by Bob Heyden

Now that she is the Horse of the Year for 2017, it’s time to look at the amazing comparison between Hannelore Hanover and Moni Maker at similar stages of their careers.

Moni Maker (1996-1999):

At 2: 14 6-1-2 $72,610
At 3: 20 19-1-0 $675,574
At 4: 19 9-5-3 $912,999
At 5: 17 12-3-2 $1,229,838

Hannelore Hanover:

At 2: 2 1-0-0 $10,000
At 3: 19 8-8-2 $295,574
At 4: 29 17-2-0 $1,119,111
At 5: 17 10 wins good for $1,049,129

Their combined earnings at ages 4-5 is incredibly close:

Moni Maker — $2,172,827

Hannelore Hanover — $2,168,240

That’s a difference of $4,587

Through the completion of 58 lifetime starts, Moni Maker had average earnings per start of $41,729. Hannelore Hanover is at $42,652.

Both were named HOY for the first time at age 5.

Both defeated the best males of their generation.

Both won the Breeders Crown at age 5.

Through the completion of their 5 YO seasons, both hit the board 17 times lifetime not counting their wins:

Moni Maker 70 46-10-7

Hannelore 58 36-15-2

Both were by a sire that made it to Stan Bergstein’s Experimental Ratings:

1971 — Speedy Crown #24 for Howard Beissinger

2009 — Swan for All #4 on the Ratings List behind Muscle Hill, Explosive Matter and Federal Flex.

Hannelore combined with Foiled Again for $10,044,692, the highest total ever for two stablemates in one year.

Moni Maker was a stablemate of Malabar Man in 1997— two “Horses Of The Year” in the same barn and the only time that a trainer has won three straight HOY titles with two different horses (Jimmy Takter (1997-1998-1999)).

Takter trained Moni Maker and Ron Burke trains Hannelore Hanover, the #1 and #2 money-winning trainers of all time.

The two fastest female trotting miles of 1998 belonged to 5YO Moni Maker —1:52.3, 1:52.4

The fastest female trotting mile of all time belongs to Hannelore Hanover at 1:49.2 — and she defeated a pair of Hambletonian winners in the process — Marion Marauder and Pinkman.

In winning the HOY at age 5, both Moni Maker and Hannelore Hanover were second in earnings behind a 3YO star:

1998 — Muscles Yankee $1,258,611 / Moni Maker $1,229,828

2017 — Ariana G $1,123,690 / Hannelore Hanover $1,049,129

Moni Maker is the last standardbred to repeat as HOY. Hannelore Hanover will try and duplicate that in 2018.

Moni Maker is the last HOY to take a single step overseas — to the tune of racing in seven different countries.

Hannelore Hanover’s connections are considering an overseas try for her in 2018.

Moni Maker is the only female trotter with three straight $1 million seasons — 1998-1999-2000

Hannelore Hanover in 2018 will try and become just the second female trotter with three straight $1 million seasons.

Finally… Seven HOYs in the sport’s history have had seven losses that year. Hannelore and Moni Maker are on this list.

1958 Emilys Pride 16-for-23
1959 Bye Bye Byrd 13-for-20
1973 Sir Dalrae 20-for-27
1989 Matts Scooter 23-for-30
1998 Moni Maker 14-for-21
2006 Glidemaster 8-for-15
2017 Hannelore Hanover 10-for-17