The royally-bred colt was not a traditional early talent like many top US trotters. Only at 4 was Peter the Brewer ready to compete at a high level, but then he became an elite trotter in no time and was seen as a likely candidate to be one of the first 2:00 trotters.
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He is a Hall of Fame sire and one of the initial stallions at Hanover Shoe Farms, who owned 31 broodmares by him upon his death. Though largely forgotten now, Dillon Axworthy was one of the best young trotters of his day – even as a yearling he showed a lot of speed – even though his manners were far from perfect. At stud he was even better and became a massively important stallion.
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The first dam of three 2:05 trotters, her mating was the result of chance. Even though Nervolo Belle was never even trained, she went on to achieve fame as a broodmare and also produced one of harness racing’s biggest names in Peter Volo.
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His whole life is spectacular. He was the best trotter in his generation, even though his trainer was skeptical and at 2 felt the horse should be gelded and turned out. His stallion performance was equally fantastic and the events surrounding his death has become the stuff of legends.
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J Malcolm Forbes was one of the biggest owners and breeders of standardbreds from 1890 until his death in 1904. Forbes shelled out massive amounts for several horses including Nancy Hanks and Arion. The millionaire believed the best of all the horses he owned, though, was a lesser known horse called Vice Commodore. A horse who left a lasting legacy through two daughters, but whose death wasn’t even noticed when it happened.
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When Harrison Hoyt, more popularly known as “the Hat Man” in reference to his hat company, bought Demon Hanover for $2,600 at the Harrisburg auction in 1946 he couldn’t possibly know what a bargain he had on his hands. Even though Hoyt had promised his wife he wouldn’t spend more than $2,500, the extra 100 bucks was truly worth it. The Hoyts took Demon Hanover back to Bethel, CT where he would double as the family pet as he grew into one of the best trotter in the nation.
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He turned out to be one of the most important stallions in standardbred history, but it could have been very different. The colt was a challenge for his trainer and only made two starts in his first two seasons. In the end he only lasted five more races before a disappointed owner sold him to a buyer whose partner really didn’t want the horse at all. But Peter the Great persevered and became a true legend and foundation stallion of the standardbreds.
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He had been a really good trotter in Europe and moved with his trainer to the US. At first some questioned if an 8-year-old European trotter they barely had heard of could compete with the best North Americans. But, as the trotting world quickly realized, the question was rather how the best North Americans could compete with the European speed demon. As it turned out, when Sebastian K was at his best, they simply didn’t stand a chance.
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It’s a story full improbable twists, cruel treatment and bizarre facts. What ended up as Hambletonian’s possibly greatest son at stud was in fact an alcoholic and named for the shadiest of writers who “reviewed” brothels in the name of journalism… It is said that cream always rises to the top. George Wilkes, the stallion who changed how trotters moved their hind legs and the paternal great-grandsire of Axworthy, started at the bottom but rose to the top.
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She was the undisputed queen, not only of France but the whole world trotting. In fact, she was so superior that she was excluded from the betting in her 1967 Elitlopp elimination! Roquepine won races all over the world, at every track, distance and position. To top it off, she then gave birth to possibly the most influential stallion in French trotting history, Florestan.
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