Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Jurgy Hanover [1:56.3, $378,130], 32, died on May 17 from the effects of old age at Bonley Farm in Sunfield, Michigan, where had been in stud service for more than two decades. He was buried in his paddock, reports Karen Greengard, proprietor of Bonley Farm

Jurgy Hanover’s sons and daughters were dominant factors in Michigan stakes for many years. The son of Super Bowl sired Turnpike Token 9, 1:53.2s, a winner of $1,164,278 in his long career. Jurgy also sired such noted trotters as P V Butch, Condor Kosmos, and the mares Free Token, Valedictorian Gal, and Lori Louise [1:54.4, $321,896]. He is the sire of 790 foals with total earnings of more than $12 million. He was retired from breeding service after the 2004 season.

Jurgy Hanover proved to be a successful broodmare sire and one of his daughters produced the Breeders Crown winner Delphi’s Lobell. Other top trotters out of Jurgy Hanover mares were Financial Paige, King Of Trot, Warrawee Kirra, and Bewitching Karen. The trotting sire Keystone Nordic, who also stands at Bonley Farm, has 22 foals out of Jurgy Hanover, with average earnings of $45,714.

“As with other sons of Super Bowl, he had a naughty streak,” recalled Greengard. “I heard from many people that his babies just didn’t like to have one ear touched or brushed, so I thought I’d go home and try it with him. Sure enough if you’d just brush up against it, he did not like that.

Jurgy Hanover was a foal of 1974 and one of the first horses who could claim a sire that was a world champion and a dam [Jess R. Hoot, daughter of Hoot Mon, herself a champion older trotting mare].

“You’d go through your share of naughtiness with his two and three-year olds but if you could get past that, they were sturdy horses,” noted Greengard. “He was good to me as a broodmare sire.” He was also a personable horse, she recalled. “When you’d come in the barn he’d talk to you and he was happy to see people, happy to get his feed.”

On the track, Jurgy Hanover enjoyed his best season as a 4-year-old in 1979, winning half of his 22 starts and earning $234,539. His mark of 1:56.3 was taken at the Meadowlands.