The American Hero in Moscow
by Lisa Harkema
He was the tiny American with a heart of gold who became a star in the Soviet Union. The pioneering trio of Apex Hanover, Bill Fleming and Rowland Wade took on the Soviet stars at their home in Moscow in the 60s. After overcoming unfair tactics by the Soviet drivers, the US trio won the hearts and minds of the home crowd. Although little Apex Hanover (150 cms/14,3 hands) won the Arden Downs and George Wilkes Stakes as a 2-year-old in 1961, there was very little to indicate that this $18,000 yearling purchase would later enter the world stage.
Trained by Del Miller and usually driven by Miller’s chief assistant Jimmy Arthur, he was one of the better in his crop. He set a track record at Arden, when winning the Arden Downs, in 2:06 (1.18,3) as a 2-year-old, but was still a bit behind the best in the crop – like Impish, who had set a 1:58.3 (1.13,7) world record as a 2-year-old. Apex did not have a great 3-year-old season and after he finished last in the 9-horse Historic Dickerson Trot on July 3 at Goshen, it was obvious Apex would not be a factor in the bigger races later that year. What held him back, though, was problems with his hind legs, a problem which led to him not even starting in the Hambletonian or Kentucky Futurity.
Moved to Bill Fleming’s stable, Apex improved steadily as a 4-year-old, winning several conditioning and free-for-allers and when meeting the best aged trotters he held his own nicely. In the Harness Tracks of America Trot (HTA Trot) at Northville Downs he finished third behind AC’s Viking and Tercel but ahead of such a good trotter as Sprite Rodney. In the next leg of the HTA Trot at Scioto Downs he finished second to Pro Hanover but ahead of previous year’s Hambletonian winner AC’s Viking. Toward the end of the year, in November 1963, Roy Cleveland disposed of his stock at the Harrisburg auction. According to a note in the Evening Standard on Nov 6, “the top price of $22,000 was paid for Apex Hanover by Tom Gillen, Carbondale, PA”. But for whatever reason the sale never went through, and the tiny son of Star’s Pride remained in Roy Cleveland’s hands.