Bulldog Hanover takes final lap around Mohawk Park

MILTON, ON – December 3, 2022 – Woodbine Entertainment and Ontario Racing said farewell to harness racing superstar Bulldog Hanover (Shadow Play) with a special retirement ceremony on Saturday night (Dec. 3) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Bulldog Hanover, the world’s fastest Standardbred at 1:45.4, was greeted by fans during a photo session prior to the races. The four-year-old stallion showed his class by posing for an hour with admiring fans.
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​Following the evening’s second-race, Bulldog Hanover and co-owner/trainer Jack Darling took to the track one last time. The duo jogged by the grandstand before making the turn for one last score down in front of the fans.
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​Bulldog Hanover returned to the winner’s circle where he was greeted by caretaker Johnny Mallia and co-owner Brad Grant, along with nearly a hundred of the connection’s family and friends.

“I’ve thought about getting prepared for tonight and it was a real tear-jerker,” said Darling in the winner’s circle. “Never knew how special he was until probably the Super Final as a two-year-old, I knew he had stepped up a big notch.”

“You can be standing in a lineup at Tim Horton’s and somebody around here would be talking about him,” said Grant. “I think every race with this guy was special because you didn’t know what you were going to get.”

Mallia, who spent more hours than anyone with Bulldog, noted the experience with the star pacer was life changing.

“It’s been a lot of fun and I’ll probably never forget it as long as I live,” said Mallia. “He’s class total class. He’ll basically do whatever you want, he’s just unbelievable.”
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​Bulldog Hanover received a special blanket, while the connection’s each received a framed photo of the superstar pacer.

​Bulldog Hanover now heads to stand stud full-time at Seelster Farms.

by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Communications