World champion Emoticon Hanover is set to make the final career start of her legendary career tonight (Monday, Dec. 2) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Trainer Luc Blais confirmed Monday morning that the two-time Breeders Crown champion will be retired from racing following Monday evening’s Preferred Trot.
A six-year-old daughter of Kadabra, Emoticon Hanover most recently reached up in the final strides to defeat Atlanta in the TVG Mares Trot at the Meadowlands Racetrack and surpassed $2 million in career earnings in the process.
Owned by Serge Godin’s ‘Determination’ stable, Emoticon Hanover will go down as one of the greatest Ontario-sired trotters of all time.
The Blais trainee spent the majority of her two and three-year-old campaigns battling with rival Caprice Hill for Ontario Sires Stakes glory. The talented ladies exchanged victories in the 2015 and 2016 OSS Super Finals. Her three-year-old season did come to a close with a runner-up finish in the Breeders Crown.
Emoticon Hanover gained recognition across North America as a four-year-old with a dominating stretch of victories that included a world record of 1:50.2 at Tioga Downs, the Miss Versatility Series final, the Allerage at the Red Mile and her first Breeders Crown.
The world champion returned to the races as a five-year-old and finished off the 2018 campaign in style by winning her second consecutive Breeders Crown and her first TVG Mares Trot.
Emoticon Hanover won the O’Brien Award as Canada’s top older mare trotter in 2018.
Emoticon Hanover, pictured winning the 2019 TVG Mares Trot at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
The Blais trainee continued to compete at the highest level this season, as she competed against the boys in her second consecutive Maple Leaf Trot. The highlight of her six-year-old season came a little over a week ago with her victory in the TVG Mares Trot.
Emoticon Hanover enters her final career start with 26 wins, 55 top-three finishes, $2,027,663 earned and a mark of 1:50.2 from 73 starts.
Woodbine Entertainment will recognize Emoticon Hanover following Monday evening’s Preferred Trot (Race 3) with a special winner’s circle presentation.
Post time for Monday’s card is at 7:10 p.m.
To view the harness racing entries for Monday at Mohawk, click the following link: Monday Entries – Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Woodbine Entertainment)
All the best to this
All the best to this wonderful mare on her retirement.