Ivory Pine Group High On Maine Harness Racing

When Sixby Hanover first stepped foot on the First Tracks Cumberland on Thursday several of his owners were standing on the outside fence at the iconic Southern Maine Fairgrounds.  

Another co-owner was at Churchill Downs, cheering for one of his other horses, Mo Donegal, in the Kentucky Derby.  While neither horse crossed the finish line first that day, the 20-person group that owns Sixby Hanover is just as proud of their four-footed property as if he had been in the ‘Run for the Roses.’

It only took another couple of starts for that syndicate to find their way into the Cumberland winner’s circle.

“Thanks for that win today,” wrote co-owner Steve Morgan to caretaker Bethany Graffam.  “We especially liked when [driver] Nick [Graffam] pointed to us on the rail as he crossed the finish line.”

John Morgan, a 39-year-old social studies teacher and harness racing fan, who manages the partnership agreed.  “We could not have found better partners for this project.  The Graffams operate an open and accessible stable that has been in their family for generations.”

Mike Graffam is the current patriarch of a harness racing family that dates back many generations.  Some say nine, to be exact.  Others like Joe Morris, the Senior Vice President of Racing for Caesars Entertainment noted, “The Norton Farm is the oldest continuously operated, single family-owned farm in the state of Maine.”

Morgan first approached Graffam back in January of 2019 to try and develop a partnership that realized a calculated balance to “spread the risk but provide meaningful ownership.”  He recalls, “It was a passion project, with mostly family and friends.  That turned into friends of friends as we increased to a maximum of twenty individuals who each own five percent.”

“We also wanted to support and help promote Standardbred ownership in the state of Maine.”  Morgan continued, “and we always have sufficient prudent reserve to accommodate a three-month layoff, if necessary.”

Morgan’s father Steven brought him to the races at Scarborough while growing up, which continued into his adult life.  While Morgan works at the Westbrook High School, his other passion in club soccer.  His experience with ‘non-American’ Football led him to try harness racing, or what he calls, “the only open sport in the United States.”

“Every other major sport has significant financial or regulatory barriers to entry.  Harness racing is great because just about anyone can participate on a variety of levels,” Morgan realized.  And the Ivory Pine Syndicate was born.

“We looked for several years and finally bought this horse from an OnGait listing.  We researched, pedigrees, sire lines and other performance characteristics, but had to stay within our established budget,” noted Morgan.

Purchased in late April, Sixby Hanover made his first start for his new connections on Derby Day.  Two week later, eighteen people filled the winners circle for Sixby Hanover’s first Pine Tree State victory.  A half-brother to 6 in 1:54 or faster, including Safensound Hanover p,4,1:51.1f ($276,052) and Shinobu Hanover p,1:52f ($203,725), he has 13 lifetime victories to his credit, and $62,504 in earnings.

Once a fixture on the Ohio Fair Circuit, the four-year-old son of Pet Rock won an Ohio Fair Stake last year at the home of The Little Brown Jug, with a catch-drive by Tim Tetrick.

The Ivory Pine Syndicate enjoys participation by a wide variety of people from different backgrounds in their group, some of whom didn’t know one another until the horse’s first start.

“We have financial advisors, scholastic teachers, college professors, retirees and a bloodstock agent who come to the track every chance they get, and love to visit the farm and feed ‘Sixby’ carrots,” Morgan stated.  “We are a passionate group.”

They are also supportive of the horse’s supporting cast, the Graffam clan.  “We appreciate all that you do,” wrote Steve Morgan following their first win.  “A dream came true today.”

Sixby Hanover scores from post seven in Saturday’s (June 4) fourth race.  The 10-race program also features a ‘Sneak Peek’ stakes preview for three-year-old male Maine-bred pacers, as well as a division of the Maine Amateur Driving Club.

Friday’s (June 3) card has 11 races on the program.

Post time for the Spring/Summer meet is 4 p.m. on both Fridays and Saturdays, with the extended pari-mutuel meeting racing each weekend through July 23.

The final race on both Friday and Saturday features our 20 cent Hi-Five (Pentafecta), with a low takeout of 16%.

(First Tracks Cumberland)