Hanover, painting by Zellinsky
NMR Collection

Hanover was bred at Runnymede Farm and then sold to Phil and Mike Dwyer for $1,350. The Dwyer brothers new chestnut colt had been sired by Hindoo out of the mare Bourbon Belle, by Bonnie Scotland. He was trained by Frank McCabe.

In his first two years of racing Hanover won 17 races in a row, at varied distances, against his peers and older horses. During a 17 day period at 2, Hanover won the Hopeful, July, and Sapling Stakes. He was then put away to rest while his stablemate Tremont won the remaining major races of the season. Hanover's period of rest had its benefits. When he came back at 3, he won the Withers Mile, and then won the Belmont and the Brooklyn Derby, both by 15 lengths. Four days after the Brooklyn, he won the Swift by 10 lengths; three days later he won the Tidal by 6, and two days later the Coney Island Derby by 10. Hanover won 5 out of 6 stakes in July but was worn out from the effort.

Hanover was a first class horse, but his grueling schedule weakened him. He raced on but never regained his earlier form, although he did retire as America's greatest money winner for that time.

Hanover spent several successful years at stud and topped the sire list four consecutive years before his early death. His best progeny included Hamburg, David Garrick, Halma, Handspring, Half Time, and Yankee.

Hanover was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1955.

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