volga e
Volga E., by Peter The Great out of Nervolo Belle by Nervolo, was a full sister to Peter Volo 4,2:02, winner of the 1914 Kentucky Futurity. Bred by Joseph Knight and W. E. D. Stokes, she was purchased,as a yearling by Frank Ellis of Philadelphia. The capital E. (for "Ellis") was added to her name for registration purposes to distinguish her from a previous Volga, a daughter of Smuggler, foaled circa 1883.
Volga E. was an extraordinary filly. She marched through the Grand Circuit as a two- and three-year-old, never losing a race while beating the best trotting colts in America. She started in 17 heats during her career and won 17 times.
As a three-year-old, Volga E.'s major test came in the 1916 Kentucky Futurity, winning all three heats easily for driver Ben White. In the final heat, she trotted in 2:04fi, dropping a full second and making her the fastest three-year old trotting filly in the sport. She earned $25,645, a large sum in the years just prior to America's entry in World War I. A bad step, while training for her four-year-old season, ended her racing career.
The influence of Volga E. as a broodmare has been felt in the sport since her retirement and continues almost 90 years after her birth. Her descendants have earned over $313 million. They include the longtime trotting queen Rosalind, the first trotting Triple Crown winner Scott Frost, and the Kentucky Futurity winner Flak Bait. Other trotting stars included the noted sire Worthy Boy, Huggie Hanover, Supergrit, Fern, TV Yankee, Honeysuckle Rose and Emotional Rescue.
Volga E.'s influence on the pacing side extends to a trio of Little Brown Jug winners: Lehigh Hanover, Vicar Hanover and Laverne Hanover. Her direct descendants also include Pacific Rocket, Ohyouprettything, The Big Dog, Nero's BB, Timely Beauty, Happy Blue Chip, Beastmaster, Quilla Hanover and Towner's Big Guy.
Volga E. died on February 10, 1940 at Hanover Shoe Farms in Pennsylvania.
Hanover Shoe Farms, Hanover, PA
Published in the Harness Racing Museum's 2003 Souvenir Journal