Bulldog Hanover first harness racing horse to go under 1:46

Article content

It was only a matter of time until Bulldog Hanover would break harness racing’s 1:46 barrier. That time came on Saturday night.

The four-year-old Ontario-sired son of Shadow Play posted the fastest time ever in the sport, winning the William Haughton Memorial at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. in 1:45 4/5 after sizzling through the stretch in 25 1/5 seconds with a shocked Dexter Dunn driving.

“I wasn’t really fighting the timer; I was fighting off (Rockyroad Hanover) in the stretch there,” Dunn told the U.S. Trotting Association. “Then the time popped up. He’s just an amazing animal. It’s just a pleasure to sit behind him.”

Bulldog Hanover, owned by veteran horsemen Jack Darling of Cambridge and Brad Grant of Milton, culminated a sensational four weeks at the Meadowlands. Two weeks ago, he tied Always B Miki and Lather Up with a 1:46 clocking. Last week, he produced another scorching mile in 1:46 1/5. Noel Daley handled the training duties while he was in New Jersey.

“I honestly had a tear in my eye as they crossed the line,” Darling told Ontario Racing. “Just watching him is incredible.”

“I have had some great horses, but to get a horse like this is incredible.”

The horse returns home to Ontario for a quick break. Local fans should get a look at him in the Canadian Pacing Derby at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Sept. 3 after he goes to Indiana for the Dan Patch on Aug. 12.

UNLIKE FATHER

Somebeachsomewhere only lost once in 21 starts, the 2008 Meadowlands Pace. On Saturday, one of his final sons got that job done.

Beach Glass captured this year’s $600,000 Pace in 1:47 2/5 after a tough trip which saw him go wide into the first turn. He got the lead by the half but had to dispose of one more serious challenger before powering away to a 1 3/4-length win with Yannick Gingras driving.

Beach Glass was among more than 20 horses produced by frozen semen left behind after Somebeachsomewhere’s death in 2018. He was the only one retained by trainer Brent MacGrath and the Schooner Stable of Truro, N.S., the group that campaigned Somebeachsomewhere.

“It’s a huge win,” MacGrath told the Meadowlands. “We had some bad luck in 2008. That’s racing.”

“This horse is just finding his stride and Yannick was talking about how strong he was in the homestretch. We should have a good remainder of the season if he just keeps doing what he’s been doing.”

Beach Glass finished second in the North America Cup last month.