Get Over Lil, a hard-knocking pacing mare who made her mark during Yonkers Raceway’s pre-gaming era, passed away at the age of 20 on Thursday, December 12, 2019.
The daughter of Walton Hanover was a $12,000 Standardbred Horse Sale purchase, selected by her trainer, Harold ‘Sonny’ Dancer Jr. Get Over Lil was co-owned by Linda Condon (Dancer’s daughter) and Lawrence Kovacs.
That $12,000 purchase became a career (2001-2006) winner of $326,084, with a single-season high of $104,388 in 2003.
In her prime, Get Over Lil was among the best Open Handicap mares in Westchester. She made 42 starts in the 2003 season, with 10 (Yonkers) wins, 14 seconds and four thirds.
“She was fit for a small track and she just loved Yonkers,” Condon said. “Every time we put her in the (entry) box, I told dad the mailman was coming because I knew we’d get a cheque.”
Her six-figure season came when the purses for the high-end mares were about a third of what they are today.
Get Over Lil took a lifetime-best 1:55.1 (at 19-1) in one of those distaff features, doing it in what was her way.
The mare was the anti-half-mile track horse, offering no early speed before winding up from the back and charging through the lane.
“The announcer (John Hernan) would say, ‘Here’s Get Over Lil from out of the clouds,’ and that’s just how she raced,” Condon said.
Jay Randall drove Get Over Lil for the bulk of her success.
“Jay was always very patient,” Condon said. “He knew who she was and that he had to let her do her thing.”
Which she did often.
Get Over Lil, who first made a name for her in the Maryland Sire Stakes program, was apparently bred for the smaller ovals. Her second dam, Sandra Lil (career earnings $438,021), was a Yonkers-Roosevelt standout in her day and was the Older Pacing Mare of the Year in 1975.
After a Yonkers’ winner’s circle ceremony— Get Over Lil was a mom of five, with Hillbilly Kid (10 wins and $72,123 in earnings) having the best career.
“She was our pet,” Condon said of the mare. “I had offers to sell her when she was winning all those races, but there was no chance.”
Get Over Lil enjoyed her retirement at the small family farm in Freehold, NJ.
“She ran things, at least as far as we were concerned,” Condon said.
Her final days were made much more comfortable by Dr. Stephen Bokman and Ron Burke’s staff, according to Condon.
“I can’t express what those people did for ‘Lil,’” Condon said. “They and George Green were very supportive and I’m very grateful.”
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Get Over Lil.
(Yonkers Raceway, on behalf of Linda Condon)