July 2020 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN July 2020 Page 13 By Lois Szymanski With 886 horses on 3,000 acres, including 400 broodmares, 110 retired horses, 12 studs and a yearling population, Hanover Shoe Farms in Hanover, Penn- sylvania has wrangled with a lot this year. Through it all, this family farm has consistently put their staff and horses first. From the Covid outbreak to scandals in racing, the largest breeding Standardbred farm in the world leads the way by example and deed. “The first thing we did [when the pandemic began] was to organize a VPN (virtual private network) and security software for every office employee and send them home,” said farm owner and Chief Executive Officer, Russell Williams. “Stable workers wear masks in the barn and ride no more than two in a truck. They were given extra sick days and we started covering the co-pay for any medical problem of unknown origin. We did not want anyone to come to work sick. A $60 co-pay means a lot to some of our employees. We also gave paid leave to families with kids at home because schools were closed.” These are not the only pandemic concerns. Buyers at the November Standardbred yearling sale In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – where Hanover Shoe Farm sells their yearlings - study harness racing stats when considering a purchase, but the racetracks have been shut down. “The brothers and sisters of the horses we plan to sell in the fall would [normally] be out there racking up racing statistics,” Williams said. “But that is not happening.” The yearling sale makes up the bulk of the farm’s income, although, last year, Williams said they did sell a few broodmares with a provision that those mares could be brought back. “We never want anything to happen to our horses,” he said. “We take care of them until the day they die. Some do not work out, while others work out bigtime. It’s not their fault. It is just how it goes. We think every one of them is entitled to a good life.” Williams spoke of a recent scandal in the Thoroughbred and Standardbred world that exposed 27 trainers and a few veterinarians who were drug- ging horses. “We were reeling when we heard this news,” Williams said. “When we raise these yearlings and send them out into the world, we love them. We do not want them to meet up with mistreat- ment of any kind.” Indignation led to action with the Shoe Farms making a $250,000 challenge contribution to a grant to raise money for investigations. “This goes to investigations into wrongdoing - anything that would interfere with the welfare of the horse,” said Williams. “We are working on the legal aspects now. If information comes to light that something is going on, it can be investigated by one of a number of high power inves- tigation firms. We don’t want to see even a few horses mistreated. Drugging a horse is abuse.” In addition, Williams said The Standardbred Transition Alliance was set up by the Standardbred community this past year, to find homes for all Standardbreds who must be retired and need a home. Jim Simpson, chairman of the board of directors for Ha- nover Shoe Farms, says these are the kind of things that draw him to be a part of Hanover Shoe Farms. “We are a family farm and have been since inception,” Simpson said. “My dad was a horse trainer who went to work for Mr. Sheppard, Russell’s grandfather. I’ve always been involved with horses and was VP [of the company] for 6 years, and then president for 20 years.” The “family farm” began in the early 1900's, when a young Lawrence B. Sheppard - junior partner in the Hanover Shoe Company – replaced the mediocre stock at their Hanover Shoe Farm (Continued on page 15) Hanover Shoe Farm, the leading money winning breeder of any breeder in the world, rose to prominence in the early 1900’s when young Law- rence Sheppard replaced the farm’s mediocre stock with some of the finest racehorses of the era. His grandson, Russell Williams, is currently owner and Chief Executive Officer . Photo credit: Hanover Shoe Farm World’s Largest Standardbred Breeder, Hanover Shoe Farm Sets the Standard