  After a season of ailments he started to show some promise by fall.  At Lexington he stopped the clock at 1:54.1 after an elimination heat timed in 1:55.1; two super miles that no one had expected. That 1:55.1 so excited driver Ron Waples that he threw his new $25 whip to the infield when he saw the time flashed on the board. “Lost my head for a moment,” he said later. 

At age three he was raced extensively and reached heights that few horses have ever approached.  While his triple crown races in themselves would make for a story book season,  he won a lot more than those headline events.  

In 1983, Ralph Hanover won 20 of 25 races and earned a then-record $1.71 million in purses. Trained by Stew Firlotte and driven by a then 39-year-old Ronnie Waples he became the model of consistency.   He won the Messenger Stakes in June, the Meadowlands Pace and Queen City Pace (later replaced by the North America Cup) in July and three double-heat races – the Adios, Cane Pace and Prix d’Ete – in August. He also competed in the double-heat Oliver Wendell Holmes in August, where he finished second by a nose.

(Photo courtesy of The Standardbred)

When Ralph Hanover captured the first leg of his historic journey to Triple Crown status by winning the Messenger in mid-June his driver Ronnie Waples was more than pleased;  in fact he was part way to ecstatic.  Well, as close to it as anyone named Waples might be. Ralph Hanover won it in record time, shaving three-fifths of a second off the previous record holder, Cam Fella, who paced it in 1:57.3 just a year prior to this.  “He could have gone faster,” said Waples after all the cheering had subsided. “He’s like me, kind of lazy. He doesn’t want to go any more than he has to. Whatever you ask for he gives you,  but you’ve got to ask him for it.” 

Ralph Hanover and driver Ron Waples capture the Messenger in 1:57 to claim the first victory on the quest of The Triple Crown. (Photo courtesy of The Standardbred)

THE CANE PACE 

(Photo courtesy of The Standardbred)

The Cane Pace was held on Saturday, August 20 at Yonkers.  It was a two-heat event and in the elimination Ralph had to settle for a second place finish to another Canadian-owned horse — Allwin Steady driven by Bill O'Donnell for owner Antonio Chiaravalle.  It was a tough battle. 

In the final Ralph was made favourite despite his second place finish in the elim and he proved the bettors were correct. The highly anticipated duel between Ralph and Allwin Steady had a sad ending as the latter horse put in a valiant effort but near the end of the race had to pull up with a serious injury and did not finish the race.  The victory went to Ralph to secure the second "jewel" of the crown.   

(Photo courtesy of The Standardbred)

Following Ralph Hanover’s victory in the Cane Pace at Yonkers, trainer Stew Firlotte said, “There are only so many fast and winning miles in a horse. After this win he had just one more victory to claim but it was a tough one." He went on to say "We just hope he has enough left for the Jug, which is the most important because of its historical significance and prestige.” 

THE LITTLE BROWN JUG 

On Jug Day, September 22nd,  Ralph captured the third elimination division in 1:58.2 with Skirt Lifter and Bill O’Donnell finishing second. He captured the final in 1:55.3 on a cold and windy afternoon winning the 38th renewal of the Jug at Delaware, Oh.

And thus history was made as Ralph Hanover completed the three-race sweep required to claim Pacing's Triple Crown. It was one of the all-time great single seasons recorded in the history of harness racing.  In the years following this memorable year Ronnie Waples has often stated that it ranks among, perhaps at the top, of his best moments in a lifetime in harness racing. 

Above is the chart for the Little Brown Jug of 1983.  Canadian born drivers were certainly in evidence at this year's Jug. (USTA and LBJ Archives)

The chart above was published in November of 1983 showing the top money winning horses (both standardbred and thoroughbred) for that season.  It shows the wide margin Ralph Hanover had over all other competitors that season. (Courtesy of North East Harness News) 

The Pacing Triple Crown began in 1956. Following is a list of the 10 horses to win the three races in the series: The Cane Pace, Messenger Stakes, and Little Brown Jug.

(Year-Horse-Driver-Trainer)

1959-Adios Butler-Clint Hodgins-Paige West

1965-Bret Hanover-Frank Ervin-Frank Ervin

1966-Romeo Hanover-William Myer, George Sholty-Jerry Silverman

1968-Rum Customer-Billy Haughton-Billy Haughton

1970-Most Happy Fella-Stanley Dancer-Stanley Dancer

1980-Niatross-Clint Galbraith-Clint Galbraith

1983-Ralph Hanover-Ron Waples-Stew Firlotte

1997-Western Dreamer-Mike Lachance-Bill Robinson

1999-Blissfull Hall-Ron Pierce-Ben Wallace

2003-No Pan Intended-David Miller-Ivan Sugg

Quote For The Week: Once again more of a short story. 

Harold Wellwood Sr. was known as a pretty quiet and reserved gentleman but he was witty.  One time he reluctantly accepted a catch drive on a horse that was well known for his antics on the track.  As Harold was warming him up, the horse fell right in front of the paddock entrance.  The judge ran out on the track and quickly asked "Do you want to scratch this horse?" Harold dryly replied "I can't speak for the horse but you can scratch me." 

Who Is It?  

Can you correctly identify the above pictured gentleman who is shown providing autographs for a large gathering of fans? (Courtesy of North East Harness News) 

Who Else Is It?  

Can you identify the driver in the photo above?  He was Canadian born but spent a large portion of his lifetime in the U.S. where he enjoyed a very long and successful career.