The fourth in a series of articles reviewing the top ten of North American maternal families. Family numbers are as shown on the Classic Families (CF) database. Due to the extensive size of these families, only brief mention can be made of some of the more prominent family members and/or items likely to be of interest to Australasian readers.
U7 Miss Duvall (Romola)
Family matriarch Miss Duvall founded a predominantly pacing bred family, one of the largest that has really come into its own in the modern era. Miss Duvall was a 16 hand black mare combining thoroughbred pacing blood with that of Mambrino Chief. Her daughter Grizette had no Hambletonian 10 blood while her only great granddaughter Klata Thorne had five strains of Hambletonian 10. Klata Thorne’s two daughters (Klata Dodge/May Dodge) were the start of many successful descendant’s for the Miss Duvall family.
Klata Dodge left millionaire and Triple Crown (Cane, Messenger, Jug) winner
Rum Customer for owners Lloyd Lloyds [Kennilworth Farm], Louis/Connie Mancuso and trainer/driver William (Billy) Haughton. In NZ, Rum Brydon was his only foal of note. Airliner was sire of Armbro Omaha and dam sire NZ based sires Andrel, Present Laughter, Paulsboro. Standing in Australasia were Road Machine and Big Jim ($1.5m) tracing back to Klata Dodge.
The May Dodge branch from Klata Thorne has proven the more productive with two of her daughters particularly prominent –
Nora Adele, like full sister Romola was by Peter The Great stallion The Senator, both six generations removed from Miss Duvall. This branch was developed by William R, Shehan and continued on by Kentuckiana and Brittany Farms among others. Among descendants tracing to Nora Adele are :
- millionaires Quality Western/Tucson Hanover
- Western Ideal (10 1:50 wins, 1:48.0, $1.45m, multiple Group 1’s, sire of American Ideal [sire of American Jewel, Hes Watching, Heston Blue Chip; in Australasia Bling It On, Besotted, Ideal Scott, My Hard Copy, The Orange Agent], Always A Virgin, Rocknroll Hanover, Vintage Master, Western Ace; dam sire of McWicked, See You At Peelers)
- Hes Watching (millionaire, Meadowlands Pace, world all age joint record holder at 1:46.4US with Somebeachsomewhere, Holborn Hanover and Warrawee Needy)
and mares :
1. world champion Fan Hanover (Little Brown Jug, dam of Stature sire of Smooth Satin – $1.4m, Ben Hur, Chariots of Fire, Miracle Mile, ID Pacing Final)
2. Eternal Camnation ($3.7m, 1:49.2US, won 47 of 101 races over six seasons including Jugette, Breeders Crowns)
3. Naughty But Nice (millionaire, Jugette, Breeders Crown – 3f)
4. Leah Almahurst ((millionaire, Jugette, Breeders Crown – 2f, dam of Western Ideal, Make A Deal)
5. Remember When (3 Group I’s); Camille (1:48.3f); American Jewel ($1.8m, p3, 1:48,2 Breeders Crown)
and the incomparable world champion Three Diamonds (1:53.1, Jugette, dam of among others Life Sign [$1.9m, Little Brown Jug, Breeders Crown, leading sire of pacers worldwide, stood at stud in USA, Australia and NZ – sire of I Am A Fool; Island Fantasy; Peruvian Hanover; Real Desire $3.1m, 1:48.2, 11 wins in 1:50 incl Meadowlands Pace, sire of Tell All [Little Brown Jug]/dam sire of Hes Watching] and Threefold (dam sire of Boulder Creek $3.4m, 1:48.1, 14 wins in 1:50, multiple Aged Group I winner). Three Diamonds is third dam of Eternal Camnation (see above), fourth dam of millionaire Luck Be With You (1:48.0, Breeders Crown).
Sires to have stood in Australia tracing from Nora Adele include Neutrality, DM Dilinger (dam sire of Restrepo), Mr Feelgood ($3.3m, Little Brown Jug, Hunter/Victoria/Cranbourne Cups, ID Pacing Final, QLD Pacing C/S twice), Legacy Of Power (Adios, sire of Has The Answers $1.3m, Aust Pacing C/S) and in New Zealand Farm Timer (sire of Blossom Lady $1.3m, NZFFA, Breeders Stakes (3), NZ/Easter/Hunter (2) Cups and dam sire of Meriani – Dominion Hcp, Rowe Cup; Mister DG Hunter Cup), Make a Deal, Valerian, Saigon.
Romola, a product of Hanover Shoe Farms is foundress of some of the best pacing stock produced over past eighty years. Her daughter Willola leads to Silent Majority, winner 36 of 47 races including Messenger, sire of the great Abercrombie and dam sire of Shes A Great Lady. Equal fastest ever 2yo pacer Downbytheseaside (p2 1:49.0mUS, 1:50.0hUS, $2m+, Messenger) traces back to Willola. Sires to have stood in Australia from Willola branch include Sportswriter ($1.5m, 1:48.3US, NA Cup), Whats Next (sire of Golden Reign, Mon Poppy Day; dam sire of Bettor Cover Lover, Mother Courage) and Rockne Lobell in NZ.
It is another daughter Romola Hal that has had the greatest impact. Aside from Mattgilla Gorilla (Cane Pace), mares of significance tracing to Romola Hal include – Bunny Lake ($2,8m, multiple filly/mare group winner), See You At Peelers ($1.5m, multiple Group 1’s), Feeling You (millionaire), Fancy Filly (millionaire, multiple Group 1’s).
Sires to have stood in Australasia from Romola Hal branch include Nuke of Earl (Australia only : sire of Sheza Mona), Chairman Of The Board (Cane Pace, $1.3m), Sands A Flyin (sire of dual NZ Cup/NZFFA winner Monkey King $3.3m 1:50.8; Sly Flyin; Sparks A Flyin).
Romola Hals most impressive daughter and granddaughter of Romola is Romola Hanover, a modern foundation mare. She had four successful full sisters, they all being by Tar Heel, leading broodmare sire from mid-1960’s until late 1970’s. Foaled in 1957 Romola Hanover produced thirteen Classic Progeny, nine in two minutes with six Classic Winners (Irish Jimmy, Nevele Romeo [founding sire of Nevele R Stud], Romalie Hanover, Romeo Hanover, Romulus Hanover, Rorty Hanover). She had four who earned more than two hundred thousand in stakes. Many were by Dancer Hanover with the most significant being full brothers Romeo Hanover, owned by Morton Finder and Lucky Star Stable (won 36 of 44 races [18 of 19 at three], Triple Crown – Cane, Jug, Messenger [3rd colt after Adios Butler and Bret Hanover], Pacer of Year at 2/3/4, sire of Glenfield Girl – Aust Trotting C/S, Dullard Cup) and Romulus Hanover (Adios, Messenger, Three Year Old Pacer of Year) and their full sister Romalie Hanover (won 49 of 79 races, Jugette, Filly Pacer of Year 2/3, 4th dam of millionaire Noble Falcon, winner of 55 of 277 races, 7 in 1:50).
Daughters of Romola Hanover have bred on leaving many Classic Progeny for Miss Duvall family including Worldly Beauty ($1.9m, multiple Group 1’s), Real Artist (Woodrow Wilson, successful sire) Captaintreacherous ($3m, 1:47.1, Meadowlands/Cane Pace, NA Cup, Woodrow Wilson). In earlier years, sons of Romola Hanover in Nevele Romeo and Nevele Bigshot stood at stud in NZ while latterly Panspacificflight in NZ (Ardens Choice), Perfect Art in Australia (Slipnslide) and significantly throughout Australasia internationally proven shuttle sire Art Major (Romola Hanover 4th dam, richest son of Artsplace, $2.7m, 1:48.4, 9 Group 1’s, sire of seven 1:48 pacers, Australasian successes Avonnova, For A Reason, Fight For Glory, Lady Euthenia, Louvre, Field Marshal, Sky Major, Sushi Sushi, Vincent).
The Miss Duvall family leads with six 1:50 2yo pacers and is second equal with Minnehana to Medio (15( on the 1:48 pacing list. Her fastest is Hes Watching (1:46.4US) among eleven family pacers to have won in 1:48 or better (Captaintreacherous, Art Professor, American Ideal, Western Ideal, Always At My Place, Dancin Yankee, Luck Be With You, Quik Pulse Mindale, Abelard Hanover, Allstar Legend). There are no family members in the 1:51 or 1:53 trotters lists.
Miss Duvall is second leading producer of millionaire pacers with 35 just behind Minnehaha (36) and slightly ahead of Medio (33). Her wealthiest are Eternal Camnation ($3.7m), Mr Feelgood ($3.3m), Captaintreacherous ($3m), Bunny Lake ($2,8m) and Art Major ($2.7m).
Miss Duvall is the most successful family with 21 legs of Triple Crown events including two Triple Crown winners (Romeo Hanover/Rum Customer).
Her leading performers with Classic Race wins are Romeo Hanover with twenty three, Eternal Camnation twenty two, Rum Customer twenty, Captaintreacherous sixteen, Life Sign fourteen, Bunny Lake/Art Major thirteen. Mr Feelgood with a number of Queensland FFA victories to go with North American and other Australian group wins has 28 victories recorded in Classic Families.
U8 Lizzie Weatherspoon (Isotta)
Lizzie Witherspoon (1865) comes from a thoroughbred background leaving one daughter Betty Mac by leading sire of 1895 in Red Wilkes (118 trotters and 43 pacers on Standard performers list). Her great granddaughter Beautiful Chimes continued the line forward. She had the Hambletonian-Mambrino King cross with an infusion of Chimes and Beautiful Bells, who was the most successful speed producing dam of the nineteenth century (from 16 offspring, 10 trotted in T2:26¼ or better, fastest filly Belleflower T2:12¾).
This family was founded at Hanover Shoe Farms and has been contributed to by leading breeders including Walnut Hall Farm, Castleton Farm, Lana Lobell Farm, Almahurst Farm, Armstrong Brothers.
Early success came with The American Belle winning the 1897 Kentucky Futurity. Her Peter The Great granddaughter Isotta (grandson leading NZ based sire Wrack – Indianapolis, Wrackler), six generations removed from Lizzie Weatherspoon, founded a very successful branch. Isotta had twelve Classic Progeny; Zombro Hanover being leading pacing stake earner of 1932; Harrison Dillon won two G1 Denmark Mesterkabs in Denmark late 1920’s; her eight daughters and close to thirty granddaughters created many enduring branches of the family.
Her most prominent daughters with descendants include :
Irene Hanover, the stallion branch of the family as seen by her Volomite son Sampson Hanover, equalled Race Time’s 1:57.4 fastest race mile in 1952, won 22 consecutive races and continued productive siring line leading to Sampson Direct, Direct Scooter, In The Pocket and his Australasian offshoots, Matts Scooter, Mach Three, Somebeachsomewhere; Falcon Almahurst (Meadowlands Pace, sire of BJ Scoot – Little Brown Jug); Kimberley Kid (Kentucky Futurity – 3T, dam sire of Delmonica Hanover – winner of 48 of 112 races in NA and Prix d’Amerique, dam of Delmegan/Park Avenue Joe [Hambletonian], grand dam of Armbro Invasion); General Star (Tattersalls Pace, dam sire of millionaire Till We Meet Again); Hazel Hanover, dam of siring full brothers in NZ Holmes Hanover (leading sire/BM sire) and Michael Jonathan; other NZ/Australian sires from Irene Hanover branch include Cadillac and Southland based Admiral Halsey (sire/dam sire respectively of WA Pacing Cup winners Admirals Avenue and Hokonui Ben). Millionaire trotters Ramas Pleasure, Lavec Dream and millionaire pacer Rattle and Rock trace to Irene Hanover.
Isabel Hanover’s earliest claim to fame came with daughter Duchess Hanover whose descendants include grandson Duke Rodney (Kentucky Futurity, Yonkers Trot, dam sire of Grades Singing [$2.6m, multiple Group 1’s NA/Europe including three USA Breeders Crown – OMT and Joie De Vie, Yonkers Trot, dam sire of Passionate Glide) and more recently Kramer Boy (T1:52.4, multiple Group winner NA/Europe); Habitat (millionaire, Yonkers Trot) and Timone EK (millionaire, multiple Italain Group winner).
Her daughter Ilo Hanover produced multiple group race winner/producer Impish (The Intruder) and her two full sisters Important (dam of sire Noble Gesture who left Yonkers Trot winner and sire Mystic Park/sire of Mack Lobell, Park Avenue Kathy and dam sire of Passionate Kemp, Self Possessed [Kentucky Futurity, Hambletonian], sire of Cantab Hall, Great Success, Snow White, dam sire of Magic Tonight – Elitloppet; leading Canadian sire Balanced Image, 241 $100k winners, progeny earnings exceeding $93m) and Impudent (dam of I’m Impeccable). Impish’s Florican daughter Canny Imp leads to millionaires Dejarmbro (T1:52.2), Manofmanymissions (T1:52.1, Kentucky Futurity), Valley Victory’s son Bullville Victory (millionaire, Kentucky Futurity, Yonkers Trot, World Trotting Derby), Armbro Fling, Armbro Barrister while stallions standing in NZ include Monarchy (Sovereignty, Sheemon, Royal Aspirations, Stylish Monarch) and The Pres. Impish and Sprite Rodney took a team record 1:59 4/5TT in 1962.
In NZ, Diedre Hanover provides a direct link back to Isabel Hanover with her progeny including 2yo Trotter of Year/sire Thanksgving, Diedres Girl (dam of Conon Bridge, Breeders Crown – 2T), Hurricane Flyer (GN Trotting Derby), Roydon Diedre – dam of Bright Diedre (dam of Sunny Ruby, NZ’s fastest trotter T1:54.7, Jewels – 3fT, Dullard Cup, Knight Pistol), Roydon Whiz (4yo Trotting Mare of Year), Diedres Pride (winner of $230k; dam of Diedre Don [NZSS – 2/4T], Diedres Flash, grand dam of Monbet (T2, 1:56.6, Jewels – 2T, NZ Trotting FFA twice, National Trot, Australasian/NZ Trotting Championships, Anzac/Rowe Cups, Dominion Hcp, Harness Horse of Year).
Isonta is sixth dam of $4m gelding Gallo Blue Chip (1:48.4US, Meadowlands Pace, Breeders Crown among numerous Group 1 successes), other descendants include Timesareachanging (1:48.4US, $1.5m, Cane/Adios Paces/Little Brown Jug); Deakt A Winner (1:47.3US, Cane Pace); Carlisle (T1:57.0, $½m, dam sire of Baltic Speed who sired $4m earner Peace Corps); Bank Note (leading Australian trotting sire in 1970’s); Sharp Note (Kentucky Futurity, Hambletonian) and minor sire JJs Cornell.
Faith Hanover is the fourth dam of Nero (Adios/Cane Paces; sire of millionaire, multiple Group 1 winner Runnymede Lobell; Andrel, winner of Adios, sire of Late Bid). Descendants include Seahawk Hanover (Messenger) and NZ based family tracing to Faith Hanover through Sheba Hanover include Shebatross, dam of Sokys Legend/grand dam of Bit of A Legend (millionaire, 1:50.3US, AUS Breeders Crown 2c/3c, George Morton Levy final)/London Legend); Smooth Ice, dam NZ Oaks winner Classy Filly (dam of Classic Flyer/Classic Line) and Glacier Bay.
Melba Hanover third dam of Nevele Pride (first trotter under 1:55, T1:54.4), Harness Horse of the Year at two, three and four, won Triple Crown among 57 victories (21 from 24 at three) and set three world records before siring Bonefish (Hambletonian), Madison Avenue, Meadow Roland, Nevele Impluse (Yonkers Trot), Pershing (Elitloppet); dam sire of French Chef (sire of Beach Towel), Duenna (Hambletonian), Park Avenue Kathy, Royal Prestige (sire of Pride of Petite).
Easter Hanover is grand dam of Painter, dam sire of Shadow Star, sire of Jodies Babe (ID Grand Final, Ladyship Mile twice).
Lizzie Witherspoon family includes two 1:51 trotters with the fastest being 2017 Centaur Trotting Classic winner, Homicide Hunter (T1:50.1). The family has just two pacers in the 1:48 list – geldings Dealt A Winner/ Fireyourguns, both 1:47.3.
The family is fifth on Millionaire trotters list with eighteen credits with wealthiest American performer being Crowns Invitation ($1.8m) with Scarley Knight (17.8SK) and Kramer Boy having won 14.4mSK. There are six pacing millionaires, led by Gallio Blue Chip’s $4.26m which is the second highest American pacing earner behind Foiled Again’s extraordinary $7m+.
Lizzie Witherspoon has a single Triple Crown (Yonkers Trot, Hambletonian, Kentucky Futurity) victor in trotter Nevele Pride. He had thirty seven Classic Race wins, Gallo Blue Chip seventeen, Kramer Boy/Kimberly Kid fifteen.
Next Edition : Midnight (Emily Ellen)
Peter Craig
28 February 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
