The heart warming story of the broodmare Emprize Hanover, who adopted an orphan colt and raised it along with her own filly in the spring of 2016, was one of the most read and watched ever in harness racing history.
Now, more than three years later, the story continues. Not only are the pair racing at the same track on the same night, they’re in the same race for the second week in a row.
Fleetwood, the colt (now gelding) whose mother, Noble Flirt, passed away immediately after his birth, has post seven in the first race on the card. Chris Christoforou Sr., who bred both trotters, still owns Fleetwood and also trains. His son, Chris, will handle the driving duties as usual.
Peristera, Emprize Hanover’s filly by E L Titan, will leave from post nine with Jody Jamieson at the controls for trainer Jared Bothwell who co-owns with Stephen Durand. Last week the pair finished close together in fourth (Fleetwood) and fifth.
Joanne Colville, the administrator and events co-ordinator at the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society and WEG’s outrider, has a special bond with the pair as they were foaled at her High Stakes Farm. It was Joanne’s daughter Emma who had the idea of putting the orphan in the stall with Emprize and her foal.
It was Emprize Hanover’s acceptance of the colt as her own, and raising and nursing him along with her filly, that led to such an outpouring of compassion. The trio were featured in a video which ran on TSN during the 2016 North America Cup and may be viewed through this link:
FEATURE | Emprize Hanover
Victoria Howard, a noted author, was one of many in the industry captivated by the story, which led to her writing a story entitled Junior and Elena, A (Horse) Love Story. Junior and Elena were the stable names given to the pair shortly after birth.
Volunteers from OSAS will be at Mohawk on Thursday evening selling copies of the book which would make a wonderful stocking stuffer this Christmas. Anyone wishing to purchase a copy but can’t make it to the track, simply email Joanne at osasadmin@bellnet.ca.