The hat horse
by Lisa Harkema
When Harrison Hoyt, more popularly known as “the Hat Man” in reference to his hat company, bought Demon Hanover for $2,600 at the Harrisburg auction in 1946 he couldn’t possibly know what a bargain he had on his hands. Even though Hoyt had promised his wife he wouldn’t spend more than $2,500, the extra 100 bucks was truly worth it. The Hoyts took Demon Hanover back to Bethel, CT where he would double as the family pet as he grew into one of the best trotter in the nation.
According to Dean Hoffman in his book Quest for Excellence, “No one is sure if the colt trained Hoyt of if Hoyt trained the colt.” But as Hoffman pointed out, with the Dillon Axworthy-inbred colt’s results it really did not make much difference. The intelligent and perfectly behaved Demon Hanover took it all in his stride.
In his freshman season Demon Hanover won 12 of 14 races and he started the 3-year-old season in an equally dominant fashion by winning the Historic Dickinson Cup and the Matron Stakes. At Hanover Shoe Farms a certain Lawrence Sheppard realized that Dean Hanover’s successor had finally arrived and set his sights on getting the likely winner of that year’s Hambletonian. Dean Hanover was one of Sheppard’s all-time favorite horses and Sheppard wanted his brilliant son for a multitude of reasons. It would be great PR for Dean Hanover to produce a Hambletonian winner and Sheppard doubted that an amateur like Hoyt could beat professional drivers and trainers at the Grand Circuit. The horse’s full potential surely couldn’t be realized by an amateur trainer? Sheppard most likely also saw a spot for Demon at Hanover when he was retired to stud and did not want to jeopardize this. But most of all, Sheppard enjoyed the taste of victory and loved being in the Hambletonian winners’ circle, having bought the overwhelming favorite on several occasions when he didn’t have a likely contender himself.
A deal he could refuse
Sheppard’s only problem, really, was that Hoyt, a successful hat manufacturer, didn’t really need the money so when Sheppard waved fistfuls of dollars – and more – in front of him, he politely rejected the offer. Not used to being rejected, Sheppard even enlisted the help of top trainer Fred Egan to offer Hoyt money and training services, but what in Sheppard’s eyes was a deal that no sane man could refuse, Hoyt politely rejected on the spot.
Making a third attempt at securing Demon Hanover, Sheppard teamed up with E Roland Harriman and his Arden Homestead Stable. Sheppard finally offered Hoyt $75,000 and even though the Hat Man rejected the proposal he told the Hanover CEO that $100,000 could make him change his mind. But when Harry Whitney, acting on behalf of the duo, approached Hoyt after Demon Hanover, now nicknamed Steamin Demon (not to be confused with the pacer with that name) had won his final prep race for the Hambletonian at Saratoga, the Hat Man again turned it down.
An easy Hambletonian win
In The Hambletonian, none of Lawrence Sheppard’s fears were realized, though, as Harrison Hoyt’s jewel won both heats easily. Hoyt had closed the fact factory for the day, and most of his 85 employees were present at Goshen to support their boss. As an added incentive, Hoyt had promised dem a day’s pay if he won. In the first heat Demon Hanover went to the lead immediately and won easily in 2:03.1 (1.16,6). The same story repeated itself in the second heat, which Demon Hanover won in 2:02 (1.15,8).
Hoyt and Demon Hanover had some extra supporters present: Hoyt had closed up his hat factory in Danbury for the day, and most of the 85 employees took the hour long trip to Goshen to watch their boss and his horse start in the big race.
One story that always will be associated with the Hambo win, however, is when the Hoyt family drove back to Bethel. Stopping at a gas station the attendant noticed the horse and, not recognizing Harrison Hoyt, asked if he had been to the Hambletonian and if he knew who won? The Hat Man said “I did”, walked the attendant to the trunk, opened it and pointed to the trophy.
A fashionable win
Not long after the famous win, Hoyt used Demon Hanover’s reputation to start a fashion trend. The Hoyt Hat Company offered Demon Hanover brand hats and ties who became popular with horsemen, and today the unique hats and ties are valuable and rare collector’s items.