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Congratulations Chantilly!

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 12:38:57 GMT

Standardbred Canada announced the winners of the 2024 O’Brien Awards, honouring Canada’s best in harness racing over the past season, at the Black Tie Gala on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 in Mississauga, Ont.

The event marked the 36th edition of the O’Brien Awards, named in honour of the late Joe O’Brien, an outstanding horseman from Prince Edward Island and member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Chantilly and her connections took centre stage at the 36th O'Brien Awards, as the Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year was also named the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year. She became just the fifth two-year-old — and only the third pacing filly — to be named Canada’s Horse of the Year, joining the likes of Emilie Cas El, Whenuwishuponastar, Somebeachsomewhere and JK Shesalady.

Chantilly won the O’Brien Award as the country’s Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year. During her freshman season, she accomplished a perfect record of nine wins in nine starts for trainer Nick Gallucci. The homebred daughter of Big Jim -Shiraz Seelster recorded wins in an elimination and the final of the Shes A Great Lady Stakes and a division of the Eternal Camnation Stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park, along with six OSS victories. Chantilly dominated her competition in the OSS Super Final, winning by 6-1/2 lengths and stopping the clock in 1:50.2, equalling her lifetime mark and concluding her perfect season with $761,000 in purse earnings. Her flawless freshman campaign earned her the honours of Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year and the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year title.

Pennant Seelster, Classic Sunny Dead Heat At Buffalo

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 01:29:28 GMT

Pennant Seelster ($10.00) and Classic Sunny ($8.20) learned a lesson that sharing can be good as the pair finished in a dead heat in Buffalo Raceway's $12,329 Class B Trot on a perfect Friday afternoon (July 19).

In the other $12,329 trotting division, Ricky B Sharp ($26.60) was able to grind out a first over trip and topped a hard charging Rough Tuff Tested by a length in 2:00.

The $12,329 Class B Pace saw Born A Rebel ($3.50) run his win streak to three in a row with a coast to coast victory over Century Grizzly in 1:55.3.

In the opener, Pennant Seelster ($10.00) had a brief bobble at the start and spotted the field a few lengths before driver James McNeight Jr. got him back on task. Meanwhile, Ideal Pack and Caviars Yankee played give and go to the opening quarter marker. With splits of :30.2, 1:01.1 and 1:31.2 posted, the real race was ready to start.

With Ideal Pack (Kyle Swift) turning for home first, Caviars Yankee (Jim Morrill Jr.) attacked from the passing lane with Pennant Seelster and Classic Sunny (Kevin Cummings) both flying on the outside. It was a bang bang finish as a photo couldn't separate Pennant Seelster and Classic Sunny at the wire in a final time of 2:00.2. Ideal Pack managed to hold on for third.

Pennant Seelster (Manofmanymissions-Papi Lavec) is owned by Rose Campbell and is trained by David Weston while Classic Sunny is co-owned by Anthony Alessi and Fred Yellen with Matthew Rosiek handling the conditioning duties.

In the other trotting co-feature, the favoured BJs Smitty was able to cut the fractions with times of :29.3, :59.3 and 1:29.3. But the closers soon arrived on the scene and were able to cut into the margin.

Ricky Be Sharp (Michael Baumeister) began his first over grind heading down the backstretch the final time and was able to reach the lead midway down the lane. Rough Tuff Tested (James McNeight Jr.) cut into the advantage but ran out of real estate and finished second. BJs Smitty (Cummings) was able to collect third place honours.

Owned by Jennifer Signor and conditioned by Jacob Baumeister, the triumph was the third victory in 27 appearances for the eight-year-old Ricky Be Sharp (American Native-Cosmetize). The triumph increased his bankroll to $53,854 and $239,915 lifetime.

Born A Rebel (McNeight Jr.) was able to retake the top early after Century Grizzly roared to the lead. The heavily favoured Born A Rebel notched fractions of :28.4, :58 and 1:27.3 and was bracing for any threats that were about to come his way.

Nothing materialized as Born A Rebel was able to easily hold back Century Grizzly (Kevin Cummings) by a comfortable three quarter lengths while Bold Bet (Drew Monti) took the show position.

Owned by David Del Pozzo and trained by Christopher Petrelli, the win was the fourth victory in nine attempts on the season for the five-year-old Born A Rebel (Betterthancheddar-Outlawed Beauty). The score moved his 2024 earnings to $25,246 and $119,746 lifetime.

Live racing will conclude this weekend with a 10-race program slated for 6 p.m. on Saturday (July 20) while there are seven races set for Sunday with a special post time of noon.

Spectrum Seelster Back For More Saturday

Sat, 13 Jul 2024 01:31:26 GMT

With a season’s best performance directly behind him, Spectrum Seelster will look for more on the Saturday, July 13 program at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The Saturday card will commence at 4 p.m. with a 13-dash presentation on tap.

Spectrum Seelster is the morning line favourite from post five in the eighth race, the Kenmac Energy Pace, sporting a $3,150 purse. Leading dash-winning driver David Dowling sits behind the 32-time winner for Red Shores Charlottetown's leading trainer Jennifer Doyle and owner Danny Birt. The eight-year-old son of Mach Three has five wins so far in 2024 but none of them faster than his last race when he prevailed in 1:54.2.

Big Bad Bruiser (Corey MacPherson) has the outside post six while sporting a three-race win streak for owner-trainer Neil Bambrick of Charlottetown.

Also in the field are JK Last Chance (Kenny Arsenault), Jewels Dragon (Marc Campbell), Tradition (Adam Merner) and Pictonian I Am (Ken Murphy).

The Post Time Picks also likes Spectrum Seelster to win: “Spectrum Seelster has competed against the best in P.E.I. with successful results prior to that win at this optional $16,000 claiming level last week. He looked like a dominant winner last week so I'm putting him on top.”

Race 6 is the Brent MacDougall Memorial with Cowboy Logic (Steven Shepherd) the top choice from post two for trainer Harold Shepherd.

JK Express (Campbell) gets top billing from post two in the fifth race, the P.E.I. Pride Festival Pace, for conditioner Jared Perrot.

Stockade Seelster Returns In Mohawk Qualifiers

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 18:23:55 GMT

Two-time O'Brien Award winner Stockade Seelster returned to action on Tuesday morning, July 2 in Woodbine Mohawk Park's opening qualifying race.

The Dr. Ian Moore trainee, who was scratched from the first scheduled start of his four-year-old season in Miami Valley's Mindlin Memorial Invitational on May 4, returned with a 1:52.2 qualifying mile, finishing second by half a length to Hail Christian N.

Driven by Jody Jamieson, Stockade Seelster led through fractions of :28.2, :57.3 and 1:25.3 then closed out his return appearance with a :26.4 final frame. Trained by Paul Thomas Court, Hail Christian N and Sylvain Filion prevailed from the pocket, with Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots champion Winmebak and James MacDonald closing in from third and finishing three-quarters of a length behind.

Stockade Seelster won seven of 19 races last year and hit the board an additional eight times. The son of State Treasurer-Soiree Seelster earned $677,688 for owners Sally MacDonald and Paul MacDonald. His victories included a division of the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes, the consolation for North America Cup and three Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions. He finished second to eventual U.S. Horse of the Year Confederate in the Breeders Crown and Max C. Hempt Memorial.

For his career, Stockade Seelster has hit the board in 25 of 30 races, winning 15 and earning $1.59 million. In addition to his O’Brien honours, he received a Dan Patch Award as a two-year-old.

Moore told Trot Insider that at this point he plans to give Stockade Seelster a solid training mile next Monday. If the stallion performs well there, Moore will enter Stockade Seelster to race at Mohawk next Saturday, July 13.

The fastest mile of the morning session was clocked in 1:51.3 by Chain Gang, who looped into second down the backstretch and popped off the back of the pacesetting Fan Hanover Stakes winner Its A Love Thing (:30, :58.2, 1:25.3) approaching the final eighth to prevail by three-quarters of a length. Trevor Henry drove the three-year-old Bettors Delight-Duostep Hanover colt, who sprinted a :25.4 final quarter to take a new lifetime mark, for trainer Nick Gallucci and owner/breeder Millar Farms.

A two-time OSS Gold winner as a freshman, Chain Gang has finished top-two in half of his 10 career starts while earning nearly $160,000.

Monday's 12 qualifiers included eight baby races, with the Garry Merner-trained colt Zander winning the fastest pace in 1:57.1 following a qualifying debut at Vernon Downs two weeks ago. The Dali-Dream Police Woman colt led from start to finish with panels of :29.4, 1:01 and 1:30.1 capped by a :27 finale landing him 4-1/2 lengths in front of the debuting closer Wicked Ending and pocket pursuer Whats Your Limits. Sylvain Filion was in the bike for New York-based owner Joseph Ricco Jr.

Exquisite Taste stood out among two-year-old trotters with a 14-length romp in 1:58.1 for trainer Eric Nadeau. After making breaks in her first two career starts at Mohawk, the Resolve-Ghost Glider filly cruised through fractions of :31.2, 1:00.4 and 1:29.1 en route to victory in rein to Louis-Philippe Roy, who shares ownership with Ecurie Csl.

A replay of Woodbine's video stream, which starts after the first race, is available below.

Illusion Seelster Tops Aces Series Finale

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 18:25:50 GMT

The featured event on the Sunday night (June 30) harness racing program at Running Aces was the Ron Banks Memorial FFA Mares Pace Final, which boasted a very accomplished field of nine distaffers lining up behind the gate to battle it out for $47,945 in purse money.

Illusion Seelster (State Treasurer) and driver Jacob Cutting did not escape the attention of the betting public after her sharp 1:51.1 score in last week’s elimination round and she was sent off as favourite at just over even money while Two Pistol Annie and driver James Kennedy were given a 3-1 chance by punters.

Majors Miracle (Elson Miller) left very quickly from post seven and worked hard to take a brief lead near the :27.2 quarter mile before Cutting sent Illusion Seelster into action to take over the top just past the three-eighths mark and they were well settled on the lead at the :54.3 half mile checkpoint.

Kennedy and Two Pistol Annie got rolling just before they headed down the backside and made steady progress toward the front while Racin For Royalty (Brady Jenson) and Premier Delight (Jeff Hunt) followed the cover flow.

Illusion Seelester maintained full control around the far turn while registering three-panels in 1:22.1 and Two Pistol Annie was the closest pursuer as they swung for home.

In the stretch drive it was clearly a two-horse race and Illusion Seelster ($4.20) dug in gamely as Two Pistol Annie surged near the wire to come up three-quarters of a length short of victory in the 1:51 mile, which equaled the track records for both four-year-old pacing mares as well as all-aged pacing mares.

Rounding out the trifecta was 28-1 longshot Racin For Royalty.

The winner is owned by Terrence Smith and is trained by current leading trainer Williams Hernandez. She now shows 11 career wins from 44 starts and has earnings of $208,964 to date.

DP Freedoms Chrome (For You Almostfree) added another impressive win to his near perfect record with a dominating seven-length score in the $23,288 Minnesota-sired sophomore male ‘A’ trot in a career best 1:57.2 mile over Wherever Rio Goes and Bankers Quest.

James Gould was the winning pilot for owner Aimes Racing and trainer Elvin Zimmerman.

DP Freedoms Chrome ($2.10) now shows 13 wins from 14 career starts.

Bankers Grace (Banker Volo) delivered a sharp performance in the $23,288 fillies ‘A’ split, drawing away from her rivals late to record a five length win and a new lifetime mark of 1:58 while Baby Flash was second best and Adira Disa checked in third.

Rick Magee was the winning driver on Bankers Grace ($2.40) for owner/breeder Kennedy Roland and trainer Dan Roland.

DM King Ridge (Tom Ridge) got up in the last stride to capture victory in the $11,644 sophomore ‘B’ trot in a career best 2:02.1 while a nose better than Spicymoneymaker and two lengths better than Onecallthatsall in third.

Todd Warren was the winning pilot for owners Jay De Long and Stephanie Anfinson and trainer Justin Anfinson.

The $2 win mutuel returned a hefty $37.00.

Domovoy (Triumphant Caviar) did not disappoint his many backers as he posted a gate-to-wire tally for two-in-a-row in the $21,233 Open trot.

Driver Luke Plano sent him from post seven to surge to the front of the field and take control near the :28.1 quarter mile pole. Once on top they held firm control throughout and drew away late for a 2-1/4 score over Grab Da Moni (Magee) and Winnerup (Roland) in the 1:54 mile.

Domovoy ($2.60) now shows five wins from 13 seasonal starts. He is owned by Dave Dobbelmann and Tom Carney and is trained by Edwin Quevedo.

Williams Hernandez led the Sunday program with three training wins while both Rick Magee and Jacob Cutting registered driving doubles.

Live Racing returns to Running Aces on Tuesday night (July 2) for ‘Dollar Night’ with a nine-race program that will get underway at 6 p.m. (CDT).

Illusion Seelster A Real Winner At Aces

Fri, 31 May 2024 18:27:39 GMT

The harness racing program on Thursday, May 30 at Running Aces was loaded with notable events, including the $21,233 Mares Open Handicap Pace, three divisions of the Minnesota-sired sophomore pace and two $9,589 divisions of the Burning Blaze Pacing Series.

Illusion Seelster was the talk of the toteboard in the Mares Open, as she was sent off as the 4-5 public choice from post five in the nine-horse contest.

Driver Jacob Cutting floated Illusion Seelster off the gate in sixth while Two Pistol Annie (James Kennedy) and Aint She Special (Luke Plano) both left from outside posts to take the front positions through early fractions of :27 and :56.2.

Cutting tipped out near the half to follow cover behind Better Double Flip (Todd Warren) and those two quickly advanced past the leaders as the field headed into the far turn, with Better Double Flip making the top near the third checkpoint in 1:24.3.

Illusion Seelster surged strongly as they rounded for the stretch drive and had forged past to take the lead at the top of the lane while Better Double Flip tried to respond and both Premier Delight and Graceful Horizon closed from the back of the field.

Illusion Seelster remained strong in the final stages and paced clear to win by 2-3/4 lengths and stop the timer in 1:52.3 while Better Double Flip was a clear second best.

The winner, paying $3.80 to win, is a four-year-old by State Treasurer-I C Maggie May and she now has four wins from 10 starts this year, with seasonal earnings of $42,800 for owner Terrence Smith. She is trained by Williams Hernandez.

Reigning Minnesota Harness Racing Horse of the Year Apple Juice was back in action on Thursday in the $23,288 sophomore filly 'A' pace and she did not disappoint her fans and pari-mutuel backers, turning in a sharp performance to post her first win of the year.

Cutting was the pilot behind Apple Juice and they wasted no time in asserting themselves to the lead while chief rival Deja Vu Babyboo (Nick Roland) was also fast off the car and secured the pocket. Those two dominated the affair and ultimately provided a great battle in the final sixteenth of a mile with Apple Juice holding her rival at bay by a half-length in 1:54.2 to equal her career best.

Apple Juice ($3) now has nine wins from 16 career starts and earnings of $115,769 for owner/trainer/breeder Scott Banitt.

Rocklikeahurricane (Todd Warren, $5.20) held gamely to win by neck over both Bapas Double Knot and Lovely Normajean in the $11,644 sophomore 'B' pace in 1:58. The winner is owned by Alan and Cheryl Sandbulte and trained by Justin Anfinson.

Celebrity Status (Roland, $6.40) dominated the $23,288 sophomore male pace in a career best 1:56.2 over Flushing Art and Moon Kid Photo. The winner is owned by Set The Pace Racing and is trained Roland.

The winners in the first leg of the Burning Blaze Pacing Series were Stayinforthedance (Cutting, $4.00) in 1:55.1 for owner/trainer Elson Miller and Charmingsix (Dean Magee, $2.60) in 1:54.3 for owner/trainer Larry Feilbach and additional owners Claire Vanden Berg and Brent Feilbach.

Driver Jacob Cutting posted four wins on the Thursday night program, for the first 'grand slam' of the Aces season.

Brady Jenson posted a driving and training double and trainer Elson Miller also sent out two winners.

Live harness racing returns to Running Aces on Sunday, June 2 with a 12-race program that will get underway at 6 p.m. (CDT).

Karma Seelster By A Nose In Yonkers Invitational

Sat, 18 May 2024 18:29:15 GMT

Canadian-owned Karma Seelster won on the front-end in 1:51.4 in the $47,945 Fillies & Mares Invitational Pace featured on Friday, May 17 at Yonkers Raceway.

Driven by Austin Siegelman, Karma Seelster set fractions of :26.4, :55.2 and 1:23 en route to the victory as the 2-1 second choice. Favourite Silk Cloud A (Jordan Stratton) closed from first-over but came up a nose short of Karma Seelster. Blue Chip Matchmaker Series champion Lit De Rose (Pat Lachance) closed well to grab third.

Andrew Adamczyk trains Karma Seelster, a seven-year-old Sportswriter mare, for owners Karen Hauver and Shady Hill Racing Stable of Durham, Ont. A 26-time career winner, the millionairess earned her second straight win this month after competing in the Matchmaker Series.

She paid $6.10 to win and was atop a $14.80 exacta and a $49.20 trifecta.

The Saturday, May 18 program at Yonkers will have a $4,129.18 carryover and a $15,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick 5 after the sequence was not hit on the Friday. The guarantee in the Pick 5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances for the Pick 5 are available on TrackMaster.com. The Pick 5, which begins in race five, has a takeout rate of 20 per cent.

Yonkers is currently operating on a Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday-Saturday live racing schedule with post time at 7 p.m. (EDT), though the New York oval will be live on Wednesday this coming week (May 22).

(With files from Yonkers Raceway; Photo of Karma Seelster from a previous win)

Poseidon Seelster Rules In Mohawk Preferred

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 14:21:12 GMT

Pacing faster than he did in his last win at this level in early July, Poseidon Seelster powered past his rivals in the stretch en route to victory in the $36,000 Preferred Pace on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Bob McClure has the assignment behind the six-year-old on Saturday night, and he settled the lukewarm second choice away third early behind an aggressive Bee Two Bee (Travis Cullen) and Points North (Sylvain Filion). That trio stayed as the leading trio through the first three stations in :26.1, :54.3 and 1:22. Doug McNair attempted a first-over approach with Camara Moment, but that one packed it in around the far turn to stifle outer flow.

When the field turned for home, Filion and McClure angled their charges from the pylons and set sights on the pacesetter. Both Poseidon Seelster and Points North outkicked Bee Two Bee but Poseidon Seelster had the most late kick and his :26.2 final quarter was the difference in a 1:49 mile. Points North was a length back in second with Livinthebeachlife (Jonathan Drury) completing the triactor.

Co-owned by trainer Don Lindsey of Fergus with Paul Kleinpaste of Orangeville, Ont., Will Alempijevic of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Garth Bechtel of Meaford, Ont., Poseidon Seelster (Sunshine Beach - Porsche Seelster) now sports a career summary of 16-10-19 from 84 starts with a bankroll of $577,170.

The Saturday evening card also featured four $17,000 first leg divisions of the Ontario Sired Harvest Series for three-year-old male trotters and pacers.

Nothingbutadreamer made it four straight wins in the first division for trotters.

Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, Nothingbutadreamer got away in second during the :27.2 opening quarter put up by Ricardo (Doug McNair) before driver James MacDonald right-lined the sophomore from the pocket to the lead.

After a :56.3 half and 1:25.4 third panel, Nothingbutadreamer faced a fresh threat with Ricardo angling out for the stretch drive. Those two trottters traded blows down the Mohawk stretch, battling into the final strides.

Nothingbutadreamer reemerged on top at the wire, winning in a career best 1:53.4. Cactustotheclouds (Trevor Henry) held off rivals for third.

Harry Poulton trains Nothingbutadreamer (Muscle Mass - Myimpossibledream) for Thestable Nothinbutadremr of Guelph, Ont. The win is his ninth lifetime, lifting his earnings to $136,943. A $2 win ticket on the favourite returned $3.10.

In the second trotting division, Stonebridge Bomber ($3.40) made a serious brush from sixth at the :56.4 half to clear to the lead by the 1:26 third station. Driver Doug McNair asked the sophomore to open up some daylight on the field turning for home. A three-length cushion at the top of the stretch was enough to hold off a late rally from Century Jaguar (Henry) to win by three parts of a length in 1:54.3. Prince Archie (Steven Hudon) was best of the rest.

Stonebridge Bomber (Muscle Mass - Stonebridge Glider) notched his fourth career victory and his first for trainer / owner Aaron Byron and co-owner Gordon Mason of Rosseau, Ont.

Sitting more 10 lengths off the lead at the half, Leave It To Luther ($15.60) pounced off third over cover turning for home to swoop past his foes in the first $17,000 Harvest division for three-year-old pacers.

James MacDonald engineered the winning trip, besting Bar Down Jim (Travis Cullen) by a neck in 1:53.4. Show went to Sans Souci (Mike Whelan).

Making his 22nd career start for trainer Ryan Steward and owner Courtney Pollard, Leave It To Luther (Betterthancheddar - T R Lexus Cam) notched his eighth career win but had just two prior starts (and no wins) at Woodbine Mohawk Park before Saturday's appearance. The 1:53.4 mile time was a new lifetime mark by four full seconds.

Full Horse ($5.40) was full of horse in the second Harvest division for pacers. Settled in third for driver Louis-Philippe Roy through a :28 first quarter and :57.2 half, Roy right-lined Full Horse approaching the third station and applied pressure to pacesetting favourite Arizona Jackson (Jonathan Drury) as the field hit the three-quarter mark in 1:25.4. Full Horse wore down Arizona Jackson and, through a :27 closing panel, held off the late surge of Cheddar Duharas (Tyler Borth) by a half-length for the 1:53.1 decision. Arizona Jackson stayed for the show spot.

Luc Blais trains Full Horse (Bettors Delight - Lady Be Great) for owner Determination of Montreal, Que. The mile time shaved one fifth of a second of his previous lifetime best.

The Ontario Sired Harvest Series is for three-year-old colts and geldings who are non-winners of $30,000 in 2023 as of Sept. 30, 2023. The second leg of the series is slated for Saturday, Nov. 18 with the $40,000 (added) final one week later.

Big Night For Stockade Seelster At Mohawk

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 14:09:44 GMT

The card of harness racing on Friday, Sept. 1 at Woodbine Mohawk Park featured a trio of Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions for the sophomore pacers, with Stockade Seelster and Nick Gallucci emerging as the stars of the evening.

Stockade Seelster outclassed his provincial counterparts on Friday in the single $158,100 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold division for three-year-old male pacers. Driver Jody Jamieson got the 1-2 choice away midpack early as Moment Is Here (James MacDonald) left for command and landed on the lead through a :26.1 opening quarter before being cleared by Verdun (Louis-Philippe Roy). Jamieson and Stockade Seelster didn't see the rail for the first half of the mile, clearing to the lead after a sharp :53.2 half.

MacDonald made his move from third with Moment Is Here midway through the far turn and started to advance on Stockade Seelster through the 1:21 third quarter but Stockade Seelster would not be denied on this occasion.

These two sophomores traded blows in midstretch, with Stockade Seelster delivering the knockout in the final sixteenth. Macs Delight (Jonathan Drury) emerged as a fresh threat late, but Stockade Seelster had enough separation and bested that rival by more than a length in a lifetime best 1:48.4. Moment Is Here stayed for third.

"He is tough, and he proved it last time out in Pocono," said Jamieson after the win. "I just kind of took my time getting there, even though it was still a fast half....James gave him a little scare on the outside there and he just digs back in and goes. He's an awesome horse."

Dr. Ian Moore trains Stockade Seelster (State Treasurer - Soiree Seelster) for Sally & Paul MacDonald of P.E.I. and Ontario. His summary now sits at 14-2-3 from 22 lifetime starts with more than $1.33 million in earnings. He returned $3.10 to win.

Upsets were the order of the night in the two $101,300 OSS Gold divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies.

In the first division, Mist Amber and driver Sylvain Filion breezed home in :26.1 from sixth and last at the head of the lane to prevail in a four-horse photo and win in a lifetime best 1:50.3. Fellow longshot Lady Get Lucky (Trevor Henry) was next best ahead of favoured One Last Wish (Paul MacDonell) and second choice Cheesy Smile (Bob McClure).

"I just went with the flow," admitted driver Filion after the win. "They were pacing pretty good up front and around the last turn she kind of swelled up so I thought maybe we have a shot. And she dug in."

Trainer John Pentland of Dorchester, Ont. also owns Mist Amber (Betterthancheddar - Amber Hanover), now a seven-time winner as a sophomore but none bigger than this one. The filly, who started the year racing in the conditioned ranks at Western Fair, was winless in three Grassroots attempts this year before the upset score on Friday. She paid $34.80 to win, and the $50,650 winner's share of the purse nearly doubled her lifetime earnings to $115,536.

Like Mist Amber, Savethelastdance was sixth and the third quarter in her Ontario Sires Stakes Gold division. Like Mist Amber, Savethelastdance was one of the longshots in her OSS Gold division. Like Mist Amber, Savethelastdance rallied late to pick off the early leaders. Pacing home in :26.3 for driver James MacDonald, Savethelastdance boogied under the wire nearly two lengths better than Ima Doll (Tyler Borth) for the career best 1:51.3 upset tally. Talk Curdy To Me (Louis-Philippe Roy) completed the triactor ticket.

"This is the shock of the year, to be honest with you," trainer Nick Gallucci told Woodbine's Randy Waples after the win. "I'm still in disbelief. She really surprised us tonight.

"She had a few minor issues and she just wasn't really performing the way we were hoping. So we gave her a month. We tried swimming her. That didn't really work out, so we just gave her some stall rest / turnout and she's come back. I really have to give a lot of credit on this filly to Peter Hamilton. I get a little frustrated with her, and he's just been calm as can be...and that showed tonight. The way she was able to rate the whole mile and finish her mile, he did a great job with her."

The three-year-old sister to 2022 O'Brien Award winner Silver Label, Savethelastdance (Bettors Delight - Hidden Gem) is owned by her breeder, Millar Farms of Stouffville, Ont. Her lifetime summary now stands at 6-0-1 from 12 starts with $232,534 in earnings. Sent off at 24-1, she paid $50 to win.

With her win in the eighth race on Friday night, Savethelastdance was part of a Millar Farms / Gallucci natural hat trick that started in the race prior with Velvet Stinger ($11.20), the seventh race winner in a lifetime best 1:49.4.

Savethelastdance won the eighth, but her sister Silver Label was bested in the very next race. The horse that ended her three-race win streak: stablemate Prohibition Legal ($5.20), pacing home in :25.3 for Louis-Philippe Roy after a pocket ride from before the half to score in a lifetime best 1:50 in the $42,000 Free For All Pace. Silver Label was three-quarters of a length back in second, with Western Wish (Borth) next best.

An O'Brien Award winner in 2021, Prohibition Legal (Big Jim - Catch A Wish) sports a 10-5-2 career summary from 19 appearances with more than $844,141 in earnings. The win was her first of the year in just two four-year-old starts.

WATCH FOR STOCKADE SEELSTER'S HALF BROTHER SUMMIT SEELSTER AT THE HARRISBURG SALE THIS FALL.

Stockade Seelster Returns To Winning Ways

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 13:55:11 GMT

The glamour boys touched down in Ottawa on Sunday, August 13 for a $157,200 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold division at Rideau Carleton Raceway, and Stockade Seelster was victorious in an impressive effort from the outside post position.

The reigning king of the OSS suffered his first defeat in the provincial program on July 22 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but would not to be denied on this occasion.

Jody Jamieson and the son of State Treasurer left hard from post eight, beating out fellow quick leavers Moment Is Here (James MacDonald) and Macs Delight (Jonathan Drury) to make the front just as the field was exiting the far turn.

“I expected to take about a three-eighths park before I could get there,” said Jamieson. “But three steps out of the wings it looked like I was going to be able to cross over pretty easy, and from there he kind of did his own thing. He just wasn’t getting beat tonight.”

Stockade Seelster’s margin grew as large as two lengths as he led the field through fractions of :26.4, :55, and 1:22.3, while Moment Is Here stalked in the pocket. MacDonald angled his pacer to the inside in the stretch but fell a half-length short of overtaking his rival.

“Around the last turn I thought I had it in the bag,” said Jamieson. “When James popped in there, I heard him yell, but I just had a really good feeling about my horse tonight. It didn’t matter who was on my back to be honest. I was really proud of him tonight, he was exceptional.”

The final time was 1:50.3, a national season's record for a sophomore pacing colt on a five-eighths mile racetrack.

Trained by Dr. Ian Moore, Stockade Seelster (State Treasurer - Soiree Seelster) now has seven wins from eight career OSS starts, and has banked more than $475,000 in the program. His total earnings exceed $1.1 million for owners Sally and Paul MacDonald. As the generous 4-1 choice, he paid $10.80 for the win.

Moment Is Here’s solid season continued with his second place effort. Whatchulookin At (Louis-Philippe Roy) was the final podium finisher.

There were also three $21,800 OSS Grassroots divisions on the card for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, and those divisions all had a common denominator: driver James MacDonald.

Santana Hanover captured the first Grassroots division for driver MacDonald and trainer Richard Moreau. Domenic Chiaravalle owns the Big Jim gelding who now has two wins from 11 starts this season. The betting public made Santana Hanover a 3-5 favourite and he stopped the clock in a lifetime best 1:52.

Leave It To Leo won his OSS debut in the second Grassroots division with MacDonald driving for trainer Nick Gallucci and owner Millar Farms. The Bettors Deligh gelding used his rail position to sit third through the early going before moving to the front and grabbing the lead at the half and holding on the rest of the way to win in 1:52.3.

MacDonald, Gallucci and Millar teamed up with Winmebak in the third and final Grassroots division, and the son of Shadow Play won for the first time in the OSS in his fourth career attempt. MacDonald guided Winmebak to off the pace score in 1:50.2 for his third win of the 2023 campaign. The mile time equaled the existing Rideau track standard for sophomore pacing geldings, set in 2012 by Michaels Power, and is the fastest mile on a five-eighths mile oval in Canada this season.

Six In A Row For Tijuana Seelster

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 17:34:03 GMT

Tijuana Seelster moved her win streak to six in a row on Wednesday (July 12) evening at Grand River Raceway after winning an $8,800 condition class for trotters.

Colin Kelly sent the Jacob Roberts trainee out of the gate from post four. The pair posted panels in :28.3, :58.4 and 1:28.2 before taking off to a 5-3/4-length romp in 1:58. Downstairs Party (Scott Young) finished second and Cash Deals (Mario Baillargeon) rounded out the top three.

Owned by Triple S Equine, Tijuana Seelster is a four-year-old Muscle Mass-Tymal Timeout daughter with 10 career wins, eight of which were earned this season. She moved her seasonal bankroll to $52,032, making her career sum $71,269.

Seelster’s are selling Talia Seelster, a half-sister to Tijuana Seelster in the London Classic Yearling Sale October 17-18, 2023.

Karma Seelster Hits Million Milestone

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 16:18:41 GMT

Ontario-owned and bred pacing mare Karma Seelster hit the million-dollar milestone with her latest victory, a 1:51.1 wire-to-wire effort competing against Open mares at Yonkers Raceway.

Karma Seelster won the $36,000 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace on Friday, July 7 to send her lifetime earnings to $1,010,966 for owners Kauren Hauver and Shady Hill Racing Stable of Durham, Ont.

With Jordan Stratton in the bike, the Sportswriter-Kiddie Cocktail mare cleared from post four into the clubhouse turn and called the shots through fractions of :27.4, :56.3 and 1:23.4 en route to a two-length victory over favourite Drama Act and Violets Rainbow. Sent postward as the 2-1 second choice, she paid $6.30 to win.

Trained by Andrew Adamczyk while racing stateside this year, Karma Seelster has won three races in a row and six of her 18 starts, adding $154,290 to her bankroll. Lifetime, the Seelster Farms-bred distaffer has won 21 of her 81 races, with 18 seconds and 15 third-place finishes.

(Photo of Karma Seelster winning previously at Yonkers Raceway)

Poseidon Seelster Pops In Mohawk Preferred

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 16:23:54 GMT

Driver Bob McClure and Poseidon Seelster sat behind a contested pace and powered home in the lane to a 1:49.4 victory in the $32,000 Preferred 2 Pace on Saturday (July 8) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Momas Son Byrne motored to the lead alongside Livinthebeachlife, who sat on the rim past a :26 first quarter but gave chase uncovered as the tempo stayed hot up the backstretch. Past the half in :53.1, Momas Son Byrne kept rolling around the final turn to clock by three-quarters in 1:21.2 but started shortening stride in the stretch.

McClure, sitting behind the pacesetter with Poseidon Seelster, swung the Don Lindsey trainee into action and grabbed the lead while withstanding late charges from So Much More and Codename Cigar Box to win by three-quarters of a length. Momas Son Byrne faded to fourth.

Lindsey co-owns Poseidon Seelster, a six-year-old Sunshine Beach gelding, with Paul Kleinpaste, William Alempijevic and Garth Bechtel. He won his 13th race from 70 starts and has now earned $491,020. Poseidon Seelster paid $7.10 to win.

Tijuana Seelster Makes It Five At Grand River

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 16:27:18 GMT

TIjuana Seelster has been on a roll in her four-year-old campaign and has scored five wins in a row, winning her most recent start on Wednesday evening (July 5) at Grand River Raceway.

Colin Kelly and Tijuana Seelster got away last in their field of seven in the $8,800 condition trot, 12-1/2 lengths off the leader at the quarter in :27.3. Before the half in :58, Downstairs Party (Garrett Rooney) was the first on the move on the outside, followed by Alcina (Jason Ryan), and then Tijuana Seelster. Kelly pulled his right line once more, moving three-wide around the field as they passed the three-quarters in 1:27.3. Kelly and Tijuana Seelster took command just before the final turn and the pair kept on pedalling en route to a 4-1/4-length victory in 1:57.

Shesundertheradar (Samuel Fillion) was second and Lucas Nl (Brett MacDonald) finished third.

The four-year-old Muscle Mass daughter has collected eight of her 10 wins this season along with $52,032. In her last eight starts, Tijuana Seelster has had seven wins and a fifth-place finish, which was the result of a parked-out trip the entire mile. Jacob Roberts trains the mare for Triple S Equine.

Stockade Seelster Wins In OSS Gold

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 16:16:55 GMT

Odds-on choice Stockade Seelster held on the lead and 26-1 shot Midnight Nation fired from well off the speed to each clock a 1:49.3 mile and narrowly take their respective $100,400 opening-round divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night (July 1).

In the first division, driver Trevor Henry sat fifth with Midnight Nation, who was sent off as the longest shot on the board. He chased a :26.2 first quarter set by Verdun, who then relinquished control to 2-5 favourite Moment Is Here up the backstretch. Moment Is Here coasted to a :55 half and 1:23.1 as everyone but Midnight Nation pulled off the pylons circling for home. With clearance to the inside, Midnight Nation fired and slipped through the inside route to a nose victory with pocket-pounder Verdun left in third and Macs Delight in fourth.

“They all moved out, eh? And when they move out, you move up,” Henry said after the race. “It just worked out, you know? Just got lucky. I knew it was close, I wasn’t really sure [I won]. I was hoping – he’s a nice horse. He raced great – [trainer] Richard [Moreau] said we’d race for a cheque and we got more than that.”

Shaun Vallee and D P V Racing Stable own Midnight Nation, a gelding by Betterthancheddar, bred in Ontario by Princeton Farms. The victory was the first OSS Gold win for a Princeton Farms bred horse.

Midnight Nation won his second race from eight starts and has now banked $91,705. He paid $54.50 to win.

The second OSS division also came to a nose decision, but the pacesetter Stockade Seelster held off the late push of No Control to win. Driver Jody Jamieson planted Stockade Seelster on the point and rolled uncontested through fractions of :26.4, :56 and 1:23 before engaging in a stretch sprint with No Control. No Control crept closer all through the lane, but came just shy of victory as Whatchulookin At fired home quickest of the six to snag third, beaten three-quarter lengths, with Santana Hanover fourth.

“I thought he held on,” Jamieson said after the race. “It was really more my fault than anything – you can’t slow these good horses down the way I did in the second quarter. I should’ve just let him roll. I had in my head how good No Control raced last week and I noticed him sitting on my back and wanted every advantage I could. I don’t think going to the half in :56 flat was an advantage; it hurt him more than anything. This horse just dug in.”

Stockade Seelster won for the 11th time from 16 starts and has now earned $1,082,870 for owners Sally and Paul MacDonald. Dr. Ian Moore trains the colt by State Treasurer and confirmed that last year’s Metro Pace winner is bound for New Jersey to race in the Meadowlands Pace eliminations.

Some exciting things are brewing for the Camluck Classic!

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 14:26:57 GMT

The Raceway is teaming up with the London Brewing Co-operative to offer a brand new promotion this year. Bulldog Brew is a specially-made summer Lager that pays homage to the great Bulldog Hanover, who recently retired to stud at Seelster Farms as the sport’s fastest all-time pacer. The specially-labelled beer will be available on track on Camluck Classic night with $1 from each can sold going to support the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society.

Full story here - https://bit.ly/3Lek6U3

Bulldog Hanover: Transcending The Sport

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 20:29:21 GMT

"The Horse of the Year is big because it's what he did on the track...The Cam Fella [Award] is important because it shows what effect a good horse can have on people, on the fans. And that's the most important thing in the business: the horse."

Bulldog Hanover stole the show at the 2022 O'Brien Awards on Saturday (Feb. 4), winning the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year title, taking the Older Pacing Horse division, and he was also honoured as the 2022 recipient of the prestigious Cam Fella Award.

It was a memorable season for Bulldog Hanover, who captivated the hearts of harness racing fans across North America. The Jack Darling-trained son of Shadow Play - BJs Squall became the fastest Standardbred the sport has ever seen when he stopped the clock in 1:45.4 in the William R. Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands.

Over a season that saw him win 14 races in 16 starts for $1,858,210 in earnings, some of Bulldog Hanover’s other notable victories came in the Dan Patch Stakes and the Hoosier Pacing Derby at Hoosier Park, the Dayton Pacing Derby, the Canadian Pacing Derby, the Breeders Crown and the TVG Open. Bulldog Hanover was recognized for his exploits on the racetrack as well as his ability to be an outstanding ambassador for harness racing with the Cam Fella Award.

After the O'Brien Awards Black-Tie Gala, Darling offered his thoughts on the momentous season that brought him to this historic evening, and he also shared a special story that illustrated how a special equine athlete can mean the world to people in need of a star, or an embodiment of something pure and good.

Darling's interview with Standardbred Canada's Jeff Porchak and Brittney Mayotte appears below.

Bulldog Hanover Night At The O'Brien Awards

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 16:36:55 GMT

Standardbred Canada announced the winners of the 2022 O’Brien Awards, honouring Canada’s best in harness racing over the past season, at the Black-Tie Gala on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. It was the 34th edition of the O’Brien Awards, named in honour of the late Joe O’Brien, an outstanding horseman and member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Bulldog Hanover stole the show, winning the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year title, taking the Older Pacing Horse division, and he was also honoured as the 2022 recipient of the prestigious Cam Fella Award . Some of the other big winners on the night included Millar Farms, winner of the Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly category with homebred Silver Label and taking home a second consecutive O’Brien in the Armstrong Breeder of the Year category. Richard Moreau continues to add O’Brien Awards to his trophy case, picking up his tenth consecutive title as Canada’s Trainer of the Year . Owner Brad Grant had two O’Brien winners — Bulldog Hanover, and Atlanta in the Older Trotting Mare category.

Bulldog Hanover captivated the hearts of harness racing fans across North America, becoming the fastest Standardbred the sport has ever seen when he stopped the clock in 1:45.4 in the William R. Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands. It was a memorable season for the Jack Darling-trained son of Shadow Play that saw him win 14 races in 16 starts for $1,858,210 in earnings. Some of Bulldog Hanover’s other notable victories came in the Dan Patch Stakes and the Hoosier Pacing Derby at Hoosier Park, the Dayton Pacing Derby, the Canadian Pacing Derby, the Breeders Crown and the TVG Open. Bulldog Hanover was recognized for his exploits on the racetrack as well as his ability to be an outstanding ambassador for harness racing with the Cam Fella Award.

In the Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt division, Stockade Seelster was awarded the O’Brien trophy. The son of State Treasurer had a stellar year for trainer Dr. Ian Moore, finishing with eight wins in 11 tries and bankrolling $917,470. He was perfect in the provincial program (five-for-five), capped off with a win in the OSS Super Final. His biggest payday came from his win in the $900,000 Metro Pace.

So Much More picked up a second O’Brien trophy for her connections in the Older Pacing Mare division. Trained by Don Beatson, the daughter of Big Jim continued her dominance in Canada’s upper fillies and mares ranks in 2022, where she made 34 starts, winning 16 times and earning $427,707. She had 29 top-three finishes overall, which included a third-place finish in the Breeders Crown final. In 2022, she also surpassed the $1 million mark for career earnings and achieved her 50th lifetime win.

Bulldog’s First Foal!

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 15:03:54 GMT

On January 31 ^st , both Bulldog Hanover and Deb became first time parents. DEB, p, 2, 1:53.2s, 3, 1:51.2s, BT1:50.1s ($229,726) a Sportswriter mare from Seelster’s own Atlantic Seelster, delivered just the first of many Bulldog babies expected here at the farm this season. Deb is an outstanding mother and her Bulldog colt is a tall, robust and smart foal.

Bulldog Hanover Voted Cam Fella Award Winner

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 21:16:10 GMT

Standardbred Canada is pleased to announce that Bulldog Hanover has been voted the 2022 recipient of the Cam Fella Award.

The Cam Fella Award will be presented to the connections of Bulldog Hanover at the annual O’Brien Awards Black Tie Gala on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at the Hilton Mississauga / Meadowvale Hotel in Mississauga, Ontario.

Named in honour of world-class Standardbred horse Cam Fella, the award recognizes extreme recent meritorious service to the Canadian harness racing industry.

Bulldog Hanover adds the prestigious Cam Fella Award to a lengthy list of accolades and awards earned not only for his on-track performances during the 2022 racing season, but also as an ambassador of harness racing, generating an incredible amount of media attention, publicity and fan following for the sport.

‘The Bulldog’ was Standardbred racing’s biggest story of the year, and no horse could match what Bulldog Hanover accomplished over the course of 2022. The Jack Darling-trained son of Shadow Play captured the hearts of harness racing fans across the continent, becoming the fastest Standardbred in the sport’s history when he stopped the clock in 1:45.4 in the William R. Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands on July 16 for driver Dexter Dunn. During the season, Bulldog Hanover won 14 races in 16 starts with more than $1.8 million in earnings for co-owners Jack Darling and Brad Grant, making him the richest Standardbred of 2022. Dexter Dunn and Jody Jamieson handled the driving duties, and his devoted caretaker was John Mallia.

Bulldog Hanover boasts an impressive resume of accomplishments including victories in the Dan Patch Stakes and Hoosier Pacing Derby at Hoosier Park, the Dayton Pacing Derby, the Canadian Pacing Derby, the Breeders Crown and the TVG Open Pace, just to name a few.

The racing community, racing fans, and casual spectators were in awe of Bulldog Hanover, who would draw crowds and media to wherever he raced. Woodbine Mohawk Park honoured the winner of the Canadian Pacing Derby and Breeders Crown by hosting a retirement ceremony for him in December.

Following the end of his phenomenal season, Bulldog Hanover was retired from racing and will soon start his second year at stud at Seelster Farms in Ontario, for partners Darling, Grant and Diamond Creek Farms.

In addition to the Cam Fella Award, Bulldog Hanover is a divisional finalist for an O’Brien Award, the unanimous choice for the Dan Patch Award and will also be honoured with the Stan Bergstein Proximity Award.

Standardbred Canada established the Cam Fella Award in 1997, and fittingly its namesake was the first recipient acknowledging Cam Fella’s unparalleled contributions to the sport of harness racing. The most recent winner of the award was Anthony MacDonald in 2019. The complete list of winners is available here.

A national committee of 16 individuals representing the Standardbred community vote by secret ballot to determine the Cam Fella Award winner. A winner must receive 75 percent of the Yes votes to win.

Canadian-owned, trained and driven, Cam Fella was an outstanding racehorse in the early 1980s, winning 56 races, over $2 million in purse money and two consecutive Horse of the Year titles in North America. As a stallion, ‘Cam’ sired numerous world champions and horses with earnings in excess of $107 million. In early 1997, Cam Fella was diagnosed with testicular cancer and was retired from breeding. He died in May of 2001 at the Kentucky Horse Park, where he had lived for several years and served as an outstanding ambassador of the standardbred breed.

The creation of the Cam Fella Award was the harness racing industry’s way of ensuring that the horse's contribution to the sport is never forgotten.

Bulldog Hanover – Book Full and Closed

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 13:14:21 GMT

Seelster Farms is pleased to announce that Bulldog Hanover’s book is full and closed for the 2023 season.

“We have had an overwhelmingly positive response to the opening of Bulldog’s book on November 25 ^th and I’m certain we have amassed one of the most impressive book of mares North America has to offer. I would like to thank everyone who purchased a Share and submitted their mares for consideration. Communications will be sent out this week by email to all breeders who are awaiting confirmation of acceptance for their mares,” said Ann Straatman of Seelster Farms.

There will be two Charity breedings for Bulldog Hanover available to bid on from the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society (www.osas.ca) and the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association (www.standardbredbreeders.com) beginning early in February 2023. Please watch for details to support these two outstanding organizations in the near future.

A few Shares remain available for purchase; you may contact Seelster Farms for more information.

Bulldog Hanover Victorious In Final Start To Headline TVG Finals

Sat, 26 Nov 2022 19:46:28 GMT

Appearing for the final time in his history-making career, “The Bulldog” was best in show once more.

Bulldog Hanover, who electrified the sport this season with his speed and personality, romped to victory in Saturday’s (Nov. 26) $345,000 TVG Series Open Pace championship by 2-1/4 lengths over Tattoo Artist in a stakes record 1:47.3 at the Meadowlands. Abuckabett Hanover finished third.

The winning time lowered the previous stakes record of 1:48, first set by Sweet Lou in 2014 and equalled by McWicked in 2018, by two-fifths of a second.

It took Bulldog Hanover three-eighths of a mile to get the lead from This Is The Plan, who brought the field to the opening quarter in :26.1. But once he was on top, there was no looking back. Bulldog Hanover and driver Dexter Dunn hit the half in :54.2 and three-quarters in 1:21.3 on their way to the career-ending win.

“Week after week, he puts those kinds of runs in,” said Dunn, who gave several fist pumps crossing the finish line. “He doesn’t do it easy. He was working in that first turn; he was [outside] in hot speed and I just carried on with him. He’s got all the power. It was an amazing performance tonight and a great way to go out for him.”

The win was Bulldog Hanover’s 14th in 16 races this year and pushed his seasonal earnings to $1.86 million for Canadian-based trainer Jack Darling, who owns the four-year-old stallion with Brad Grant. For his career, the Hanover Shoe Farms-bred son of Shadow Play-BJs Squall won 28 of 37 starts and earned $2.79 million.

In July, also at the Meadowlands, Bulldog Hanover became the fastest horse in harness racing history when he won the William R. Haughton Memorial in 1:45.4.

He retires with four of the nine fastest race miles in history and a record total of six wins in under 1:47. Among those were two Canadian record-equalling 1:46.4 victories at Woodbine Mohawk Park, most recently in the Breeders Crown last month.

“I’ll remember this season with him for the rest of my life,” said Dunn. “It’s hard to come by horses like this and it’s an amazing ride once you do it. Thanks to Brad and Jack and [caretaker] Johnny [Mallia] for letting me sit behind him. It’s been great.”

Following the victory celebration, Bulldog Hanover was given a retirement ceremony in The Meadowlands' winner’s circle.

“He’s just been tremendous as a racehorse,” Darling said during the ceremony. “He has a way of pulling at your heartstrings. Warming up tonight, going on the track, it was very emotional. He’s just that kind of a horse. He’s so classy, he has the personality; he’s just a special horse.”

Darling put Bulldog Hanover in the care of trainer Noel Daley when the horse raced at The Meadowlands during the summer, so Darling watched Bulldog Hanover’s record 1:45.4 mile from home. When asked to reflect upon that performance, Darling said, “I was just happy he won the race. I wasn’t even thinking about the time, and when they flashed the time up, my wife and I jumped 10 feet in the air.”

Bulldog Hanover closed his career by winning 18 of his last 20 races. In addition to the Haughton and Breeders Crown, his triumphs this year included the Canadian Pacing Derby, Dan Patch Stakes, Dayton Derby, Harrah’s Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, Graduate Series final, and a division of the Roll With Joe.

He will head to full-time stallion duty at Seelster Farms in 2023. He bred 79 mares this year prior to racing.

“He’s going to a good life, and he’s right close by so we can see him anytime we want,” Darling said.

Grant said the journey with Bulldog Hanover was “an amazing ride.” Grant also was among the owners of trotting mare Atlanta, who also had a retirement ceremony Saturday night at the Meadowlands following her performance in the TVG Series Mares Trot.

“They both seem to have huge fan bases,” Grant said about the two outgoing stars. “They’re going to be missed on the track, but they’ll be in the breeding barn, so in the years to come, they’ll be remembered.”

Retirement Ceremonies for Atlanta and Bulldog Hanover at the Meadowlands Racetrack

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 14:33:42 GMT

Harness racing’s biggest stars will battle it out on the track on Saturday, November 26 in the TVG & Fall Final Four Finals at the Meadowlands Racetrack. This year will be extra special with two of the sport’s biggest names – Atlanta and Bulldog Hanover retiring following their starts in their TVG Finals.

The great Atlanta’s retirement ceremony will be held following the final start of her career – the TVG Mares Trot Championship on Saturday.

The 2018 Dan Patch Award winning Trotter of the Year, has amassed over $3.5 million in earnings and is history’s co-fastest female trotter with a time of 1:49.

A commemorative video will be shown during the ceremony and the first 250 fans will receive a ceramic mug commemorating Atlanta’s 2018 Hambletonian victory.

“Atlanta is one of the greatest race mares of all time,” stated Jason Settlemoir, COO and GM of the Meadowlands Racetrack. “She had so many major victories here – the 2018 Hambletonian, 2019 Graduate, 2020 Cutler 2021 Steele Memorial just to name a few. She created so many great racing memories here and we are honored that the Meadowlands is the track where she makes the final start of her career.”

World record holder Bulldog Hanover will also retire following his TVG Championship on November 26. This outstanding four-year-old pacer $500,000 William R. Haughton Memorial in a world-record time of 1:45.4 on July 16 at the Meadowlands. He rolled off 13 victories this season capturing the Breeders Crown title along with the Dayton Derby, Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, Canadian Pacing Derby, the Dan Patch, William R Haughton, Graduate and the Roll With Joe Finals.

A commemorative video will play during Bulldog Hanover’s retirement ceremony and the first 250 fans will receive a ceramic mug commemorating Bulldog as the fastest harness horse in history.

“Bulldog Hanover gave us a 1:45.4 world record performance on July 16th,” said Settlemoir. “It’s only fitting he retires on the track where he gave us that spectacular performance.

TVG night details can be found at PlayMeadowlands.com

Bulldog Hanover Rebounds In Breeders Crown

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 14:34:56 GMT

Bulldog Hanover blazed his way into the record books with yet another jaw-dropping performance, this time in the $810,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace on Saturday night (Oct. 29) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

In the curtain-closing event of the 2022 Breeders Crown finals, Standardbred racing’s show-stopping superstar delivered a primetime performance in front of an appreciative crowd and his proud connections.

Sent off as the 2-5 choice, Bulldog Hanover, with Dexter Dunn at the controls, settled into fourth spot into the first turn as Tattoo Artist stamped himself as the leader, followed by Allywag Hanover and American Courage. After guiding his 10 rivals through an opening quarter in :26, Tattoo Artist yielded the lead to Allywag Hanover, who was then quickly engaged by Bulldog Hanover, the latter striking front then reaching the half in :53.1.

Armed with a 1-1/2-length advantage after three-quarters in 1:20.3, Dunn called upon the four-year-old son of Shadow Play-BJs Squall for his best and the bay responded by rocketing away from his rivals down the lane in progress to a 3-3/4-length score.

The final time of 1:46.4 was a Breeders Crown stakes record and also equaled the track and Canadian record. Tattoo Artist was second, Allywag Hanover third, and Abuckabett Hanover was fourth.

Bulldog Hanover paid $2.40 for the win.

“He felt great tonight,” said Dunn. “The fractions were fast, we had a good helmet, and took him to the backstretch right after the first quarter and when he merged on there he got to the front, he grabbed a hold of me like he has most of the year. I could feel him [Allywag Hanover] on my helmet there. I know he had to do pretty good tonight to try to get past me. I probably didn’t feel the same as I did at Lexington. It’s a bit of a shame, but he’s an amazing horse.”

Arriving at the final off a runner-up finish to Allywag Hanover in the Allerage Farms Open on Oct. 9, Bulldog Hanover, in his final start in Canada, put on a stellar show for the crowd on a cool Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Bulldog Hanover, who paced the fastest mile ever of 1:45.4 in July, has 27 wins, along with four seconds and a third, from 36 starts and earned in excess of $2.6 million.

Not bad for a horse who was a $28,000 purchase at the 2019 Harrisburg Sale as Hip No. 795.

For trainer Jack Darling, who co-owns with Brad Grant, his first Crown coronation couldn’t have come with a more special horse, one who launched his racing life with a series of Ontario Sires Stakes successes in the summer of 2020.

“It’s been exciting, but I mean the pressure going into this race for me was excruciating,” admitted Darling. “The fans, I just wanted him to win so badly for the fans. It felt so good when we started to step away. I felt really good about it. I knew he was right back to himself, and I’ve seen him do it so many times that I’m kind of counting on him.”

The horse who has garnered widespread attention from racing fans and media alike will now travel south of the border to conclude his racing season.

And he’ll head to the U.S. off a crowning achievement on his home turf. Darling indicated that Bulldog Hanover will start in the 2022 Potomac Pace at Rosecroft Raceway on Thursday, Nov. 10 before his final start at The Meadowlands in the TVG Final on Saturday, Nov. 26.

“It’s been just amazing all the way along and every night gets better,” said a beaming Brad Grant.

Bulldog Hanover capped the Breeders Crown events for 2022 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Total handle for Friday and Saturday’s card combined was $8.9 million, which obliterated the previous record handle for a two-night event at Mohawk which was $6.6 million set in 2019.

Stockade Seelster Sensational In Super Final

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 12:38:30 GMT

Seelster will sell a half-sister to Stockade Seelster, Sorcha Seelster (by All Bets Off), at next weekend’s London Select Sale. She sells as hip number 58.

MILTON, October 15, 2022 – Stockade Seelster stamped himself as one of the best two-year-old pacing colts in the history of the Ontario Sires Stakes with another impressive performance in tonight’s $225,000 Gold Super Final at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Jody Jamieson had the son of State Treasurer away third in the early going and watched Moment Is Here pace by the opening quarter in :26.3.

Jamieson pulled on the right line just past that point and was comfortably on top at the :54.2 half. Stockade Seelster opened up a couple of lengths by the 1:22 three-quarters and simply could not be caught down the lane as he hit the wire in 1:50.1, paying $2.30 for the win.

Santana Hanover (Big Jim) was second followed by Sounds Good (Bettors Delight). Moment Is Here and Write Me A Rose were next across.

“You put $200,000 on the line and we’re going to race for it and we did,” said Jamieson. “It just goes to show he’s a great horse and I can ride as fast as he can go. There’s really no end to him. He was a little tired, he’d been off three weeks. Doc (Moore) had him great tonight.”

Stockade Seelster now has eight wins in nine starts this year. His lone loss was a third place finish in the Metro Pace elimination.

He returned the following week to win the $900,000 Metro Pace final, defeating many of the top Grand Circuit freshman pacing colts. He ends the year undefeated in five OSS starts, four Gold events at Mohawk and the Super Final.

Bred by Seelster Farms, Stockade was purchased as a yearling for $45,000 by Sally Macdonald of PEI and her nephew Paul Macdonald of Toronto who were quite familiar with his sire State Treasurer having owned him throughout his racing career.

They purchased State Treasurer as a yearling for a mere $6,500 and he went on to win over $2 million. Dr. Ian Moore trained State Treasurer, who stands stud at Seelster Farms. He also handles Stockade Seelster.

“I was concerned that he may be a little short tonight,” said Moore. “It’s very difficult with a two-year-old late in the year especially when you consider that he’s had the harness on for one year now, he started in October of last year. You wouldn’t do that with an aged horse.”

“I gave him a whole week off and then we jogged him one week. Jody trained him on the Friday when I was down in PEI for my daughter’s wedding and we trained him again on Thursday this week,” said Moore. “So, I was concerned and maybe that’s why the last quarter wasn’t so quick but he got the job done and hopefully should be ready for the Breeders Crown, that’s our next step.”

As for the Breeders Crown, eliminations for which start next weekend at the Campbellville oval, Doc says:

“It’s getting late, that’s nine starts now, 10 is a good number for me. He seemed good tonight and if he comes out of it fine on Monday or Tuesday when I jog him then we’ll put in for the Breeders Crown and we’re looking forward to it.”

Allan Macdonald, Sally’s husband, commented:

“It’s unbelievable, my wife always called State Treasurer a horse of a lifetime but it kind of looks like maybe we’ve done it again. It’s incredible, just incredible to be here and see what he’s done, he’s a really nice colt. I was extremely nervous here tonight because he had the three week layoff. He stepped up, we’re very proud of him.”

By Heather MacKay Roberts for Ontario Racing

Image: Stockade Seelster and Jody Jamieson continue their incredible season by winning the $225,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final on October 15 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. (New Image Media)

Early blast is winning move for Grandeur Seelster in $60,000 Grassroots Final

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 15:13:53 GMT

Woodbine Mohawk Park harness racing announcer Ken Middleton called Grandeur Seelster’s ( All Bets Off –Glamour Seelster) opening panel a “first quarter smokeshow” in the $60,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Final for two-year-old pacing fillies.

In the winners’ circle afterward, driver Austin Sorrie agreed the pace was a little hot in the early going:

“I thought I was going to be in trouble at the quarter pole,” said Sorrie.

But it was no trouble for fast-leaving Grandeur Seelster, who set a brisk pace in a 25.4 opening panel, with 61-1 Bettors Punch and Jonathan Drury pressing from the outside early, then settling in the pocket on the first turn.

The fillies raced single-file to the 54.3 half, with the 4-5 favourite confidently maintaining her short lead for Sorrie.

Cheese So Pretty and James MacDonald tipped from third to move first-over on the final turn, with Twin Delight and Bob McClure following her cover second-over from fourth.

Grandeur Seelster kept two lengths ahead of their best efforts, reaching three-quarters in 1:23.1 under minimal urging from Sorrie, who glanced back several times during the stretch drive. He had put the whip away entirely as the gate-to-wire leader stopped the clock in 1:51.1, a new lifetime best.

In the battle for place, three-wide Twin Delight pulled ahead of ground-saving closer Shake It Twice and Doug McNair and Bettors Punch, who held on for fourth.

“She was good last week, so I just hoped she was good this week,” said Sorrie after the win. “Starting out, she was real green, so it helped a lot driving her all summer. When she got real good, you knew when she was good.”

Grandeur Seelster was the only OSS Grassroots Semi-finals Winner to repeat in the October 1 finals.

“If she’s as good as she was there, next year, she’ll be a good Gold filly,” said Sorrie.

Grandeur Seelster paid $3.60 to win in her fourth seasonal victory from eight starts.

Owned by Gestion Mastel Inc., Courtney Gallant, and trainer Marcel Barrieau the filly was bred by Seelster Farms of Lucan, ON.

Caretaker Cindy Rapson looks after the former $37,000 yearling, purchased at the 2021 London Select Sale.

OSS, Track Record For Moment Is Here

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 15:10:45 GMT

The Ontario Sires Stakes Gold preliminary season for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings wrapped Sunday night (Oct. 2) at Flamboro Downs with Moment Is Here earning his breakthrough victory at the top level of the provincial program in the lone $156,300 division.

A gelded son of All Bets Off, Moment Is Here came into the night with a record of 0-1-1 from three OSS starts and added a win to that tally thanks to a well-engineered pocket trip by Trevor Henry.

Seven sophomore pacers lined up when the gate rolled, with two of them intent on making the lead.

Santana Hanover and Bob McClure battled early with Sounds Good and Jody Jamieson. The result was Sounds Good parked outside through a :26.4 first quarter while Henry and Moment Is Here settled in on the pylons.

“Bobby’s horse, he’s kind of a funny horse,” said Henry. “He doesn’t really go until he’s challenged, and he couldn’t really let Jody go, so I got to the two hole, and it all worked out.”

The status quo remained unchanged through a :55.3 second panel before the Arthur, Ont. resident moved his horse down the backstretch. Santana Hanover was game against his pocket-popping challenger and dueled on the lead with Moment Is Here until the pair exited the far turn and Henry’s horse charged home for the win in 1:53.4, which matched the OSS all-age pacing gelding record as well as the Flamboro track record for two-year-old pacing geldings.

“He raced tough that colt,” said Henry. “Mine was getting doubled up in the two hole, and since we weren’t going much at that point, and I thought mine was good enough to beat him, I figured I’d move him there and eventually he did get by him.”

The victory was the second overall of Moment Is Here ’s freshman campaign as he increased his career earnings to over $188,000 with the win.

He also solidified his spot in the $225,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final on Oct. 15 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, where he will go up against freshman pacing star Stockade Seelster, and the rest of Ontario’s top two-year-old male pacers.

“He’s just got to stay sound and healthy,” said Henry. “He’s every bit as good as the rest of them. If he gets the right trip, he will be right there.”

Robert McIntosh bred Moment Is Here out of the No Pan Intended mare Breathtacular. The Windsor, Ont. resident trains and co-owns the colt with Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. (Leamington, Ont.,), Frank Baldachino (Harvey Cedars, N.J.), and Mardon Stables (Loretto, Ont.).

Santana Hanover held on for second place, good enough to move him inside the top-10 and secure his spot in the Super Final after starting the night in 11th on the leaderboard.

Scott McEney of Puslinch, Ont. trains the Big Jim gelding who now has a record of 2-4-1 from nine starts this year for Hamilton, Ont. owner Domenic Chiaravalle.

Rounding out the top-three tonight was Gregg McNair trained Whatchulookin At. The Hes Watching colt is owned by McNair, Jim Newton (Saskatoon, Sask.), Bloomingwood Farms Ltd (Harriston, Ont.), and Paul Kidd (Guelph, Ont.). Doug McNair was in the race bike for the show finish.

The 'Bulldog' Barks In Dayton Pacing Derby

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 15:32:45 GMT

Bulldog Hanover rode second-over cover and had to come three-wide off the final turn to win the $250,000 Dayton Pacing Derby in 1:50.1.

There was an early skirmish for the lead, with American Courage making the front through a quick first quarter of :26.2. Workin Ona Mystery was flushed out by Bulldog Hanover, coming to the half in :54.4.

Moving up the backstretch, the outer flow pressured the leader, and past the three-quarter pole, Bulldog Hanover tipped three-wide after being parked the mile and drew off to win easily in the stretch. The four-year-old Shadow Play stallion races for owners Jack Darling Stables Ltd. and Brad Grant. He paid $2.10 to win.

Test Of Faith was able to assert her dominance in the $250,000 Dayton Distaff Derby.

As the gate opened, Amazing Dream N and Gias Surreal battled through the first eighth, but Aaron Merriman was able to guide Gias Surreal to the lead at the quarter in :27.2. After a testing quarter, Yannick Gingras tipped outside and re-took the lead with Amazing Dream N heading to the three-eighths pole. Heavy favourite Test Of Faith felt the leaders getting a breather and began her first over bid. The 2021 Horse of the Year battled with leaders past three-quarters in 1:24.1.

Amazing Dream N led the field into the stretch with Gingras urging her on, but Test Of Faith was confidently handled under a hand drive by David Miller to win in 1:51.2 for trainer Brett Pelling. The four-year-old Art Major mare races for owners Melvin Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Eddie Gran.

After getting the perfect trip, When Dovescry used the passing lane to win the $250,000 Dayton Oaks while Back Of The Neck repeated in the $250,000 Dayton Trotting Derby.

Atlanta led through most of the mile setting soft fractions on the lead. Bella Bellini made her move after a half in :57.1 and was the first foe to challenge Atlanta. Atlanta led the field past three-quarters in 1:25.4, and as Gingras asked her to respond, he dealt with intense pressure from Bella Bellini on the outside.

Through the stretch, When Dovescry, Atlanta and Bella Bellini threw down, but When Dovescry was able to turn the perfect trip into a victory, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:54 for trainer Brett Pelling. David Miller drove the six-year-old Muscle Hill mare for owner John Lengacher.

In the Dayton Trotting Derby, Jujubee got to the lead quickly when the gate sprung. As in the Dayton Oaks, McCarthy got a soft half, tripping the beam in :56.3. Tim Tetrick sent Back Of The Neck to the outside at the half and dueled with Jujubee past three-quarters in 1:24.2.

Back Of The Neck and Jujubee battled down the stretch, but Back Of The Neck was able to prevail by a half length in 1:53.1. Rattle My Cage finished a strong second after getting a perfect trip. The five-year-old Ready Cash stallion is owned by Howard Taylor, Order By Stable and Judith Taylor.

Stockade Seelster back on winning track in Metro Pace

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 13:05:06 GMT

Watch for Sorcha Seelster , a half-sister to Stockade Seelster this fall at the London Classic Yearling Sale October 18-19, 2022.

After tasting defeat for the first time in his career one week ago, rookie Stockade Seelster started a new win streak courtesy of an impressive performance in the $900,000 Metro Pace, Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A bay son of State Treasurer-Soiree Seelster, Stockade Seelster arrived at the Metro off a third-place finish in his elim race on September 17, ending six straight trips to the winner’s circle.

On this night, he went two better and found himself in a familiar spot.

Lining up from post two, Stockade Seelster, in rein to Jody Jamieson got away fourth as Tickertape Hanover floated up to the front and led the early parade, reaching the quarter in :27.4.

Save America, the 3-5 choice, got away fourth, but Yannick Gingras had the Nancy Takter trainee quickly on the move after the quarter, and the duo struck front. Stockade Seelster and Jamieson were also in motion, powering into second, slipping through on the inside while Save America drifted off the rail momentarily.

Completing three-quarters in 1:23.0, Save America, unbeaten in his previous four starts, soon had company, as Stockade Seelster came calling in early stretch, eventually getting the measure of his rival to notch a three-quarter length score in a time of 1:50.1. Save America stayed on for second, Aces of Aces was third and Tickertape Hanover finished fourth.

“Well, Yannick was looking to let me go and I knew that when I moved him,” noted Jamieson, who notched his third Metro triumph. “He’s a tough horse to drive right now. He’s green and he wants to go fast all the time. There was a gap there and I took it, it’s as simple as that. At the head of the lane, I thought I did have him. I was kind of shocked a bit that I had him, but I thought I had him, and he just dug in and paced right to the wire.”

Trained by Dr. Ian Moore, celebrating his first Metro crown, the bay colt is owned by Paul MacDonald and his aunt, Sally MacDonald.

“This is a pretty nice colt, and I should’ve made the change with the bridle long before this,” said Moore, who also trained State Treasurer. “He was obviously a lot more manageable tonight, and we got a full performance from him tonight. And Jody did a heck of a job, no doubt about that.”

A $45,000 purchase at the 2021 London Virtual Yearling Sale, Stockade Seelster wasted no time in making an impression, winning first time out and following it up with several head-turning efforts, including pacing the fastest mile in Ontario Sires Stakes history by a freshman, 1:49.3 on September 3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Now, he can add a Metro Pace title to his growing list of accomplishments.

“I was very happy,” said Moore. “I figured that our luck may have changed when he drew the two-hole. I was expecting the 10-hole, so that was a surprise. The week before in the elimination, I was not happy here on a Saturday night. The horse and I were having a battle all week long and he just wasn’t in top shape for me. This week, I was very pleased. I warmed him up, he was two fingers tonight. I could’ve gone another lap, but I was pleased.”

Stockade Seelster paid $10.30 for the win.

Bulldog Hanover rolls to track record victory in Harrah’s Hoosier Park Pacing Derby

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 13:09:17 GMT

To watch a race replay of Bulldog Hanover’s victory, click here .

Anderson, IN — Bulldog Hanover, the fastest Standardbred in history, became the fastest at Harrah’s Hoosier Park as well on Friday (Sept. 23), winning the Harrah’s Hoosier Park Pacing Derby in dominant fashion and shaving nearly a second off the local all-age track record with a 1:46.3 effort.

With the victory, Bulldog Hanover recorded his tenth straight victory and stamped his name in the Harrah’s Hoosier Park record books.

Leaving from post two in the talented field of 10, driver Dexter Dunn elected to take back into fifth position while Allywag Hanover and Todd McCarthy led the hot opening quarter of :25.3. Allywag Hanover relinquished the lead to a parked and pressing Desperate Man (driven by Trevor Henry) just before Catch The Fire launched his bid for the lead with a snarling Bulldog Hanover right on his back. Catch The Fire (Andy McCarthy) crossed over to the lead at the half in :53.2 with The Bulldog set to be unleashed first-over heading into the final turn.

Bulldog Hanover blitzed to the lead entering the far turn and began to flex his muscle on the field, storming to three-quarters in 1:21. In the stretch, the Harrah’s Hoosier Park crowd got what they came to see, as Bulldog Hanover thundered home with a :25.3 final quarter, pacing away from an elite field of competitors by six lengths to score in 1:46.3, obliterating the overall track record of 1:47.2, first set by Sweet Lou in 2014 and equaled by four others. Allywag Hanover navigated traffic to rally up the inside for second; Workin Ona Mystery (David Miller) rounded out the trifecta.

“I knew there would be some leavers, so with the post. I thought we could sit back and let things play out early,” Dunn said. “We got a good tow in the opening half, then coming around the last turn I gave him a chirp and away he went.”

“He just amazes me every time he steps on the racetrack,” trainer and co-owner Jack Darling said. “I didn’t really expect him to go this fast tonight; he just seems like the harder he gets used, the better he is.”

It was the 11th victory in 12 seasonal starts, and the 10th consecutive win for the son of Shadow Play. Trained and co-owned by Jack Darling along with Brad Grant, the top-rated horse in the sport surpassed the million-dollar mark in 2022, pushing his bankroll to $1,024,331. For his career, Bulldog Hanover has won 25 times in 33 starts with career earnings of $1,793,425.

Stockade Seelster An Absolute Treasure

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 23:45:54 GMT

Watch for Sorcha Seelster , a half-sister to Stockade Seelster this fall at the London Classic Yearling Sale October 18-19, 2022.

Most owners dream about having one ‘horse of a lifetime,’ but Paul MacDonald is trying to temper expectations about the prospect of holding another one.

A 48-year-old native of Prince Edward Island, Paul has grown up around horses his entire life. His grandfather, aunt and uncle have all been involved with Standardbreds — like many other P.E.I. natives — but he didn’t expect where that would lead him.

Fast forward to November 10, 2010 at the Black Book Yearling Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where Paul and his aunt, Sally MacDonald found their superstar; his name: State Treasurer. A relatively inexpensive purchase of just $6,500 did not bear resemblance to his career, which lasted six years with more than $2 million in earnings. From there, the son of Real Desire-Ideal Treasure found his way to Lucan, Ont., where he became a stallion at Seelster Farms.

Paul would often make the trek to Seelster from his Toronto homebase to visit State Treasurer and chat with the farm’s staff. During one of those visits, a specific colt was brought to his attention.

“The owner mentioned to me that they had a really nice colt… a State Treasurer colt, no less,” MacDonald told Trot Insider. “Once I heard that, I made it a point to see him.”

Paul went to the field where he saw Stockade Seelster for the first time, running around with his dam Soiree Seelster, and that’s when he was enticed.

Paul took pictures and sent them to Sally, and they would continue to keep a close eye on the colt through his development. After consulting with Dr. Ian Moore, who trained State Treasurer throughout his career, the MacDonalds decided they’d try to purchase the yearling when he became available. On October 18, 2021, Stockade Seelster became theirs when he sold for $45,000 during the 2021 London Virtual Yearling Sale.

The sale price for Stockade Seelster was the third highest price ever fetched by a State Treasurer yearling. If that price tag seemed a bit high for Stockade Seelster, Paul felt it was justified.

“It was an expensive purchase for sure, but we just knew we had to get him. We thought the breeding looked right and that he had fantastic conformation, so we were willing to go ahead with it.”

Sally and Paul had purchased a few other State Treasurer foals, but this was one they were more excited about than most. Though they’ve yet to find any who share all of their father’s traits, they were hopeful 'Stockade' had a good chance to follow in his sire’s footsteps.

“If we could just see babies with the same attitude and desire to win, we knew we’d be successful. We just had never seen it yet in one that we had purchased.”

When Moore finally got the opportunity to work with the yearling, that’s when Paul got a glimpse of what could be.

“Doc Moore was training Stockade down in Florida and I had been hearing some really good things. Sally & Allen [Paul’s uncle] have a home down in Florida, so the three of us went down in the beginning of March to watch him train. When we saw him in person, it was clear to us he had ability.”

Based on the early returns, there’s no doubting the ability of their prized pupil. The two-year-old colt remains without a blemish in his freshman campaign, notching six wins in six tries, while amassing over $287,000 to date.

That includes a 1:49.3 mile in his most recent victory, which marked the fastest mile paced by a rookie in Ontario Sires Stakes history.

Now, the focus for Stockade Seelster will shift towards the $825,000 Metro Pace, with eliminations set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 17 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Stockade Seelster has drawn post four and is the 6-5 morning line choice in the second Metro elim, slated as the eighth race on Saturday. Beyond that, though, Paul doesn’t know what’s next.

“With babies, it’s clear you take it one race at a time. We’ll see how it goes in the Metro. Depending how things turn out, he’s eligible for the OSS Super Final, which is in October, and eligible for the Breeders Crown, which we’d be happy to participate in if things go well.”

For now, owners Paul and Sally MacDonald are taking things week-by-week, all while enjoying the success of their rookie pacer.

“We’re just pinching ourselves that we’re here again,” said Paul, as he relishes the accomplishments of Stockade Seelster thus far. “We owe all of it to State Treasurer in this case.”

Whether he will end up being as good as his father remains to be seen, but the hope is that this horse can eventually lead to more memories for them that they will ‘treasure’ for a lifetime.

Grandeur Seelster Swiftest In Grassroots

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 16:52:19 GMT

Marcel Barrieau pupil Grandeur Seelster paid the highest win mutuel and travelled the fastest mile of the four Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday night (Sept. 14).

Driver Austin Sorrie floated Grandeur Seelster off the wings from post seven to race fourth to a :27.3 first quarter set by favourite Bettors Punch. But when the pacesetter slowed proceedings towards a :59.1 half, Sorrie sent Grandeur Seelster after the leader and ranged to take over the lead to three-quarters in 1:27.3. From there, the daughter of All Bets Off scooted clear to a five-length win in 1:55.3 over Best Actress with Bettors Punch finishing third.

Grandeur Seelster races for owners Gestion Mastel Inc., Marcel Barrieau and Courtney Gallant. She won her second race from six starts and has now earned $34,762. She paid $28 to win.

One Last Wish won from pillar to post in the first Grassroots division. The filly by Bettors Delight pushed for the front from the pylon post and set a clip of :27.3, :58.2 and 1:27.3 while enduring mid-race pressure from Pa Delight. She repelled that challenge spinning for home to cross the finish 1-1/2 lengths better than Carla Cam rallying for second. Pa Delight took third.

Bulldog Hanover Establishes Another Record

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 15:34:49 GMT

The harness racing world continues to be impressed and left speechless by the incredible on-track exploits of Seelster Farms’ stallion Bulldog Hanover . In July he stamped himself as the fastest pacer ever in the game with a 1:45.4 effort at the Meadowlands.

Tonight he recorded his ninth straight win in the prestigious $650,000 Canadian Pacing Derby. His dominant performance, a front end 1:46.4 effort, tied the time for the quickest mile by a pacer ever recorded in Canada. The time ties with another pacer bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Dr J Hanover, who established the mark in a leg of the Graduate at Mohawk in 2017.

Owned by trainer Jack Darling and Brad Grant, Bulldog now has 10 wins in 11 tries this year and just over a million earned this year. In his career he’s 24 for 32 with just under $2 million in purses. Dexter Dunn was up behind Bulldog and was quick to praise him.

“It’s a pleasure and a joy being out there, I’m just along for the ride,” said Dunn who was driving in the CPD for the first time. “What he’s doing is just amazing to see, the way he does it as well. There are no easy trips for him, he does all the hard word in those big races and he’s running away from good horses.”

Bulldog is a four-year-old son of Shadow Play (also trained by Dr. Moore). He stood his first season as a stallion earlier this year while also in training and racing.

A shout out as well to Poseiden Seelster who finished third in the Pacing Derby as well as to the Big Jim daughter So Much More who notched her fifth straight win in the Mares Open on the card.

Stockade Seelster & Bulldog Hanover Make History

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 15:32:55 GMT

September 3 proved a special night for Seelster Farms as Stockade Seelster , a colt we raised and sold (sired by one of our stallions) made Ontario Sires Stakes history while another of our studs, Bulldog Hanover, tied the record for the fastest pacing mile ever in Canada.

The sensational Stockade Seelster not only extended his unbeaten streak to six but the son of State Treasurer paced the fastest mile ever by a freshman pacing colt in the history of the Ontario Sires Stakes program Saturday (September 3) night at Mohawk.

With Jody Jamieson in the bike as usual, Stockade was a dominant winner in 1:49.3 which erases the record of 1:49.4 set 11 years ago by Warrawee Needy. Ironically, Jody was also in the bike for that mile as he was Warrawee Needy’s regular pilot while his father Carl trained.

Dr. Ian Moore is the trainer of Stockade. He also trained his sire, State Treasurer, and indicated after the race that Stockade is very much like his father in terms of temperament and eagerness on the racetrack.

“He’s so much like his dad it’s unreal,” said Dr. Moore. “He’s got very aggressive after a couple of starts just like his father did, and I actually jogged him yesterday with a pull strap on him that his father wore, just to try and settle him down a little bit.”

Stockade is the second foal of his dam, the Big Jim daughter Soiree Seelster, whose first foal is Shanghai Seelster a winner in 1:52 this year at three. Seelsters are pleased to offer their yearling half-sister, Sorcha Seelster (by All Bets Off) at the London Classic Yearling Sale this October. She sells as hip number 58. We will also be offering a trio of yearlings by State Treasurer at the London sale.

We extend our congratulations to all of the connections of Stockade Seelster.

Great Night At Mohawk For Seelster Farms

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 20:07:59 GMT

Seelster-bred and sired performers were in the spotlight Friday (August 26) night at Mohawk led by the Sunshine Beach sophomore Stonebridge Helios who captured his $100,400 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold event in 1:49.4.

Doug McNair was in the bike for his father, trainer Gregg McNair, and owners John Fleischman and breeder Angie Stiller. It was the sixth win in nine starts this year for Stonebridge Helios who upped his earnings well over a half million dollars with the effort. “He’s a real special horse,” McNair noted after the win.

The distaff open saw So Much More record her fourth straight win with a 1:50.1 score for James MacDonald. The daughter of Big Jim has well over a million earned lifetime and over $235,000 this year. She is owned by trainer Don Beatson, Kenneth Beatson and Cole England.

The final race on the night went to Just Daisy , a Sunshine Beach mare owned by trainer and co-breeder Terry Fritz.

In addition, Nightlife Seelster captured the second race on the card with a 1:51.2 effort for Bob McClure. The time is a new life best for the Sunshine Beach four-year-old mare owned by Hudson Standardbred and Bertrand Gilhespy Stable and trained by Shawn Steacy.

Stockade Seelster Stays Undefeated

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 17:51:40 GMT

Undefeated two-year-old colt Stockade Seelster streaked to his fifth consecutive victory on Friday evening (Aug. 19) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning the $158,100 third Gold leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) season.

Stockade Seelster entered Friday's showdown tied atop the OSS standings with Write Me A Rose -- each with a pair of Gold wins in the opening legs -- and pulled ahead with his latest 1:52 triumph.

Driver Jody Jamieson left from post five with Stockade Seelster and after the outside leavers traded turns on the front, the 1-9 favourite took over command at the :26.3 quarter mark and opened up a quick five-length lead down the backstretch. His rivals chased him to the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.2 but couldn't catch the perfect colt, who won by a length at the end over 20-1 shot Ace Of Aces (James MacDonald) with 8-1 second choice Write Me A Rose (Sylvain Filion) third in his first career loss.

Fresh off a victory in the final of the Dream Maker Series last Saturday, Stockade Seelster paid $2.10 to win in the field reduced to eight with Moment Is Here a late vet scratch lame.

Dr. Ian Moore trains the State Treasurer-Soiree Seelster colt, who was a $45,000 yearling purchase at the London Selected Sale and has banked $237,600 through his first five starts for owners Sally MacDonald of Souris, P.E.I. and Paul MacDonald of Toronto, Ont.

“It’s always nice to have the opportunity to train a son or a daughter of a good horse that you had years ago,” said Moore, who guided State Treasurer through his $2 million career. The Cambridge, Ont. resident added that, through the early stages of his career, Stockade Seelster has a great deal in common with his sire. “He got real aggressive after two races and his father did the same, but this guy is a fairly intelligent colt. His father was kind of a bit of a runaway at the end of his two-year-old year, but this guy seems to be coming around.

“Jody has done well with him. He was aggressive again tonight in the race. He [Jamieson] couldn’t really put him in a hole, but he did kind of come back to him in the third quarter, that’s what he said. He was all fire up to the half and then he came back to him in the third quarter.”

Stockade Seelster, who is eligible to the Metro Pace, is primed for a rigorous schedule ahead.

After a few days of well-earned rest this week, he will resume training in preparation for the next Gold leg on Sept. 3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Following that outing, the colt will compete in the Champlain Stakes on Sept. 10 and the Metro Pace eliminations on Sept. 17, with hopes of advancing to the $850,000 final on Sept. 24. The Gold Series regular season wraps up on Oct. 2 at Flamboro Downs and the $225,000 Super Final, for the top 10 Gold Series point-earners, is on Oct. 15 at Mohawk.

“That’s what we’re kind of striving for at this point but, like any two-year-old, they’re always day-to-day and week-to-week. You make plans, but two-year-olds often disrupt those plans,” said Moore. “But no matter what happens, he’s got close to a quarter-million made this year now and we’re very, very pleased. His owners were all there tonight. Sally and Allan MacDonald came up from P.E.I. and Paul MacDonald and Sophie were here as well.”

Stockade Seelster's win was one of three on the 11-race card for Moore, who finished 1-2 in the fourth race with three-year-old pacing fillies Got The Gold ($10.90, Doug McNair) and I Love Ongait (Chris Christoforou), and also scored with Got Sexy Scars ($6, James MacDonald) in the 10th race.

WATCH FOR Sorcha Seelster , A HALF-SISTER TO STOCKADE SEELSTER THIS FALL AT THE LONDON CLASSIC YEARLING SALE OCTOBER 18-19, 2022.

Stockade Seelster Swift In Dream Maker Final

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 16:19:30 GMT

Off as the 1-5 favourite, Stockade Seelster swept for the lead past the half and held firm to the finish to win the $94,500 Dream Maker Final, co-featured with the $88,500 Whenuwishuponastar Final, at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night (Aug. 13).

Hungry Man motored to the top to a :26.3 first quarter and soon yielded control to Hungry Angel Boy before a :56 half. Driver Jody Jamieson made his move with Stockade Seelster heading to the half, and the colt by State Treasurer hurried to the lead and opened nearly three lengths on his competition to three-quarters in 1:23.3. The Doc Moore pupil turned for home with a wide lead which he maintained to the finish of a 1:51.4 mile to win by two lengths over Redwood Hanover rallying for second. Stormalong took third and Hungry Man faded to fourth.

Sally MacDonald and Paul MacDonald own Stockade Seelster, who remained unbeaten from four starts while padding his bankroll to $158,550. He paid $2.30 to win.

The co-featured $88,500 Whenuwishuponastar Final went to the speed tactics of Sylvia Hanover, who paced a front-stepping mile to win in 1:52.

Driver Bob McClure landed the daughter of Always B Miki on the point to a :27.2 first quarter with Always B A Star sitting second and Bankers Luck third. With no challenge to a :57.1 half, Sylvia Hanover readied for a first-over push from Bankers Luck to three-quarters in 1:25.2 but easily brushed the challenge off into the stretch. The Shawn Steacy trainee sprinted home to win by 4-1/2 lengths over Bankers Luck with Always B A Star third and Duchenne closing for fourth.

Sylvia Hanover won her second race from three starts and has now earned $59,250 for owner Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. She paid $2.60 to win.

We are proud to offer his sister by All Bets Off, SORCHA SEELSTER , Hip# 58 at the London Classic Sale, Oct. 18-19.

'Bulldog' Does It In Dan Patch Stakes

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 16:34:29 GMT

Back to the races for the first time since his world record performance and making his highly anticipated return to Hoosier Park on Friday night (Aug. 12), Bulldog Hanover was an easy winner in the $315,000 Dan Patch Stakes.

Sent postward as the overwhelming 1-5 favourite with Dexter Dunn in the sulky, Bulldog Hanover got away third from post three behind a pair of Ron Burke trainees leaving from opposite ends of the gate. Working Ona Mystery (David Miller) landed the early lead from the inside post and outside leaver This Is The Plan (Yannick Gingras) tucked into the pocket spot through a :26 opening quarter.

Dunn then made his move with Bulldog Hanover and the world champion took the lead on the outside and cleared once they passed the half in :54.3.

As Bulldog Hanover led to three-quarters in 1:22.3, his main rival, Rockyroad Hanover (Todd McCarthy), the 4-1 second choice coming off a second-place finish in the Sam McKee Memorial on Hambletonian Day and a runner-up the last two times they met, launched first-over. However, Bulldog Hanover remained clear on top as they turned for home and cruised down the stretch a 2-3/4-length winner in 1:48.1 -- four-fifths of a second off the track record. Rockyroad Hanover chased in second and Workin Ona Mystery finished third.

Trained by Jack Darling of Cambridge, Ont. and co-owned with Brad Grant of Milton, Ont. the four-year-old millionaire son of Shadow Play-BJs Squall kept his perfect record at Hoosier Park in tact with the Dan Patch following up four stakes wins at the Anderson, Indiana oval at the end of his sophomore season.

Bulldog Hanover, who paced the fastest mile in the history of harness racing winning the William R. Haughton Memorial in 1:45.4 on July 16 at The Meadowlands, came into the Dan Patch off a 1:51 qualifier at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Aug. 2. He paid $2.40 to win and is now eight-for-nine this year.

"Working with a horse like him, it makes my job very easy," said Dunn, who confirmed there was never an anxious moment in the race. "He felt great, Jack was very happy with him. We got away pretty cleanly and handy, and once I moved him, I had a handful of horse. Coming to the last turn, he was travelling so good so I thought the long straight too would suit him. The further he seems to go, the better he is so I was very confident.

"He just doesn't seem to be putting in bad runs at the moment. He's eating up these miles, he's going fast times but it really doesn't seem to worry him. He bounces back and just does it again and again."

Darling said the impressive stallion with 22 career wins and more than $1.6 million in purse earnings is a natural talent.

"Not a lot of maintenance," said Darling. "We really do take care of him. His man, his caretaker Johnny Mallia, he's with him all the time. A horse like that, you're just being really careful with him and you just try to keep him as happy as you can."

Next up for Bulldog Hanover is the Canadian Pacing Derby back on his home turf at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Eliminations will take place on Aug. 27 with the $600,000 (est.) final on Sept. 3.

As winner of the Dan Patch, Bulldog Hanover received an automatic nomination to the 2022 edition of the $175,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, which will be contested on Sept. 23.

Friday evening’s 15-race card produced a Dan Patch record handle of $1,568,105, besting the total handle of $1,481,330 from 2021.

Live racing continues at Hoosier on Saturday, Aug. 13 with a 12-race card. There were no winner’s in Friday’s Hoosier-High-5 resulting in a $21,968 carryover that will be applied to a $75,000 guaranteed Hoosier High-5 offered in Race 12 on Saturday’s card.

Bulldog Hanover Heads To Indiana

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 16:30:24 GMT

The field for the 2022 $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes at Harrah's Hoosier Park is set, with a total of nine horses that will attempt to knock off the world's fastest Standardbred, Bulldog Hanover on Friday (August 12).

Bulldog Hanover drew post three for driver Dexter Dunn in the draw conducted before the card of harness racing at Hoosier on Tuesday (August 9). The son of Shadow play - B Js Squall comes into the 2022 Dan Patch off a qualifier at Woodbine Mohawk Park on August 2 where he toured the Campbellville oval in a time of 1:51.

In his pari-mutuel start prior to that, Bulldog Hanover made harness racing history with his 1:45.4 performance in the William R. Haughton Memorial on July 16 at The Meadowlands Racetrack.

No stranger to racing in Indiana, Bulldog Hanover rattled off four straight victories at Hoosier Park last fall to conclude his sophomore campaign for trainer / owner Jack Darling of Cambridge, Ont. and co-owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ont.

With combined career purse earnings exceeding $10 million, the talented field of 10 includes four millionaires, two World Champions, and the number one ranked horse in all of harness racing. North America’s leading money-winning trainer, Ron Burke, will look to score his third Dan Patch victory and become the first trainer to score three Dan Patch victories. As the richest horse in the field with more than $2 million in lifetime purse earnings, This Is The Plan will be one of five entrants in the field for Burke and will start from post nine. The half-mile track world champion will look to add to his bankroll and secure his first Dan Patch trophy after finishing fifth in the same event last year.

Also included in the celebrated field of 10, Little Rocket Man and Tellmeaboutit will play the role of local fan favourites starting from post two and five, respectively. John DeLong has been enlisted to drive Little Rocket Man for trainer Missy Essig while Michael Oosting will be the pilot for Tellmeaboutit and trainer Alvin Miller. With multiple Indiana Sires Stakes wins to their credit, Little Rocket Man and Tellmeaboutit have combined 57 lifetime wins over the Hoosier Park surface.

The field for the 2022 Dan Patch with morning line odds is as follows:

1. Workin Ona Mystery - David Miller - Ron Burke - 15-1
2. Little Rocket Man - John DeLong - Missy Essig - 15-1
3. Bulldog Hanover - Dexter Dunn - Jack Darling - 3-5
4. Rockyroad Hanover - Todd McCarthy - Tony Alagna - 9-2
5. Tellmeaboutit - Mike Oosting - Alvin Miller - 30-1
6. Backstreet Shadow - Trace Tetrick - Ron Burke - 15-1
7. Fortify - Todd McCarthy (also listed) - Ron Burke - 20-1
8. Lous Pearlman - Andrew McCarthy - Ron Burke - 20-1
9. This Is The Plan - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke - 15-1
10. Abuckabett Hanover - Tim Tetrick - Ron Burke - 6-1 (starts from the second tier)

The 2022 installment of the Dan Patch Stakes has been slated the 14th race on the program with an estimated post time of 11:05 p.m. EDT and will be supported by an all-star undercard of racing action.

Racing fans will have the opportunity to participate in three special wagers offered for the Dan Patch card. A $20,000 Guaranteed Late Pick-4 will be offered in Races 12-15, a $25,000 Guaranteed Superfecta pool will be available on the Dan Patch Stakes in Race 14 and a $15,000 Guaranteed Hoosier-High Five pool on the last race of the program will be available as part of the Strategic Wagering Program. Each wager is available through the cooperative efforts of the United States Trotting Association, Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino and the Indiana Standardbred Association.

In addition to the special wagers, $250 megabets will be offered throughout the evening along with a $1,000 Late Night Lucky cash drawing immediately following the Dan Patch Stakes. Guests are encouraged to visit a Trackside Promotional kiosk to enter beginning at 5 p.m.

The Dan Patch festivities will also include a driver autograph session, family-friendly activities, special giveaways in the winner’s circle, and a Dan Patch chair giveaway to the first 250 guests to visit a Trackside Promotional Kiosk, beginning at 5 p.m. Harrah’s Hoosier Park will also have food trucks, outdoor games and roaming entertainment to delight racing guests throughout the evening.

Congrats Mad Max

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 17:48:45 GMT

Seelster congratulations Mad Max Hanover who finished a very close second to Beach Glass in the Cane Pace, a leg of the Triple Crown, on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands.

Mad Max now has a summary of 3-4-2 in 11 starts this year for just under $300,000 in earnings. He has $420,000 in his career to date. He is the second foal of Seelster bred Mayhem Seelster, now owned by Hanover Shoe Farms.

Seelster owns the second dam, Macapelo Rose, whose All Bets Off colt will sell in this year’s London Select Yearling sale as hip number 29.

Stonebridge Helios Wins $101,300 OSS Gold Leg

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 16:23:09 GMT

Sunshine Beach sired STONEBRIDGE HELIOS (Ken Doll J) wins the $101,300 OSS Gold Leg for three-year-old pacing colts in 1:49.4f at Georgian Downs. Congratulations to owners John Fleischman and Angie Stiller and trainer Greg McNair.

Stockade Seelster Remains Perfect After Dream Maker Win

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 14:49:01 GMT

Stockade Seelster made it 3-for-3 to start his young racing career on Friday (Aug. 5) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The son of State Treasurer delivered a 1:51.4 victory in the second leg of the Dream Maker Series for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Coming off back-to-back wins in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold events, Stockade Seelster found the winner's circle for the third time in three career starts with driver Jody Jamieson in the bike.

It was Stormalong (Bob McClure), who held the lead after an opening fraction of :26.3, but he was immediately passed by odds-on favourite Stockade Seelster, who left from Post 4.

Stockade Seelster quickly grabbed control at the front of the field, and never relinquished the lead. He cruised through a :56.4 half and 1:25 three-quarters.

The competition was no match for him on this night.

Stockade Seelster came home in :26.4 to post a 5-1/4 length victory over Twin B Seamonster (Sylvain Filion) while Stormalong finished third.

Trained by Ian Moore and owned by Sally MacDonald of Souris, P.E.I., and Paul MacDonald of Toronto, Stockade Seelster has earned $111,300 this year.

His win paid $3.40.

Four Pop-Up Series races were also on Friday's card at Mohawk. The winners were Red Overbach (Jamieson) in 1:54, Hawaii (Filion) in 1:54.3, Tymal Riggs (Scott Young) in 1:55.4 and Shes Got Pizazz (Paul MacDonell) in 1:54.2.

Big Jim Sired So Much More Joins $1-Million Club

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 14:45:46 GMT

Welcome to the $1-million club.

So Much More reached an impressive harness racing career accomplishment at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday (Aug. 5).

The six-year-old mare not only won the $38,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred Handicapped Pace, but also eclipsed the $1-million mark in career earnings.

The daughter of Big Jim scored a 1:50.4 win, her second consecutive victory, to give her eight wins in 21 starts this year.

A winner of 49 races in 111 career starts, So Much More has accumulated $202,820 this year and now has lifetime bankroll of $1,002,448.

She left from Post 6 for driver James MacDonald on Friday and had a spirited battle with fellow race favourite Shes Nun Bettor N (Doug McNair) from start to finish.

So Much More led an opening quarter of :26.4, but Shes Nun Bettor N and McNair battled right back and immediately took the lead back through a :55.2 half.

Shes Nun Bettor N continued to hold the lead at a 1:24.2 three-quarters, but So Much More was right on her heels, and made her move on the outside on the final turn.

So Much More had some work to do in the stretch, making up the distance and fighting hard to the end, and she passed Shes Nun Bettor N just before the line to win by a neck in a thrilling finish.

Kickupyaheels N (Trevor Henry) came in third.

So Much More's win paid $4.40.

Don Beatson of Granton, Ont., trains the six-year-old and shares ownership with Kenneth Beatson of Palgrave, Ont., and Cole England of Exeter, Ont.

Brynley Seelster wins Battle Of The Belles Eliminations

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 19:14:21 GMT

Some of Ontario’s most gifted freshman pacers trekked to Grand River Raceway on Monday evening to compete in the eliminations for this year’s Battle Of Waterloo and the Battle Of The Belles.

A set of eliminations went postward for this year's Battle Of Waterloo, while it took three elimination fields to make up the field for this year's Battle Of The Belles Final. Here's a recap of what took place on Monday's card:

Brynley Seelster received a ground-saving trip in the two hole for most of the mile in the second elimination, and she used it to help her post a 1:56.1 score in her $10,000 assignment.

Jody Jamieson left out from Post 6 with the Jack Darling trainee who stalked Miss Canada through first-half fractions of :27.3 and :57.3. Blue Glamber attacked first-over in the backstretch, and she showed the lead while racing parked past the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2. Jamieson swung out with Brynley Seelster at that point, and she proceeded to pace home in :29.3 to win by three-quarters of a length over Blue Glamber. Western Flames came on late to finish third.

The daughter of Big Jim-Better Than Happy is owned by Jack Darling Stables Ltd of Cambridge, Ont. It was a maiden-breaking score for the winner of $11,345.

Bulldog Hanover Returns Home

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 18:00:10 GMT

Following his historic victory in the $500,000 William R. Haughton Memorial on Saturday night at The Meadowlands, the sport's fastest racehorse Bulldog Hanover has returned home to the care of trainer and co-owner Jack Darling in Ontario.

Darling shared that the four-year-old son of Shadow Play arrived home safe and sound on Sunday after his successful stint stateside with Noel Daley at The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

"I want to thank everyone for the well wishes... I feel so fortunate to be involved with this great horse and it makes me happy to know that so many of you recognize and appreciate his excellence," said Darling in a social media post that shows the big dog enjoying bananas at his stable.

Amazed by Bulldog Hanover's talent, Darling also shared that the world champion threw a shoe going around the first turn during his epic 1:45.4 mile.

Bulldog Hanover is a career winner of 21 races and has banked $1.45 million from 29 starts for the Cambridge, Ont. horseman and co-owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ont.

Stockade Seelster and Write Me A Rose repeat in OSS Gold

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 17:57:26 GMT

Stockade Seelster and Write Me A Rose each posted a repeat victory in Monday evening’s Ontario Sires Stakes Gold action for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A pair of $101,300 divisions were contested in the second leg of the Gold Series. With the first leg contested nine days prior, Write Me A Rose and Stockade Seelster returned, drawn in separate divisions, with eyes on repeating their Gold success.

The first division saw Write Me A Rose capitalize off a perfect second-over trip from driver Sylvain Filion for a 1:52.4 score. Despite winning as the favourite in leg one, the Rob Fellows trained Write Me A Rose went off as the 3-1 second-choice behind Moment Is Here, who finished second to Stockade Seelster on July 9.

Ace Of Aces opened the mile with a :27.1 quarter, while Moment Is Here was parked around the first turn before clearing to the lead. Write Me A Rose got away fifth and sat there until catching cover on the final turn.

Moment Is Here tripped the half in :56.1, but was then immediately overtaken by a snap third to first move from longshot Scribblers. The new leader led by three-quarters in 1:24.4.

In the stretch, Write Me A Rose rocketed off cover and stormed home in :27.2 for a three length score. Midnight Nation followed the winner’s path to finish second, while Bettor Bea Terror rallied from seventh and last to finish third.

Favourite Moment Is Here got caught in behind tiring leaders and never saw clear room until late, ultimately finishing fifth. Early leader Ace Of Aces suffered a similar fate, splitting through late for fourth.

A Sportswriter colt, Write Me A Rose is now three for three to begin his career for owner/breeder Windermere Stable LLC. Trainer Fellows received the youngster after the colt made his baby race debut at Magical Acres in New Jersey.

“So far all I’ve had to do is get him here on time,” remarked Fellows. “He was gift wrapped to me. He’s a nice horse, so it’s just a pleasure to race for these guys.”

The veteran trainer was quick to point out the fortune of his student with the way Monday’s race unfolded.

“The 1-5 favourite had to make a decision at the half and it didn’t turn out for him but it worked out great for us, he got pinned in and didn’t get a chance to race and we were out and had a good lane to run in.”

With Monday’s score, Write Me A Rose now sports early career numbers of three wins and $109,750 earned. The clocking of 1:52.4 erased his previous mark of 1:53.3, taken in his most recent start.

A $2 win ticket on Write Me A Rose returned $8.80.

Stockade Seelster followed up his dazzling debut with another statement performance in the evening’s second split. The Dr. Ian Moore trainee brushed to lead in the second-quarter for driver Jody Jamieson and never looked back for an easy 1:52 score over five rivals.

“He’s a nice colt, he does everything you ask him to do and so far he’s been really good,” said Jamieson. “I had figured there would be some guys trying for position off the gate, so I just wanted to make sure I got to the lead last and try to keep it, so we went a little faster tonight to the half, but he was strong finishing and the sky is the limit.”

Stockade Seelster took command after Coop A Loop posted a :26.3 opening-quarter. The Dr. Moore trainee proceeded to post fractions of :55.3 and 1:24.3 before pacing home in :27.2, with Jamieson sitting chilly in the bike, to secure the victory.

Coop A Loop did his best to stick with the leader finishing three lengths back in second, while third-place finisher The Moment Arose was nearly nine lengths back of the winner. Lyons Brushmarks and Twin B Risenshine completed the top-five.

A son of State Treasurer, Stockade Seelster is now two for two to start his career, posting sparkling 1:51.3 and 1:52 miles. The $45,000 London Selected Yearling Sale graduate has banked $101,300 in just two starts for owners Sally MacDonald and Paul MacDonald.

Stockade Seelster paid $2.50 to win.

Up next for many of Monday’s OSS participants is the Battle of Waterloo eliminations on July 25 at Grand River Raceway. Stockade Seelster is eligible to enter, while Write Me A Rose is not among the 96 eligible Ontario sired rookies.

The third OSS Gold leg for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings is scheduled for August 19 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

22 Days That Changed Harness Racing

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 14:36:33 GMT

Much has been made of Bulldog Hanover’s victory in the William Haughton Memorial last evening at the Meadowlands. The focus has all been on the 1:45.4 time which makes the horse the fastest Standardbred in history.

For my money, that is not what is most notable. In a span of 22 days, this horse won four (4) significant races against the best older pacers in North America with the slowest winning time being 1:47. This accomplishment is unparalleled. Bulldog Hanover is the finest Standardbred pacer in the world.

As temporary trainer Noel Daley said last night, many horses can go very fast on a given night but who else has been up to the herculean task of what The Bulldog did in 22 days?

(Editor’s Note - today Darling revealed that Bulldog Hanover threw a shoe in the first turn in that 1:45.4 record. Amazing.)

Greatness is defined by one’s competition. Just posting a fast mile means little because it is all about who one beats and how they did it. In the spring I penned a column talking about the depth of this class of older pacers and the nonsense of referring to the three-year-old pacers as the glamour boy group. Look at this group of sophomores and compare them to the older class. Well, there is no comparison and Bulldog beat them all these top older warriors repeatedly and made them like it.

Now what?

It is inevitable that Bulldog Hanover will get beaten. There are too many good horses to face yet again, too many variables of things that can happen in a race and of course the horse’s health. I more or less believe that the truly great ones do not get sick but actually they do get run down even with an apparent higher immune system than most. And things happen.

But it matters not what comes next. Bulldog Hanover has established himself as truly extraordinary with a capital E. Nothing can take away what he did in these 22 days and truthfully, it was actually a 30 day attack as he produced two impressive wins at Woodbine Mohawk Park before he headed south. But of course we all know nothing that happens on Canadian soil really matters.

Jack Darling who developed the horse and co-owner Brad Grant who bought in last June are both fierce Canadians. When they came up with the idea to breed Bulldog Hanover this past breeding season as he prepared to race, they selected Seelster Farms in Lucan, Ontario as the horse’s base. It was a three year arrangement ensuring that the Ontario breeding program gets all the benefit of his presence. He covered 80 mares at the bargain basement fee of $5,000.

But that has not stopped some American operations from sniffing around prior to last night’s exhibition. If one of those farms were to somehow wrangle a deal to take the horse stateside I would argue it to be a death blow to the Ontario breeding program.

Never before has the province been able to attract for stud duty the number one pacer or trotter off the racetrack. There have been some quite successful sires in the province but none had the top billing. But there are two “what if” stories that I have chronicled in the past.

In late 2001, Bettors Delight was coming off victories in the Little Brown Jug and Tattersalls Pace. Owner John (Jack) Grant (late father of Brad Grant) had designs on putting the horse to stud the next year and wanted to have him stand at Armstrong Bros which was maybe 30 minutes driving time from Grant’s own farm north of Oakville.

Unknown to him, the Armstrong family had decided to disperse their holdings and sell the property. The news was not revealed until he spoke with the late Dr. Glen Brown who had the sad task of announcing that it could not happen. Grant felt he had no choice but to turn to the United States and did a deal with Blue Chip Farms. Bettors Delight who is now 24 has been the most remarkable Standardbred stallion in history.

The record shows that in just North American alone he has sired the winners of $306 million and counting. He has easily been the most successful shuttle stallion to the southern hemisphere where his offspring there have piled up much more. But imagine how Ontario would have looked as a jurisdiction if its breeding program had been anchored by Bettors Delight.

Had Armstrong Bros. been still in operation, the province would have doubled down with Somebeachsomewhere. Trainer Brent McGrath has gone on record as saying that had the Inglewood, Ontario operation been still in existence Somebeachsomewhere would not have gone to stud at Hanover Shoe Farms. That was no slight against the Pennsylvania nursery but the ownership group would have simply kept the horse in Canada. Again, imagine if the province was home to Bettors Delight and Somebeachsomewhere.

There is still no Armstrong Bros. and never will be another but here is a third crack at a bonafide number one pacing horse. A program needs to have a flag bearer and Bulldog Hanover will be that and every effort has to be made to ensure he does not be shifted elsewhere.

Bulldog Hannover is American bred and raised but Ontario sired. Jack Darling purchased him as a yearling for US $28,000 which will forever remain one of the great mysteries of public auctions. Darling developed and raced the horse from Classy Lane Stables north of Hamilton. Only eight of his career starts took place other than Ontario.

Amazingly though, prior to last night’s race, there were some critics. The comments included…the track at the Meadowlands is short so all the mile times are questionable, the horse failed to win the North America Cup so was not a premier three-year-old, he never faced open competition at two, on type he looks nothing like his sire Shadow Play, his maternal line is ordinary at best, etc. Our industry does have its share of knockers.

As I write this, The Bulldog and Meadowlands Pace winner Beach Glass are on a truck headed back to Ontario from New Jersey. Missions accomplished. Bulldog is home now for three weeks before heading to the Dan Patch at Hoosier Park.

In other sports or industries, any such accomplishment would be leveraged every possible inch. Think golf (Brooke Henderson/Mike Weir), tennis (Bianca Andreescu) or hockey (a bunch of them including a fella named Gretzky).

A very good case can be made by our sport that we have the best Standardbred horse in the world. But who to carry the message? Ontario Racing? Woodbine Entertainment? Seelster Farms? COSA? Standardbred Canada? May be all of them?

Today, I can find no evidence anywhere in the mainstream media a single mention of Bulldog Hanover’s accomplishment. How is that possible? Is there anyone to claim responsibility for this?

This is a pivotal point in the history of Canadian harness racing. How many times does it happen to have absolutely the very best in any endeavour? If we as an industry do not capitalize on this, well…shame on all of us.

Bulldog Hanover will be home later today. Many have never been up close to the horse to see what a true champion looks like. There will be a slew of breeders who will book to the horse without ever having looked at what makes him go. Do yourself a favour and make the effort. Having had the privilege to see him in the flesh a number of times dating back to when he was being developed in the winter of his two-year-old season, I can guarantee you will like what you see. It is well worth the trip.

Despite this column and the fact that speed is not the sole criteria for judging a racehorse, the focus on Bulldog Hanover will remain all about that teletimer last night. But for those people who really understand performance, it will all be about those 22 days. Whoever follows along in the ensuring years will be judged against those four performances.

22 days that changed harness racing.

Bulldog Hanover Paces World Record Mile

Sat, 16 Jul 2022 15:30:53 GMT

No standardbred had ever paced a mile in under 1:46, but that changed tonight when Bulldog Hanover bested a field of 11 to set a new world record of 1:45.4 in the William R. Haughton at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Bulldog, as he is known to his fans, left from post seven in the field of 11, and after sitting behind a first quarter pace of 26.0, Dexter Dunn moved him to the front, and he led the rest of the way in world record fashion.

“I had a good helmet all the way around the first turn on a hot first quarter,” said Dunn. “Once (Rockyroad Hanover) crossed over, and the big fella got clear air he was marching on after that.”

Cambridge, Ont., resident Jack Darling owns Bulldog Hanover along with Brad Grant of Milton, Ont.

“I honestly had a tear in my eye as they crossed the line. Just watching him is incredible,” said Darling. “Just been doing it for so long, and this is the kind of horse you’re looking for. I have had some great horses, but to get a horse like this is incredible.”

Darling trained the Shadow Play son during his two-and-three-year-old campaigns where he racked up wins in the Ontario Sires Stakes, including a Super Final win at two and seven total wins at the Gold level. He was sent to the breeding shed prior to his four-year-old season and through it all has shown what a talented, and resilient horse he is.

“He’s just an iron horse. To watch him as a two-year-old, and how he progressed and was so impressive, and three came he back well,” said Darling. “Now just week after week these incredible miles. Going from the breeding shed and coming back at four. He just keeps getting better, and better.”

Up next for the world record holder is a return to Ontario, where he will get a well deserved three-week rest before heading to Hoosier Park in Anderson, IN for the Dan Patch, and after that setting his sights on the Canadian Pacing Derby at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Darling will continue to enjoy the ride of owning the fastest pacer of all time. Something he never even dreamed would happen.

“I never really thought that would happen,” said Darling. “Every time you go to the sale, you’re hoping to get a good one, but to get to this level is really something special.”

Bulldog stood first season at stud at Seelster’s in 2022!

Bulldog Hanover Best Again In Graduate Final

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 15:31:48 GMT

Fresh from his world record-equalling mile in the Roll With Joe Stakes, Bulldog Hanover put in another powerhouse performance to post a 1:46.1 mile in taking the $250,000 Graduate Pace Final on Saturday (July 9) at The Meadowlands.

Bulldog Hanover again moved to do his work on the lead, this time clearing to the top after a :26.2 first quarter. But up the backside, another Canadian invader – Linedrive Hanover – flushed first over and blitzed the speedy pacesetter into a :54.1 half.

To the far turn, Bulldog Hanover parked Linedrive Hanover and spun for home off three-quarters in 1:20.1 again throttling to another gear. The Shadow Play stallion held his speed to the beam to just miss his record mark by a fifth of a second while besting a fast-closing Rockyroad Hanover by 1-1/2 lengths. Linedrive Hanover held third and Abuckabett Hanover took fourth.

“I knew there would be some leaving, but we just held our position there early,” Dexter Dunn said after the race.

“We coasted to the front, the other ones took back, and he did all the rest. I was down in the end of the backstretch after the race trying to pull him up. I talked to Jody Jamieson, who drove him a lot back in Canada in his early career, and he just said he doesn’t get tired. And he’s right.”

The question then was posited to Dunn: can Bulldog Hanover break the 1:46 barrier?

“Your guess is as good as mine. But he’s got the potential to maybe hit it.”

Nonetheless, the victory – the 20th in his career from 28 starts – propelled Bulldog Hanover’s earnings to $1,221,196. He competes for owners Brad Grant and his primary trainer Jack Darling, who has his star housed with conditioner Noel Daley during his New Jersey campaign, through his Jack Darling Stables LTD. He paid $2.40 to win.

Darling In Awe Of Bulldog Hanover

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 15:35:19 GMT

Canadian harness racing is once again directly involved with the fastest mile in the history of our sport.

Over the past 40 years, Canadian connections have been prominently involved with record-setting speed but that tie was broken a few years back when Always B Miki shaved one-fifth of a second off the 1:46.1 time trial of Cambest in 1993. At that time, Nova Scotia natives Fred Grant and Bill O'Donnell were both intricately involved with the event as the trainer and driver of the speedy Cambest, and that mile time was still the all-time standard despite a number of 1:46.4 race miles since.

Before Cambest, there was Matts Scooter's 1:48.2 time trial in 1988. Matts Scooter was steeped in Canadian connections, from driver Mike Lachance, trainer Harry Poulton and owners Gord & Illa Rumpel and Charles Juravinski. The mark that Matts Scooter eclipsed was the 1:49.1 epic time trial of Niatross in 1980 — the first sub-1:50 mile in harness racing — engineered by a Canadian expat, trainer / driver Clint Galbraith.

Now, three horses comprise that Mt. Rushmore of Standardbred speed: Always B Miki, Lather Up and Bulldog Hanover. The latter of that group took his place among the elite with a sizzling 1:46 mile at The Meadowlands on July 2.

A son of Shadow Play - BJs Squall, Bulldog Hanover is owned by trainer Jack Darling of Cambridge, Ont. along with co-owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ont. Darling sent his stable star to Noel Daley for a number of stateside appearances in order to focus on the younger future stars in his tutelage. Like many, Darling watched the historic moment as a spectator from the comfort of his own home. Given the 1:47 mile from the week before, and the performance at Hoosier in 2021 where he took his 1:48 sophomore mark over a track that was listed with a two-second variant, a mile in the 1:46 range wasn't out of the question.

"I've always thought that he had it in him," Darling told Trot Insider. "I mean, when you get down to 46 flat...well, I mean, you're pretty well to the limit as close as they can get. But with him, I've always thought if he's got a chance at it, he can do it. You’ve still got to win the race to get the mark, but I've always felt like he could go that kind of speed. And then watching him last week – I mean, when I'm watching, I'm watching the close-ups of his head and his ears and watching how he's doing it. It just kind of gives you goosebumps when he's coming around the turn for home...you just feel like he's going to do it. And yeah, you just get the feeling. You know, if things go well, he's maybe got another tick or two in him."

For a comparison, purely from a perspective of positioning and with all things being equal, Niatross would have finished 16 lengths behind Bulldog Hanover on Saturday night. That comparison isn't intended to diminish the accomplishments of a 1:49.1 mile. In fact, there's still something special when a sub-1:50 mile is mentioned in racing circles. That speed from Bulldog Hanover is just that much more impressive. Darling agreed.

"It's hard to really fathom," admitted Darling. "In my spare time, I was actually watching the miles that Always B Miki went when he went [1:]46 and Lather Up, and to realize that ‘Bulldog’ came a faster last half and a faster last quarter by like three-fifths of a second to do it...It's pretty awesome to be a part of it."

Modesty aside, saying that Darling and his team are just a part of the process that prepared Bulldog Hanover for his record-setting performance isn't exactly fair. From selection to schooling and scheduling, it's been nearly three years since the yearling colt would have been first noticed in a paddock video or sales ring. And as any industry veteran knows, horses like this do not come along every day.

"It really is as exciting as it gets. And when you've been doing it as long as I have, I mean that's what you're looking for. And it's just very humbling, really, to be a part of that horse. You just want the best for him."

Darling typically concentrates on two- and three-year-old stakes performers in his stable, and he has built a solid reputation over the years for developing those younger horses while not racing older stock. Bulldog Hanover is the exception to that rule, and clearly there's an important reason why. Having said that, sending such a star to another stable isn't something easy. Thankfully for Darling, he had developed a relationship with trainer Noel Daley a number of years ago with Kentucky Sire Stakes champ Carnivore. That successful stateside stint helped set up a similar sojourn for Bulldog Hanover when Darling had a decision to make with one horse in one location and a number of horses needing attention at home.

"He's a proven winner," said Darling. "For me, it's just hard to send a man on the road and he's gone for that long. You know, Johnny Mallia looks after him at home. He hated to let him out of his sight, but it's just something we had to do. So [Bulldog] is there for the four races and he'll come back and we'll, we'll go from there.

"We're busy here. We've got the two-year-olds getting ready for the stake races, so it was just too hard to send Johnny with him."

After this Saturday's Graduate Final, Bulldog Hanover only has one more stakes event on his plate for The Meadowlands this summer -- the William Haughton Memorial on July 16. Thus, no Sam McKee Memorial at the Big M on Hambletonian Day. Bulldog Hanover will be watching that one from his stable at Classy Lane Training Centre. His next slated stakes event after the Haughton Memorial is the Dan Patch Stakes at Hoosier Park.

This Saturday's Graduate Final also marks the final stakes event strictly for four-year-olds, and Darling isn't afraid of the open competition on the horizon. In fact, he feels this four-year-old group comprises the bulk of the heavy hitters in the open ranks.

"I've heard for years about how it was too tough on a four-year-old to break in, and I never really bought into that.

I've always thought [that] their four-year-old year, to me, is probably their best year because they're still young enough and sound enough. And they've had enough experience...to me, they should be at their peak. But the thing is, when they get to be four racing against all these older horses, you’re racing against the best. But I do believe this year, the four-year-olds are the best.

"This weekend, it could be as tough a race he has all year because there are good ones in there and they're sharp. A lot of sharp horses. It’ll be a great race."

Like last week, Darling will be watching from his home in Cambridge, Ont. as Bulldog Hanover leaves from post two in the $250,000 Graduate Final. There are no aspirations of another historic effort, just a sincere hope that his prized pupil is able to once again show his talent and perform.

"It's got to the point you're like, it's not even about the money. It’s all about the horse. He’s just a special horse and you're watching him and just cheering him on and hoping for the best, and hoping he can show his stuff."

"Records Are Made To Be Broken"

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 15:42:58 GMT

Prior to last Saturday, there had been 11 winning miles faster than 1:47 in harness racing history. Only once did two of those miles happen in the same year, when Lather Up and Shartin N both accomplished the feat in 2019.

Then on Saturday at The Meadowlands, it occurred twice in less than an hour. Rockyroad Hanover won the first division of the Roll With Joe Stakesin 1:46.2 and Bulldog Hanover followed two races later by equalling the sport’s fastest-ever mile with a 1:46 score in the second division.

Always B Miki was the first horse to hit 1:46, in 2016 at Lexington’s Red Mile, and Lather Up joined him three years later with a victory at The Meadowlands.

“Obviously, the track was fast, but only two horses had gone that fast before, and when you think of how many great horses have raced in the world, it was pretty cool for sure,” said Dexter Dunn, who drove Bulldog Hanover to victory for owners Jack Darling Stables and Brad Grant.

“He’s a pretty special horse. He just doesn’t seem to get tired. When you sit behind him, you really feel his power.

The way he moves, the fractions he’s going, he does it so strongly. He doesn’t feel like he’s flat out, he’s still up on the bit and marching along. He’s certainly a treat to sit behind.”

Todd McCarthy was in the sulky for Rockyroad Hanover’s win, which made him the third driver in history with multiple triumphs in less than 1:47, joining David Miller and Tim Tetrick. Last year, McCarthy won in 1:46.4 with Allywag Hanover. Ironically, Allywag Hanover was second to Bulldog Hanover last week despite being timed in 1:46.2.

“As crazy as it sounds, I always think you can kind of feel it during the mile when you’re going around that [1]:46, [1]:47 mark,” McCarthy said. “You’re getting along pretty good. I love racing those horses and I love going that fast.

Those horses are just on another level when they’re going that fast. It’s such a thrill to sit behind them and be in those races.”

Bulldog Hanover and Rockyroad Hanover return to action Saturday in the $250,000 final of the Graduate Series for four-year-old pacers at the Meadowlands. It will not be the first time two pacers in the sub-1:47 club meet — Lather Up faced McWicked and Cattlewash battled Allywag Hanover — but it will be the first time two horses in the club get together so soon after their speedy miles.

Is a sub-1:46 mile now inevitable this year? Since the start of 2020, there have been 14 miles of 1:47.1 or faster.

“We’re sort of getting into that [1]:47 territory so regularly now; we’re seeing those kinds of miles quite a bit at different places,” McCarthy said. “When the conditions are right and the horses are there, it’s easy to go fast. If we get the right conditions and the right horses and get down to the half a little bit quicker, it’s very likely there could be a [1]:45 mile at some stage this year.”

“It seems to be looking that way, but I’m sure it’s looked that way before and it hasn’t happened," said Dunn. "A lot of great horses have raced before and not been able to do it. We’ll wait and see. Hopefully a horse does it. It’s good for the game. Records are made to be broken, it’s always said.”

Bulldog Hanover drew post two for the Graduate final and is the 8-5 morning-line favourite in the field of 10.

Rockyroad Hanover got post 10.

A son of Shadow Play-BJ’s Squall, Bulldog Hanover has won five of six races this year and 19 of 27 in his career, earning $1,101,196. Darling trained Bulldog Hanover in Canada, where he was an Ontario Sires Stakes champion in 2020, with Noel Daley taking over recently for the horse’s races in the U.S.

Bulldog Hanover arrived in the States in late June and won a preliminary leg of the Graduate in 1:47 at The Meadowlands the week before his 1:46 mile in the Roll With Joe. In the Roll With Joe, he got the lead prior to the race’s midpoint, reached in :53.4, and paced his back half in :52.1 with a :25.3 final quarter.

“The last thing you’re doing when you go into a race is thinking about time,” Dunn said, noting winning is foremost. “It was in the last little bit of the mile that it caught my attention. I knew it was going to be [1]:46-something, but I didn’t think it was going to be [1]:46 flat. I didn’t think I was going to get there off those fractions.

“Coming to the wire, I sort of moved my attention to the timer, and it was sort of in that moment when I thought we might get there. It certainly was cool.”

Racing begins at 6:20 p.m. (EDT) Saturday at the Meadowlands. The card also includes Graduate finals for four-year-old female pacers as well as four-year-old male and female trotters. There also will be two eliminations for the Meadowlands Pace, with the top-five finishers from each group advancing to the final on July 16 at the Big M.

For complete entries for the Saturday card, click here .

Sub-1:47 Miles In Harness Racing History By Date

Holborn Hanover – 1:46.4 – George Brennan – Meadowlands – Aug. 5, 2006
Somebeachsomewhere – 1:46.4 – Paul MacDonell – Red Mile – Sept. 27, 2008
Warrawee Needy – 1:46.4 – Jody Jamieson – Meadowlands – July 6, 2013
Hes Watching – 1:46.4 – Tim Tetrick – Meadowlands – July 12, 2014
Always B Miki – 1:46 – David Miller – Red Mile – Oct. 9, 2016
D Jr Hanover – 1:46.4 – Doug McNair – Mohawk – June 3, 2017
McWicked – 1:46.2 – Brian Sears – Red Mile – Oct. 6, 2018
Lather Up – 1:46 – Montrell Teague – Meadowlands – July 6, 2019
Shartin N – 1:46.4 – Tim Tetrick – Meadowlands – Aug. 3, 2019 *
Cattlewash – 1:46.4 – David Miller – Red Mile – Oct. 4, 2020
Allywag Hanover – 1:46.4 – Todd McCarthy – Red Mile – Oct. 10, 2021
Rockyroad Hanover – 1:46.2 – Todd McCarthy – Meadowlands – July 2, 2022
Bulldog Hanover – 1:46 – Dexter Dunn – Meadowlands – July 2, 2022

Bold = tied fastest in history
*Fillies and Mares record

Bulldog Hanover Dazzles In 1:46

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 16:35:35 GMT

The four-year-old Shadow Play-BJs Squall stallion Bulldog Hanover proved himself the top dog at the aged pacing ranks by doing most of the work on the front to clock a stakes-record and track- and world-record-equaling 1:46 mile in the $99,500 second of two divisions for the Roll With Joe on Saturday (July 2) at The Meadowlands.

Allywag Hanover hustled for the lead to a :26.2 first quarter while Bulldog Hanover, scratching into the pylon post, settled for the pocket. But driver Dexter Dunn had plenty of pull in his hands up the backside and soon circled Bulldog Hanover for the lead before a :53.4 half. From there, the field gave futile pursuit as he clicked three-quarters in 1:20.2 and cruised home to best Allywag Hanover by 1-3/4 lengths with the next-closest finisher, Abuckabett Hanover, well behind in third.

“[Dexter] was sort of speechless,” trainer Noel Daley said after the race. “Jack [Darling] said the same thing, that [Bulldog Hanover] was pretty special; it’s just so easy. [Dexter] said it took a half mile to pull him up tonight, too.”

Noel Daley oversees the Jack Darling-developed pupil, whom Darling co-owns through his Jack Darling Stables Ltd. with Brad Grant, during his residency in New Jersey. In taking his 19th win from 27 starts, not only did he elevate his account to $919,520, but he also became just the third horse in harness racing history to post a 1:46 mile.

Always B Miki became the first at The Red Mile in 2016 and Lather Up the second at The Meadowlands in 2019.

“We take no credit – we got him 48 hours before his first start,” Daley said. “We’re just checking him over, that’s it; we’ve done nothing with him. He hardly trains, but they don’t need to when they go that quick.”

Bulldog Hanover, off at 1-5, returned $2.40 to win.

Fresh off a :24.4 final-quarter chase to Bulldog Hanover in the Graduate Series, Rockyroad Hanover procured a second-over tow behind Charlie May and ripped off cover to post a 1:46.2 victory in the $98,000 first division of two for the Roll With Joe.

“That’s a dream trip for him,” winning driver Todd McCarthy said, “and it’s a dream mile, too.”

Receiving late play down to 6-5 favouritism, Rockyroad Hanover floated off the wings to race fifth as Workin Ona Mystery motored for the lead to a :26 first quarter with Splash Brother sitting the pocket. Charlie May, the 7-5 second choice, sat patiently in fourth before committing to race first-over past a :53.3 half, giving Rockyroad Hanover a slipstream to follow.

Charlie May marched to match strides with Workin Ona Mystery by three-quarters in 1:20.4 and soon forged to the lead as Todd McCarthy edged Rockyroad Hanover toward open racetrack. In a matter of strides, the four-year-old stallion by Captaintreacherous-Romantic Moment accelerated clear to win going away by 2-3/4 lengths over Charlie May in the stakes-record mile, which bests the 1:47.2 mark set by State Treasurer in 2015. Workin Ona Mystery held third and Nicholas Beach took fourth.

“I felt like I had a lot of horse; I knew it was going to be a pretty big mile,” McCarthy said after the race. “[Charlie May]’s a very hard horse to get past, but my guy had a lot of sprint left in the stretch, so he finished really strong.”

Rockyroad Hanover notched his eighth victory from 31 starts and pushed his career bankroll $679,572. Tony Alagna conditions the stallion for owner M3 Racing Stable. He paid $4.60 to win.

KEEPING PACE: Meadowlands Pace eligible Frozen Hanover won the first race on the card – for non-winners of 2 – in 1:50 for trainer Luc Blais and is likely to be seen in the eliminations for the $700,000 (est.) three-year-old classic next week.

I Did It Myway is apparently ready for "The Pace" elims. The Tony Alagna trainee won a high-end conditioned event as the 9-5 favourite in a lifetime-best 1:48.1. His stablemate, Caviart Camden, is also expected to race in The Pace.

He finished third after challenging the eventual winner before backing off and pacing well to the finish. The Pace eliminations will be drawn Tuesday (July 5).

BETTING TOPS $3 MILLION: All-source handle totaled $3,253,800 on the 13-race program, keyed by the first (total bet $376,308, $102,266 in the 20-cent Pick-5), sixth ($317,199, $100,887 in the Early 50-cent Pick-4), and 10th ($395,390, $107,936 in the Late 50-cent Pick-4) races. It marked the 14th time in 50 race cards in 2022 that wagering went past the magic $3-million mark.

SLIP ME FIVE: Dexter Dunn drove five winners on the card on what was yet another huge night for the three-time defending United States Harness Writers Association Driver of the Year.

'Bulldog' Graduates In 1:47 At 'Big M'

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 14:04:41 GMT

On a sweltering summer Saturday night (June 25) at The Meadowlands, tremendous performances were the norm as six divisions of the third leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-olds were sprinkled throughout a high-powered 14-race program.

Of those performances, one stood out from the rest – at least from a speed perspective – as Bulldog Hanover won the second of two $50,000 splits for open pacers in 1:47, equalling the fastest mile of the year in the sport. Nicholas Beach was the first to do it on May 21.

After traveling down from his home base of Ontario, Bulldog Hanover landed in the Noel Daley barn and the son of Shadow Play-BJs Squall lowered his previous lifetime best by a full second with Dexter Dunn at the controls.

Bulldog Hanover nudged past Linedrive Hanover just after that one hit the quarter in :27 and had little trouble from there, reaching the half in in :55 and three-quarters in 1:22.1 before an incredible final quarter of :24.4 completed the mile. Linedrive Hanover was two lengths back in second with Rockyroad Hanover third.

As the 2-5 favourite, Bulldog Hanover returned $2.80 to his backers in winning for 18th time from just 26 outings. His bulging bank account swelled to $1,052,441.

“I was most surprised by his last quarter,” said Dunn. “It was very impressive. I asked him at the top of the stretch and he set me back in my seat. He’s got a big, powerful stride. It doesn’t even feel like he’s doing what he’s doing.”

Seelster Connections On NA Cup Night

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 18:36:15 GMT

Like most in the industry, we’ll be closely watching Saturday night’s stakes laden card at Mohawk anchored by Canada’s richest harness racing, the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup.

Seelster Farms have several performers we’ll be keeping a close eye on that night including Mad Max Hanover who punched his ticket for the big dance with a good third place finish (timed in 1:50.2) in his NA Cup elimination for Tim Tetrick. He’ll leave from the outside post 10 with Tim back in the bike for the rich final.

A son of Always B Miki, Mad Max’s dam is the Mayhem Seelster. A daughter of Mach Three, Mayhem earned just shy of $400,000 during her impressive career, after which she became a member of the elite broodmare band at Hanover Shoe Farms.

Mad Max Hanover is Mayhem Seelster’s second foal. Her first is the $204,000 winning Milieu Hanover who has won her last two of three (second in the other) at Yonkers Raceway over the past month.

Seelster Farms have an All Bets Off brother to Mayhem selling this fall named Mogul Seelster.

Archery Seelster qualified for the $251,000 Goodtimes final with a solid fouth place finish in his elimination last Friday night. The three-year-old colt is by Wheeling N Dealin and was sold at the London Selected Sale as a yearling.

Trainer Marcel Barrieau co-owns Archery Seelster with Gestion Mastel, the colt scored three wins last year as a rookie, all Ontario Sires Stakes events. He’ll leave from the rail on Saturday.

In the $401,000 Fan Hanover Final for three-year-old pacing fillies we’ll be watching last year’s O’Brien Award winner Prohibition Legal who will leave from post two. Millar Farms’ homebred daughter of Big Jim raced great in her elimination, having to squeeze up the rail to finish a close second. Her stablemate, Silver Label, captured the other elimination and has post two in the final.

So Much More could become the sport’s next millionaire with a win in the $315,000 Roses Are Red final. The six-year-old daughter of Big Jim finished second to Test Of Faith, last year’s Horse of the Year, in their elimination.

Trained by Don Beatson, who co-owns with Ken Beatson and Cole England, So Much More currently sits at $944,708 lifetime. She has drawn post one for the final.

Starting from post seven is the Sunshine Beach daughter Awesome Hill who finished fourth in the same elimination to make her way to the final. She is a homebred of Tom Hill’s with just over $200,000 banked in her career.

Race two amasses a group of the best older trotters the continent has to offer and from post three shines Wheeling N Dealin’s first outstanding son Pemberton. Trained by Paul Walker and bred and owned by Christine and Brenda Walker, this family is looking to add to the almost $400,000 earnings of their stable star.

The fifth race on the NA Cup card is the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup for older pacers. Seelster-bred Poseidon Seelster drew the pesky post ten for that event. If the five-year-old son of Sunshine Beach collects a cheque in the event he’ll put his 2022 earnings over the $100,000 mark as he currently sits at $96,320. Lifetime he has just over $350,000 earned for trainer Don Lindsey who co-owns with Paul Kleinpaste, William Alempijevic and Garth Bechtel.

Other Seelster-breds on the rich card including Lawless Shadow (race 3); Armor Seelster and Legion Seelster (race 6) and Yacht Seelster (race 13).

Best of luck to everyone.

Millionaire Status For Bulldog Hanover

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 23:10:29 GMT

Bulldog Hanover , who joined Seelster Farms’ stallion roster in 2022, became harness racing’s newest millionaire with a dominant performance in Saturday night’s $65,000 Free For All over a star studded field at Mohawk.

Jody Jamieson was at the lines as usual behind Bulldog who put in a very impressive effort to win by five lengths in 1:48.2 over Allywag Hanover and Little Rocket Man.

Jack Darling trains and co-owns the son of Shadow Play with Brad Grant of Milton. This win comes off last weekend’s winning effort in a leg of the Graduate, also at Mohawk. Bulldog is now three for four on the year for $96,380 in earnings this year and $1,027,444 for his career to date. Lifetime Bulldog has made 25 starts with 17 of those victories.

2022 marked the first year Bulldog was an active stallion as well as racehorse and Darling noted the classy pacers has taken it all in stride.

“He breeds every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. And his manners are great. He comes back and just doesn’t do anything wrong. He’s great on the track and it’s not upsetting him at all. He’s just one of those horses that can handle everything.”

Move Over Glamour Boys

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 17:32:45 GMT

The writers in the North American racing industry took it upon themselves some time ago to declare the three-year-old pacing colt division of every jurisdictional state as being the “glamour boy” category. That may have to change.

It remains to play out, but the ranks of the four-year-old and older pacing horses for 2022 has all the potential to be one of the deepest classes…ever. That is an enormous assertion but just consider the idea.

In no particular order consider Tattoo Artist, Desperate Man, Lawless Shadow, Bulldog Hanover, Power Train, Rockyroad Hanover, Abuckabett Hanover, Charlie May, Allywag Hanover, Jimmy Freight, Southwind Gentry, Hellabalou, Enavant and Warrawee Vital. That’s 14 names and for sure not all of them are going to ring the bell but would you not want to own just one of them? And there may be one or two emerge from the bullrushes too.

If one of these is able to separate himself from the pack it will take a herculean effort of talent and consistency. On paper this is a truly remarkable group.

Bulldog Hanover is one of these. Again he will race from the Jack Darling stable. Based on looks he is a hands down winner but good looks do not win races. There is a lot of heavy slogging ahead and with this many players there will be no easy starts.

One day two weeks ago might have been the worst training day of the year at Classy Lane Training Centre. The weather was positively putrid and the track was a quagmire of mud. Nobody was having fun.

It was just a jog day for Bulldog. He almost looked as though he was having fun. This is one powerful specimen of a horse. Very muscular and yet light on his feet, the four-year-old Shadow Play son is being pointed to an early May qualifier.

Last year going into the North America Cup final he looked the best of the three-year-olds. But then inexplicably he faltered. He was just not the same horse and no one on the horse’s team has any idea why. His blood was fine, scoped OK, was not lame but he did not have that Mike Tyson killer punch.

In late October he made four starts in Indiana winning them all against lesser competition. That was worth $184,000 to Darling and partner Brad Grant but he failed in the Cup and the Ontario Sires Stake Super final.

So no one knows just what happened. Was it a brief anomaly or had he regressed from a tough campaign? What will he be like this year?

Darling is no fool and knows the horse has to be better even though he was pretty damn good last season. This is the heavyweight division and the lifting gets heavier, a lot heavier. But all that can be done is being done to prepare the horse and Darling is under no illusion as to just how deep this division is.

Meanwhile, Bulldog is doing his bit by pulling double shifts. In addition to training he is in the breeding shed three times a week. It is looking like he will get 100 mares to cover which is a nice bit of added revenue to the cause. Reportedly, seems to be enjoying the work too.

Bulldog is just one that we chose to profile from the pack. There are a bunch of other trainers all wondering if their horse will be good enough. It’s all a bit like professional golf where there no longer is a standout golfer. There are just too many challengers nipping at each other’s heels. Win one week and count your blessings as it may be a while before you are back.

It’s difficult to recall just when there were this many top prospects for the older pacing class but it has been a while.

Move over glamour boys, there’s a lot tougher gang in town.

Thanksgiving Classic To Bulldog Hanover

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 16:09:29 GMT

Fans at Hoosier Park were treated to a stakes-filled card to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, with the main event – the $60,000 Thanksgiving Classic - featuring Ontario sensation Bulldog Hanover .

In rein to John De Long, Bulldog Hanover parked for the first half of the tilt before taking command at the mid-way point. After travelling overland through early splits of :25.3 and :54.1, the Jack Darling trainee then led past the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4 before using a closing quarter in :28 to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Goldies Legacy in 1:51.4. Big Gulp was third.

It marked the fourth straight score for the son of Shadow Play-BJs Squall, who races for Jack Darling Stables Ltd and Brad Grant. The win improved his 2021 record to 10-2-1 from 15 starts while lifting his lifetime earnings to $931,061.

Kobes Gigi was a front-stepping winner in the $40,000 Thanksgiving Classic for three-year-old pacing fillies in a time of 1:52.1 for driver Peter Wrenn and trainer Melissa Essig.

The daughter of JK Endofanera-Twin Oaks Tess led the field through stanzas of :26.1, :56 and 1:25.2 before jetting home in :26.4 to win by 6-3/4 lengths over DC Batgirl in 1:52.1. High Minded rounded out the Trifecta ticket in the five-filly affair.

Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, Kobes Gigi posted her sixth win of the campaign while pushing her lifetime earnings past $200,000 for owners Leander Schwartz and Black And White Stable.

Dewtifuls Grace pulled off a 14-1 stunner in the $47,000 Thanksgiving Classic for three-year-old trotting fillies.

With Joey Putnam at the lines, the daughter of Pine Credit-Dewtiful Lass got away fifth and held that position while heavily-favoured Pub Crawl chopped out splits of :27.3, :57 and 1:26.3. The favourite came under pressure late and gave way to Dewtifuls Grace in the closing strides. The upset winner fired home in :27.3 to win by a head over Pub Crawl in 1:55. Country Girl Charm was third.

Lewayne Miller trains the eight-time winner for Oakwood Farms, Kristen Wagler and Eleven Star Stables. The career winner of $181,665 now boasts a 6-9-1 record from 22 trips to the track this season.

Swingforthefences came through on his pari-mutuel promise, however, for Team Wrenn in the $54,000 Thanksgiving Classic for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

The son of Swan For All-Sunday Yankee worked his way into the pocket early for driver Peter Wrenn, who then swept his charge to the lead before the half. In charge through middle panels of :57.1 and 1:27, the sophomore then used a closing quarter in :28 to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Platinum AS in 1:55. Brookview Bolt grabbed the show dough.

Melanie Wrenn trains the gelding for David McDuffee and L And L Devisser LLC. The win was the trotter’s 12th of the season and the 15th of his career. He’s put away over $550,000 in earnings this year and more than $680,000 to date.

JKs On The Move prevailed in the $26,500 Stringer Ball for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Trace Tetrick mapped out the winning trip for the Zachary Miller pupil who rallied for the 1:57 score.

The son of JK Endofanera-Sweet Electric got away sixth before improving to be fourth at the mid-way point. He was first over and leading at the three-quarter pole in 1:28 before using a :29-second final frame to win by a head over race favourite Topville Alexander in 1:57. Imalwaysclassy was third.

Dessa Miller and Ted Comerford share ownership on the rookie who improved his freshman record to 2-4-0 from 10 attempts. The lion’s share of the loot lifted his overall cash stash to $29,050.

BULLDOG HANOVER TO BREED AND RACE IN 2022

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 13:17:42 GMT

Seelster Farms welcomes Bulldog Hanover to its stallion lineup while he continues to race in 2022. Owner-trainer Jack Darling along with owner Brad Grant offer breeders a rare opportunity to get in on the first crop of Bulldog Hanover while he continues to add to his already impressive racing resume.

"Bulldog loves to race and I am sure he will love the breeding shed as well, so it should be a great fit," says Darling. "This horse has all the attributes that we look for in a racehorse - high speed, outstanding endurance, toughness, and conformation. The way he could overcome tough trips was exciting to watch. Bulldog is an outstanding physical specimen and has one of the best pedigrees in the business.”

His dominant win in the OSS Super Final at 2 in 1:50.2s was the icing on the cake for a 4-1-0 record in 6 freshman starts. At 3, the Shadow Play – BJs Squall (by Artsplace) son was ultra consistent, winning the North American Cup Elim., the Somebeachsomewhere, 3 OSS Gold legs, the Circle City Stake, the Monument Circle, and the Star Destroyer; taking a 3-year-old mark of 1:48s this year, while closing in on a million dollars in earnings.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing what else he can do in 2022 on the racetrack and what he can do as a sire. He's a very special horse and I truly believe he can make a big impact on the Ontario breeding scene." added Darling.

'Bulldog' Has The Heart Of A Champion

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 16:58:41 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Bulldogs are known for being purposeful and determined, so it seems the horse Bulldog Hanover was named perfectly.

A three-year-old male pacer, Bulldog Hanover has won nine of 14 races this year and earned $654,711. He brings a three-race wins streak to Thursday’s $55,000 Thanksgiving Classic for sophomore male pacers at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, where he is the 4-5 morning line favourite with John DeLong driving for co-owner/trainer Jack Darling.

All three of Bulldog Hanover’s recent victories have come at Hoosier Park. Since arriving from Canada, the colt has won a division of the Circle City Stakes before capturing the Monument Circle and Star Destroyer.

The Thanksgiving Classic will be his final start of the season. He will get a two-month layoff and then begin preparing for his four-year-old campaign.

“He’s just a special type of horse, really,” said Darling. “He’s run into some tough trips, and he just keeps coming through. It’s kind of rare to see a horse that can do that week after week. He’s just got the heart of a champion.”

After starting his season with a fourth-place finish, Bulldog Hanover hit the board in seven consecutive starts, winning six. On September 4, he captured his elimination for the North America Cup, but a week later finished fourth in the final. He has finished no worse than second in his five races since then.

“He came up empty in the final of the North America Cup, and that’s the only race that was a little disappointing,” said Darling, who owns the son of Shadow Play-BJs Squall with Brad Grant. “I still can’t figure out what happened. Other than that, he’s been tremendous.

“We had high hopes for him [this year]. He wasn’t staked as good as he should have been because of the pandemic, so he just didn’t really get a chance to race in the States. He didn’t really get to race in a lot of the races that I think he would have been a really big factor in. But it all worked out pretty well.”

For his career, Bulldog Hanover has won 13 of 20 races and $903,561. He was an Ontario Sires Stakes champion at age two and the runner-up this season. The colt was purchased for $28,000 at the 2019 Standardbred Horse Sale.

His family includes millionaires Betterthancheddar, an O’Brien Award winner, and Courtly Choice.

“Every year we go looking at yearlings just hoping to get a horse like him,” said Darling. “He loves racing. He’s easy on himself. He’s a really smart, relaxed horse. He just does everything right. I can’t say anything negative about him.

To me, he’s a horse that has everything you’re looking for in a racehorse.”

Hoosier Park will host a 14-race card Thursday beginning at 6:30 p.m. (EST).

Swingforthefences, a multiple winner on the Grand Circuit, is the 8-5 morning line favourite in the $50,000 Thanksgiving Classic for three-year-old male trotters while Pub Crawl, the winner of three of her past four starts, is the 4-5 choice in the $45,000 Thanksgiving Classic for three-year-old female trotters.

High Minded is the 9-5 favourite in the $40,000 Thanksgiving Classic for three-year-old female pacers.

Seelster Farms welcomes Century Farroh!

kitpatch74@gmail.com (Kathryn Patchett) — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 12:52:11 GMT

Seelster Farms welcomes Breeders Crown winner and Canadian Horse of the Year, Century Farroh , to its 2022 stallion line-up.

Canadian born and bred by Century Spring Farms of Gorrie, Ontario, the Mach Three – Beachy Girl horse was a multiple stakes winner at 2 including the OSS Grassroots Final elim and final in 1:53s, but it wasn’t until his three-year-old season that Century Farroh really began to shine.

At 3, he won the Somebeachsomewhere, the North American Cup Consolation, and the Simcoe at Woodbine Mohawk Park, along with the Jennas Beach Boy at Hoosier Park, all the while winning 5 consecutive OSS Gold legs at home at Mohawk and Georgian Downs.

Century Farroh handled the jump to aged competition with ease placing in nearly all open competition events including the Graduate, the William Haughton, the Sam McKee, the Canadian Pacing Derby, Dayton Pacing Derby, and winning the Dan Patch at Hoosier Park; while finally topping off his four-year-old season with a win in the Breeders Crown Final.

Winning consecutive O’Brien Awards as three-year-old pacing colt and aged pacer of the year; the Ian Moore trainee paced several “bridesmaid” miles at four in 1:47.3 and 1:47.4 and finishes his racing career with over $1.5 million.

Team Seelster!

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 21:37:21 GMT

It takes a village to video-tape yearlings! Thank you to all of our team for another successful taping session. Please look for our videos to be posted soon on both our website and www.londonvirtualyearlingsale.com

Day One of Videos!

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 13:15:03 GMT

Day One of video taping the yearlings went very smoothly. The weather was perfect and the video editing will begin right away. Please check back soon for the completed videos and photos.

Tokyo Seelster wins $22,150 Grassroots division

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 20:55:02 GMT

Tokyo Seelster got his first win of 2021 in the second $22,150 Grassroots division. Also starting from post 4, Tokyo Seelster settled in fourth as favourite Highland Mowgli led the field to a :27.4 quarter and a :57 half. Highland Mowgli powered to a 1:25.3 three-quarters, but driver Doug McNair and Tokyo Seelster were one the move and had collared the pacesetter by the top of the stretch. Diehard Seelster mounted a late challenge, but Tokyo Seelster hung on for a nose victory in a personal best 1:55.1. Pocket-sitter Rosies War Bonds finished third.

“He was a great two-year-old, I couldn’t wait for him to finally get his picture taken at three,” said Puslinch, ON resident Richard Moreau, who trains the Kadabra gelding for Michael and Sam Sergi of Canton, N.Y. and Braveheart Racing of Ottawa, Ont. “He has everything for him to be a good horse; he’s just had a disappointing year.”

A two-time Gold Series winner at two, Tokyo Seelster started his sophomore campaign at that level, but could not crack the top three. Before Tuesday’s win the Kadabra son’s best finish through seven starts was a runner-up effort in a July 19 overnight.

Iron-tough millionaire Nirvana Seelster retired

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 17:53:40 GMT

After seven years of waging weekly battles with the very best pacers in Ontario, the iron tough Nirvana Seelster has ceded the field of play.

“He’s out with a pony on the farm. He’ll always have a home,” said trainer Bill Budd. “They’ll put a saddle on him once and a while and ride him. He likes that, too.”

Nirvana Seelster made his last appearance in an overnight on Sept. 12, 2020, and after a winter of rest and relaxation Budd tested the gelding in two qualifiers this spring before calling owner Bruce Davy and telling him the old warhorse had fought his last battle. Week in and week out for the better part of seven years, the son of Camluck and No Strikes Against competed in the top classes at Woodbine and Mohawk Park, taking on the who’s who of Ontario racing.

“He raced against some great horses, had some great duels coming down the stretch. He far exceeded any expectations I had, was just fantastic,” said Davy. “He wasn’t what you call a super horse, he was just real good. He never stood out, never won by a great margin, but he was always there.”

“The handle on the Hambletonian and the Oaks was very strong, so I’m very happy with the experiment and how we did it this year,” said Campbell. “I believe we have to be very fluid in our decision making, but at the same time, I’m very happy with the way the day went. I’m very happy with the betting and I’m happy that we tried moving the race back and I expect it’ll be somewhere in the same vicinity of time next year in that 6:10 to 6:15 window. That’s just my thought process now. I take a great deal of pride in Hambletonian Day. I don’t think there’s anything like it in harness racing.”

From 2014 to 2020, Nirvana Seelster made 241 starts. He won 46 times, was second on 47 occasions and third 40 times. He banked $1.2 million for Davy, who picked him up for $6,500 when previous owners Dave Menary, Kenneth Ewen, Denis Breton and Brad Gray listed him for sale in January of his 3-year- old year. The original partners had purchased Nirvana Seelster for $77,000 from the 2012 Forest City Yearling Sale, but the pacer had failed to advance far enough in his training to qualify as a 2-year-old.

Budd sent him behind the gate for his first lifetime start on the last day of March, 2014 and Nirvana Seelster made his first appearance in the Woodbine Racetrack winner’s circle two weeks later. The gelding would make five appearances in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots program that summer, winning twice, both with heroic late sprints.

Between the Grassroots Championship, where Nirvana Seelster finished third, and the Ontario Boys Series in February, the geld- ing had learned how to leave and he went gate-to-wire in both legs and the final of the Ontario Boys.

“He just progressively kept getting better,” said Davy. “He was a finisher and then of course he got that he could leave, and he was just one great horse to be around.”

By the end of his 4-year-old season Nirvana Seelster had joined the preferred ranks and he spent most of the next five years racing in that class, taking on future millionaires like Evenin Of Pleasure, Fool Me Once, McWicked, Nickle Bag, Sintra and State Treasurer. He never won another open stake event, coming close twice in the Mohawk Gold Cup (2017 and 2019), but he did deal Lazarus N a memorable defeat in September 2018.

“He got a standing ovation for that,” said Budd. “I said we can’t go much higher here you know; to beat a horse like that.”

After qualifying to start his career, Nirvana Seelster did not set foot in another qualifier until May of his eight-year-old season and he did not qualify again until this spring. The pacer clocked his 1:48 personal best in a Sept. 23, 2017 preferred, keeping a neck in front of Easy Lover Hanover and Sintra off a front-end effort for driver Trevor Henry.

Over his seven-year career Nirvana Seelster was driven by many of Woodbine Mohawk Park’s top reinsman, but the regulars were Henry, Phil Hudon and Rick Zeron, and Budd and Davy are grateful to each of the horsemen who contributed to the pacer’s success and longevity.

Along the way there were suitors for the preferred class regular, but Davy got involved with racing because of his affection for horses and he was never tempted to part with Nirvana Seelster.

“He had a couple offers on him and Bruce didn’t want to sell him,” said Budd. “He was offered big money for him, but he just said, ‘No, I think I’ll hang on to him.’”

With Nirvana Seelster’s retirement, Davy has just one horse in training. Three-year-old pacing filly Postscript put together a record of one win, one second and three thirds in 12 starts for earnings of $67,203 after the Brockville, ON resident purchased her last July, but she has yet to cash a check in four sophomore starts. The long-time owner said the Sportswriter daughter could be his last racehorse, especially if current public health restrictions continue into 2022.

“We’re winding right down. With COVID a lot of the fun has gone out of it. I’ve owned her for over a year and never seen her,” said the 83-year-old owner, who recently moved Postscript to Budd’s barn.“I live four hours away from the Mohawk track and you can’t go there and go in the barns or anything, so it’s not the same.”

Budd said plans are afoot for a commemorative race at Woodbine Mohawk Park to mark the gelding’s retirement and Davy will definitely make the trip west for that event; one last celebration of the best horse he has ever owned.

With the recent announcement of $1.16 million winner Easy Lover Hanover’s retirement by trainer Ben Wallace and owner Brad Grant, there is a changing of the guard taking place in Woodbine Mohawk Park’s top classes. New faces like Warrawee Vital, Century Farroh and Matticulous GB have begun to battle in what Davy calls the ‘Saturday Night Special,’ but the youngsters have a long way to go before they can be referenced in the same company as the recently retired warriors.

“He’s just been a great horse,” said Budd. “He’d do anything for you. He was always there. Old Nirvana, he’s the best.”

Lawless Shadow Wins Hempt Memorial

Sat, 21 Aug 2021 21:00:39 GMT

Ontario-based Lawless Shadow picked up his second major stateside stakes score this summer with a gutsy effort to capture the 2021 Max C. Hempt Memorial Pace, one of the crown jewels of Sun Stakes Saturday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday, August 21.

Driver Mark MacDonald asked Lawless Shadow for speed off the gate and the pacing colt responded, sprinting off the gate the swiftest from his inside post to make the first call in a sharp :25.2. That brisk opening panel kept rivals Perfect Sting (David Miller) Hellabalou (Tim Tetrick) and Southwind Gendry (Yannick Gingras) stacked behind him, and those four comprised the top four through the tempo-tempered :54 half.

Southwind Gendry commenced his overland attempt just after the half with Lawless Shadow looking strong on top and Perfect Sting looking dangerous in that pocket position. Three-quarters was reached in 1:21.2, and turning for home it appeared that the finish would come down to a two-horse sprint to the wire. Miller angled Perfect Sting to the outside and started to cut into the lead with each stride, but Lawless Shadow dug deep to deny the late bid and hold on for the victory by a long and diminishing nose in a life's best 1:48.2. Hellabalou rounded out the top three.

"He's a very good colt," stated trainer Dr. Ian Moore succinctly. "I was worried about his mental status after that mile last weekend; he was physically okay and I think it will do him a lot of good.

"Warming up, I had my hands full. He's never been quite that bad warming up so Mark might not have had any choice going to the quarter today in :25.2."

Interestingly enough, Moore noted that Lawless Shadow's sire Shadow Play also paced over Pocono in a world record 1:48.2 the year that the Delvin Miller Adios was contested there.

Moore noted that if all is well with Lawless Shadow, he'll be back in action for the Somebeachsomewhere on August 28 and then in the 2021 Pepsi North America Cup elims the week after. There could be more stateside races after those three possible Canadian starts.

"We're looking at the [Little Brown] Jug and we did pay him up into quite a few stakes later on in the year down here."

Lawless Shadow (Shadow Play - Ladycino) is owned by Dr. Ian Moore of Cambridge, Ont., R G McGroup Ltd. of Bathurst, N.B. Hockey Hall of Famer Serge Savard of St. Bruno, Que. and Frank Cannon of Sanford, Fl. The winner's share of the purse puts the sophomore's bankroll at $878,130.

Controlling the tempo was the right decision for 4/5 choice Whichwaytothebeach in the $200,000 Hempt Consolation I. After yielding briefly to Mysweetboymax (Yannick Gingras), driver Andy McCarthy made the move back to the front and repelled all rivals for the 1:50.1 decision over Mysweetboymax and pylon-skimming Gamblin Mo. Brett Pelling trains Whichwaytothebeach for owners John Craig of North York, Ont. and Alan Johnston of Syracuse, N.Y.

Lous Pearlman delivered as expected in the $100,000 Hempt Consolation II, trouncing his rivals by nine lengths in 1:48.4. Yannick Gingras engineered the winning trip for trainer Ron Burke, who co-owns as Burke Racing LLC with Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Elizabeth Novak and Howard Taylor.

Lawless Shadow captures Sun Stakes pace

Sat, 21 Aug 2021 16:03:42 GMT

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Lawless Shadow and driver Mark MacDonald used track geometry to perfect advantage on a speed-favoring day, bursting away to set the pace from the rail in the $300,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial on Saturday (Aug. 21) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and then holding off Perfect Sting in 1:48.2.

Lawless Shadow, Perfect Sting (post four), and Hellabalou (post six) all started the race in maximum gear, but as the first turn loomed and Lawless Shadow showed no signs of letting up, Perfect Sting tucked second and Hellabalou third, though still paying a price in the :25.2 red-hot opening quarter. MacDonald was able to back off the son of Shadow Play to a :54 half, then accelerated as Southwind Gendry came up first-over before the 1:21.2 three-quarters.

The Pocono “inner groove” on the warm (81 degrees) afternoon surfaced again as the horses off the pegs faded on the far turn, and the race came down to the leader and the pocket sitter, who kept eating into the leader’s advantage, but came up a nose shy as he continued a hard-luck campaign.

Lawless Shadow, the official winner of The Meadowlands Pace, has had better luck, and here he took a new mark while winning for trainer Dr. Ian Moore, co-owner with R G McGroup LTD, hockey great Serge Savard, and Frank Cannon, for whom he now has career earnings of $791,064, $558,625 of that this year.

“I was taking no prisoners from the rail with the two horses coming at me,” MacDonald said afterwards. “Coming to the wire, I knew Perfect Sting was a great horse, and it was a hard race to the wire.”

Dr. Ian Moore could have told MacDonald that he was in a good spot late: “I was afraid he might come up dull after being hung the mile last week, but warming up, I knew he would be ready to go today.”

To view, Lawless Shadow’s victory in the Max Hempt Memorial click here .

Shanghai Seelster Wins Grassroots Fillies

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 15:31:41 GMT

Ontario’s talented two-year-old pacing fillies returned to Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots action at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, Aug. 13 and looked sharp in all five $22,150 divisions.

Shanghai Seelster captured the first contest with a pocket trip in behind pacesetter Motovation. Starting from Post 2, driver Doug McNair tucked the filly in behind Motovation as she rang up fractions of :28.1 and :58.2 and then tipped out heading past the 1:27.1 three-quarters. Motovation put up a fight, but Shanghai Seelster got a head in front at the 1:55.1 finish. Winx closed for third and favourite B My Sunshine was fourth.

“She’s getting better each week. She has a nice, big gait and she’s learning,” said McNair, who was a head short with the filly off a similar trip in an August 5 overnight. “Last week, she hung a little bit in the stretch, this week, she got by just enough to win. I hope she stays on the right track.”

The Guelph, Ont. resident steers Shanghai Seelster for his father, trainer Gregg McNair of Guelph, and owner Steve Heimbecker of Waterloo, Ont. The win was the first lifetime for the Bettors Delight daughter, who was a $151,960 purchase out of the 2020 London Virtual Yearling Sale.

Seelster’s are selling a yearling - Stockade Seelster (State Treasurer), a half-brother to Shanghai Seelster (Bettors Delight) p, 2, 1:55.1s ($21,233) this fall.

Devereux Seelster Impresses In Series Final

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 16:45:36 GMT

Devereux Seelster won a tight photo finish to take the Millard Farms final over Delgado by the narrowest of margins.

With several breaks, including favourite World At War Deo, the Millard Farms final came down to just a small group that minded their manners. Delgado cut out an opening-quarter of :28.1 and led until the half when Mercutio took over command. Devereux Seelster and Trevor Henry sat a close fourth and stayed glued to the rail around the final turn.

After three-quarters was reached in 1:28, Delgado quickly reclaimed the lead in the stretch and appeared poised to grab the victory. Devereux Seelster and Henry had other ideas, splitting between Delgado and a tiring Mercutio to set up a dramatic finish, prevailing by a nose in 1:57.

A gelded son of Trixton, Devereux Seelster is trained by Bob McIntosh and owned by his Robert McIntosh Stables, Doug McIntosh and Randy Liepa. The rookie trotter was winless in five starts with three runner-up finishes heading into Thursday. The score puts his earnings to $56,150.

A $2 win ticket on Devereux Seelster returned $20.60.

Seelster’s are selling a yearling - DELAHNI SEELSTER (International Moni), a half-sister to Devereux Seelster (g, Trixton) 2, 1:57s -'21 ($56,150) this fall.

Marauder Seelster wins Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots at Kawartha Downs

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 15:24:18 GMT

Favourites Marauder Seelster and driver Aaron Byron went gate-to-wire from post 5 in the last $21,800 division, cruising under the wire 4-3/4 lengths ahead of their peers in 1:58. Rose Run Xcaliber finished second and Unevergonnagethis was third.

“I think he’s actually starting to come around that horse,” said Amanda Fine, who trains the Muscle Mass son for Steve Heimbecker of Waterloo, ON. “It was weird, he was kind of my lower pecking order training down, and then when it came time to play he actually really stepped up.”

The win was Marauder Seelster’s first in five outings. He finished third in the July 15 Grassroots season opener at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but made a break in the July 31 leg at Hiawatha Horse Park and finished seventh, placed eighth. Saturday’s win bumped into the top 10 in the division point standings with two legs remaining.

Seelster’s are selling a yearling - Metallica Seelster (Lookslikeachpndale), a half-brother to Marauder Seelster (Muscle Mass) 2, 1:58 ($17,392) this fall.

Alumni Seelster wins Grassroots div at Grand River Raceway

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 15:19:36 GMT

Alumni Seelster scored her 1:53.3 victory in the last $21,800 Grassroots division, holding off favorite Amini by three-quar- ters of a length in the stretch after carving out fractions of :26.3, :55 and 1:24.2. Ourlittlemiracle rounded out the top three.

“She raced great,” said driver Doug McNair. “I was over the quarter and the half a lot faster than I needed to be, but she fought tough in the lane.”

Dr. Ian Moore of Cambridge trains State Treasurer daughter Alumni Seelster for Paul MacDonald of Burlington, ON and Sally MacDonald of Souris, PEI.

Hiawatha Record For Archery Seelster

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 19:10:53 GMT

Hiawatha Horse Park hosted Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots events for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Saturday (July 31), and, for the second straight year, the colts flew around the border oval.

The speed show started early, as Archery Seelster tied the two-year-old trotting colt track record in the first $21,800 division. Starting from post seven with Bob McClure in the race bike, Archery Seelster eased away from the starting gate and was sitting sixth when Mass Attack reached the :28.4 quarter. As Mass Attack continued through a sharp :59.2 half and 1:28.1 three-quarters, McClure kept Archery Seelster out of trouble in the outer lane before turning the colt loose in the stretch. Archery Seelster powered home to a 1:59.4 victory, three-quarters of a length in front of Mass Attack. Usurp Hanover was three lengths back in third, and favourite Lexus Ranger was fourth.

The mile equalled the track record set by Fashion Frenzie in Grassroots action at the Sarnia oval last July.

“He’s a good-gaited colt, suited well for the smaller tracks,” said McClure. “He’s still green so he should improve.”

Trainer Marcel Barrieau and Gestion Mastel Inc. share ownership of Archery Seelster, who was an $85,150 purchase out of last fall’s London Virtual Yearling Sale. The Wheeling N Dealin colt missed the July 15 Grassroots season opener due to sickness, but Barrieau said the youngster was a solid performer all winter. Saturday’s outing was Archery Seelster’s third, and he now boasts a record of one win, one third-place finish and one fourth-place finish.

“He’s a very mild-mannered colt and never ever done nothing wrong. I just hope he can go fast enough, that’s all,” said Barrieau. “I didn’t want to throw him in the ‘A’s’ right away because I like giving them a couple of starts before I do that. It proves to me that they are good enough. I’ll try him in another Grassroots and maybe a Gold after.”

Two-year-old trotting colts will make their third Grassroots start at Kawartha Downs on Aug. 7.

McClure also captured the third $22,150 division with favourite Mask Of Zoro, who sat third through the :29 quarter and 1:00.1 half put up by Rolling In Clover and then took command. On top by a comfortable margin at the 1:29.4 three-quarters, Mask Of Zoro pulled away from his peers in the stretch, reaching the wire 4-3/4 lengths ahead of Rolling In Clover in 2:00.1. Unresolved Debt finished third.

“He’s a very nice colt,” said McClure. “He’s not built like a two-year-old, physically or mentally. He’s all racehorse and a very powerful colt.”

McClure piloted Mask Of Zoro to his first lifetime win for trainer Benoit Hebert and Eric Lafleur, who purchased the Muscle Mass son for $12,000 out of the 2020 Ontario Select Yearling Sale. With Saturday’s win and a third-place finish in the Grassroots season opener, Mask Of Zoro currently sits atop the two-year-old trotting colt standings with 62 points.

Driver Trevor Henry won the other two Grassroots divisions, guiding Stonebridge Zeus and P C Double Down to victory.

Starting from post five in the second division, Stonebridge Zeus watched from fifth as Northern Ironman rolled through fractions of :29.1, 1:00.2 and 1:31.1. Turning for home, Henry found the colt an open lane and Stonebridge Zeus powered by the leaders to a 2:02 victory. Sir Ballykeel was a half length back in second, and Arch Ruler was another length back in third. Favourite Livingontherail finished seventh.

“He got a really good trip,” said Henry. “He squeezed out at the head of the stretch and when he got room he raced good.”

Henry engineered the win for trainer Blake MacIntosh, Van Camp Trotting Corp and Mortgage Boys Stable, who offered up $20,000 for the Resolve son at last fall’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. The win was the first lifetime for Stonebridge Zeus, who finished eighth in the Grassroots season opener.

“We were high on him all winter, and now he’s just starting to show what we thought he could be,” said MacIntosh, noting that the colt was a little behind his peers after missing about three weeks of training due to sickness. “We’re hoping he just keeps improving, and keeps going forward and shows us the speed we think he has.”

Henry wrapped up the Grassroots action with P C Double Down, going gate-to-wire from post one for a 2:00.2 score. The favourite battled to the wire, keeping a neck in front of Down The Fence and Guinness.

“I drove him last week (July 15) and he raced good. Today, he dug in at the wire to win,” said Henry. “I thought he would have [won] a little easier, but they rushed him the whole way, three-quarters in 1:28.4.”

Amy and Curtis Clements bred and own P C Double Down, and Curtis handles training duties on the son of Il Sogno Dream, who earned his first victory with the effort. The gelding was sixth in the season opener.

On the undercard, trainer Tyler Nostadt recorded a natural grand slam, teaming up with driver Marc St. Louis Jr. — a five-time winner on the day — to capture the final four races on the 13-race program. The team won with Bettors Hope (1:57.2), Dinner At The Met (1:55.1), Style Snapshot (1:56.1) and Wildcat Delight (1:56).

Seelster Farms is selling Almanac Seelster a full brother to Archery Seelster this fall.

Hiawatha Record For Archery Seelster

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 15:24:52 GMT

The mile equalled the track record set by Fashion Frenzie in Grassroots action at the Sarnia oval last July.

“He’s a good-gaited colt, suited well for the smaller tracks,” said McClure. “He’s still green so he should improve.”

Two-year-old trotting colts will make their third Grassroots start at Kawartha Downs on Aug. 7.

“He’s a very nice colt,” said McClure. “He’s not built like a two-year-old, physically or mentally. He’s all racehorse and a very powerful colt.”

Driver Trevor Henry won the other two Grassroots divisions, guiding Stonebridge Zeus and P C Double Down to victory.

“He got a really good trip,” said Henry. “He squeezed out at the head of the stretch and when he got room he raced good.”

Seelster Thrilled With 'Pace' Winner

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 15:28:19 GMT

Ann Straatman laughed good-naturedly when asked if her family’s Seelster Farms had celebrated this week after Lawless Shadow became the first Meadowlands Pace winner the Lucan, Ont., nursery has produced in the 45-year history of the U.S. classic.

“We’re putting in hay and straw, so no celebrations here per se, but certainly it’s something we talk about and it was great to have that recognition,” Straatman said.

Such is the busy life of one of Ontario’s leading Standardbred breeding operations. But that doesn’t make the victory any less exciting for Straatman and the rest of the Seelster team.

“We’re just one small piece of the puzzle getting that horse there, but I’m thrilled that he’s done so well.... It’s what every breeder strives for, that recognition on the biggest Grand Circuit stage,” Straatman said.

On Saturday (July 17) at The Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey, Lawless Shadow was elevated to victory by the judges after initially finishing second to Charlie May, who was disqualified for interference.

It was a mostly-Canadian victory for Lawless Shadow, who was driven to victory by Prince Edward Island native Mark MacDonald, and is trained and owned in part by Ontario-based Prince Edward Island native Dr. Ian Moore, R G Croup Ltd. of New Brunswick, NHL legend Serge Savard of Québec and Floridian Frank Cannon.

Lawless Shadow, a son of Shadow Play out of Ladycino, is also the third straight Ontario-sired horse to win the Meadowlands Pace, following Tall Dark Stranger (Bettors Delight) in 2020 and Best In Show (also Bettors Delight) in 2019.

Though Seelster no longer owns Ladycino, Straatman said she was delighted for the mare’s new owner, Kevin Kerr, who just happens to be Seelster’s neighbour.

“Ladycino is actually just one pasture over from where she was before. She still lives in Lucan,” Straatman said.

“They, unfortunately, did not get her in foal to have a yearling to sell this year, which would have just been icing on the cake, but they do have a beautiful Big Jim filly at her side and she’s back in foal to Shadow Play. So, we’re just thrilled for them. They’re a small breeder in Ontario and now seems to have a really top mare. I wish them all the best that it can be a windfall for them, as well, with yearlings going forward.... We love the mares that we have and when we sell them, all we want is for them to go on and be productive mares for someone else. It’s great for us.”

Originally named Lawless Seelster, Straatman said the colt earned his name from the 2012 movie Lawless about bootlegging, not from having a hell-raising personality.

“It was just a good, strong name, we thought. He was a very respectful foal, very smart, very unassuming,” she said. “What an exceptional young horse he was.... He’s a mid-May foal. We always group our yearlings in their sheds by age group. So, he was with the youngest group, but he was such a standout as far as maturity, was well-developed and muscled. He had perfect conformation. He was more mature than he was for his age group.”

Dr. Moore, who trained and owns Shadow Play, was the perfect buyer.

“Doc likes to look at all the Shadow Plays,” Straatman said of the stallion who stands at Winbak Farm of Ontario in Inglewood, Ont.

On Oct. 19, 2019, Moore spent $270,000 to purchase sale-topper Marlboro Seelster at the London Selected Yearling Sale, which still stands as the record for a standardbred sold at auction. That same day, Moore also spent $52,000 to buy Lawless Seelster, whom he renamed Lawless Shadow.

Eight months earlier, Seelster sold Ladycino to Kerr in foal to Thinking Out Loud. The resulting foal, a filly named Lady Loud, was sold by Kerr at last fall’s London Virtual Yearling Sale and has yet to make her pari-mutuel debut after three qualifiers.

As for Lawless Shadow’s Meadowlands Pace victory, which comes after he was named the O’Brien Award winner as Canada’s top two-year-old pacing colt of 2020, Straatman said she had a very good reason for not seeing Saturday’s race live.

“It was my son’s wedding rehearsal that night. I didn’t get to see it until afterwards,” she said. “It’s so funny, he’s actually getting married on Hambletonian Day. It takes me out of the two biggest racing days at The Meadowlands.”

That doesn’t make Lawless Shadow’s triumph any less exciting.

“To have that recognition in the United States at the biggest, greatest racetrack in the U.S. is great for any breeder. We’re in great company in that race with all the bigger breeders, for sure,” Straatman said.

Congratulations to Lawless Shadow For Winning The Meadowlands Pace

Sat, 17 Jul 2021 23:05:15 GMT

Ian Moore’s first Meadowlands Pace win came in a way he never experienced victory before in a major stakes – by disqualification.

Charlie May was first across the finish line, a neck ahead of Lawless Shadow, over a “good” surface in 1:48.3 in the rain at the Big M. But Charlie May was placed ninth for interfering with Rockyroad Hanover and Abuckabett Hanover as he came three-wide and momentarily went off stride heading into the stretch.

Lawless Shadow was elevated to first, with favourite Perfect Sting second and Southwind Gendry third.

It was the first Meadowlands Pace win for Dr. Moore and driver Mark MacDonald.

“I never won a big race on a setback before, but I guess we’ll take it,” Dr. Moore said.

“He’s a real nice colt. I prepped him for this all along. We were hoping to come here and I’m glad we did now, for sure, even in the pouring rain.”

Lawless Shadow led the field to the first quarter in :25.3 before Perfect Sting took command on his way to a :53.2 half. On the backstretch, One Eight Hundred, who was second at the quarter-mile point, went off stride because of broken equipment.

Charlie May followed the cover of first-over Southwind Gendry as the group raced to three-quarters in 1:21.3. Lawless Shadow was third in the stretch and battled with Charlie May and Perfect Sting to the wire.

“I kind of feel bad for (Charlie May’s driver, Brett Miller); he’s a good friend of mine,” MacDonald said. “It was just a bad situation there. But I think if my horse gets out a little sooner, I might have won anyway. It’s still a win, but you hate to kind of win like that.”

Sent at 5-1, Lawless Shadow paid $12.40.

Lawless Shadow finished second by a neck to Southwind Gendry in last week’s Meadowlands Pace eliminations.

“We came to race,” MacDonald said. “Ian told me the first week, we brought him here to race, (so) let’s put him in play. So, that’s what I did.”

Lawless Shadow, who caused a delay to the start of the Pace when he returned to the paddock for a shoe repair, won for the fourth time in seven races this year and eighth time in 16 career starts.

Prince Edward Island native Mark MacDonald drove Lawless Shadow , a son of Shadow Play and Ladycino with eight wins and $720,680 in career earnings to his name, for trainer Dr. Ian Moore of Cambridge, Ont., who shares ownership with R G McGroup Ltd. of New Brunswick, Serge Savard of Quebec and Frank Cannon of Florida. Bred in Ontario by Seelster Farms , Lawless Shadow, Canada's two-year-old pacing colt of the year in 2020, paid $12.40 to win.

Prior to the Meadowlands Pace eliminations, Lawless Shadow finished third in an Ontario Sires Stakes division at Woodbine Mohawk Park. His previous races were against older rivals in conditioned events in Ontario and Ohio.

“All his races prior to the weekend before we came here were with aged horses; he did very well, as we expected,” Moore said. “I was a little disappointed with his last start in Ontario, but he got beat by a really good colt up there, Bulldog Hanover.

“There’s another (Ontario Sires Stakes) Gold next weekend, so we’ll see how he comes out of this and go from there.”

Total handle for the 14-race program was $4,503,213, marking the second occurrence of Meadowlands Pace Night handle eclipsing the $4.5-million mark in the past 13 years. Bettors wagered $677,992 on the Pace itself, representing the highest handle for The Meadowlands' signature event for 3-year-old pacing colts in the past decade.

We All Need A Little Hope

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 18:47:45 GMT

The Ontario harness racing industry has been decimated over recent months with three separate shutdowns due to the global pandemic. With racing now back on track, our horse people finally have a little hope. That’s exactly what the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society received last year. A small weanling filly with the apt name of Hope.

This was historic as OSAS had never accepted a weanling before, but the circumstances were unique. Hope was born at Seelster Farms in the spring of 2020. Her dam is boarded at the Lucan, Ontario, breeding farm on a year-round basis.

“Like every breeder we had high hopes of a perfect cross and a perfect foal,” explained Ann Straatman, the Reproduction Manager at Seelster.

“We knew right away on the day of her birth she had wry nose. It’s a genetic complication or defect where the nose is crooked which impacts their airway. The wry nose is very rare, I’ve only seen it twice before. Because it’s a midline defect, it sometimes comes with heart defect. I had seen that once and the foal died suddenly of a heart attack.

“The second one was a defect that proved incompatible with life, the foal couldn’t nurse or eat,” explained Ann whose father, the late Chris Van Bussel, started Seelster Farms with his family more than 60 years ago.

“Fortunately, her nose was not severe enough to prevent her from nursing or eating. The owners were good enough to make a commitment to the foal and they wanted to continue that commitment even though she would never be a racehorse. The goal from the start to find her another purpose in life, to find her a home where she can make a contribution. She’s a beautiful filly, she’s absolutely perfect other than that wry nose.”

Hope’s owners began exploring options for the filly. They reached out to a few sources but weren’t successful finding something that fit.

“I had suggested to her before filly was weaned ‘why don’t we talk to OSAS and repurpose her as a pleasure horse?’ There is no reason why someone can’t ride her. She could be a trail horse or even a companion horse. I truly think she can be a riding horse, just not in competition,” notes Ann.

“She’s so sweet and friendly. After she was weaned from her mom, she was able to continue eating hay and pellets and never lost weight which is always good sign. We got her halter broke and taught her to lead, pick up her feet and stand in the cross ties, all the things necessary for a respectful horse.”

Ann, the most recent past Chair of Standardbred Canada, reached out to another former chair of that national body, Joanne Colville, who runs OSAS, and they discussed the possibility of Hope coming to OSAS.

“This was an unusual situation,” said Joanne. “OSAS is not normally positioned to accept a weanling, but we made an exception in this case. Seelster Farms have been one of our most generous supporters for many years. Every year they step up in a huge way for our annual stallion auction which historically is one of the best fundraisers for OSAS each year. They have always gone above and beyond to support our organization so our board agreed to welcome Hope into the program and we were happy to do so.

“Seelster Farms does a great job raising horses and Hope is no exception, she’s a true pleasure to be around. They taught her well,” Joanne added.

Also helping the young filly as she started with OSAS was having Purina supply a special formula of feed made specially for weanlings called Juvenile. Purina has long been a major supporter of OSAS and this was yet another way they have contributed to their horses.

When Hope first came to OSAS she lived at Joanne’s farm for a few weeks for an initial assessment. She was then moved to the foster farm owned by Mary Christopher in Acton. She shares her pasture time with another yearling lass, Manerva.

“The goal now is to rehome her through OSAS. Now that she’s a yearling she can begin her lessons hopefully in the fall. It all seems to make sense. We know for sure she has a purpose. Hope was such a sweetheart right from the start. I have to give a lot of credit to her owners for continuing that commitment to her. All of us at Seelster believe that if you make a commitment to the horse, you follow that through,” Ann summarized.

It was her owners who christened the filly with her name. They knew that while she may not be a racing hopeful that doesn’t mean she can’t enjoy a full life.

Hope has been scarce in the Ontario harness racing community throughout the COVID-19 crisis, something Ann herself is far too familiar with having contracted the virus and being very ill for several weeks which included a hospital stay. “It’s just this week I’m feeling back to normal. It’s very real.”

Despite the pandemic and numerous lockdowns, OSAS has been busier than ever which is remarkable given the challenges presented in inspecting horses and potential forever homes, staffing and shipping horses. Many applications are currently on file for people wanting to adopt a horse. One of those could find themselves with a sweetheart named Hope.

Karma Seelster Clicks In Preferred

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 23:00:56 GMT

So Much More was an overwhelming favourite to extend her winning streak to four-in-a-row in Friday’s $30,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Handicap, but Karma Seelster snuck up the rail in the lane to steal that one’s thunder.

It was Karma Seelster who shot to the top for driver Doug McNair and had the field chasing them to the first quarter in :26.3. Ivana Flybye N muscled up on the rim and went by that foe as they entered the backstretch, and she went on to carve out middle panels of :55.1 and 1:22.4.

So Much More angled out of the four-hole as the field headed toward the final turn, and she started the first-over grind to the leaders as the group entered the lane. Ivana Flybye N dug in late, but drifted slightly off the rail which allowed Karma Seelster to sneak through for the win. So Much More’s late bid fell short by just a neck. Ivana Flybye N was a bang-up third.

Gregg McNair trains the four-year-old daughter of Sportswriter-Kiddie Cocktail for Eileen Waples, Karen Hauver and Shadyhill Racing Stable. The Ontario Sires Stakes graduate won for the first time this season and for the eighth time in her career. The 1:50.2 clocking was a career best performance for the winner of $558,375.

Thinking Out Loud Passes

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 11:22:58 GMT

It is with heavy hearts that Seelster Farms announces the sudden passing of Thinking Out Loud due to colic complications, during surgery at the University of Guelph on Thursday, June 10. Currently owned by those that raced the nearly double millionaire stallion, Robert McIntosh Stables, CSX Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings; Thinking Out Loud was retired to stud after a brilliant racing career.

After just five years at stud; Thinking Out Loud has sired winners of $1,000,000 and will have a number of yearlings available this fall at the sales.

Seelster’s Reproduction Manager, Ann Straatman offered, “Thinking Out Loud was a smart, happy horse who lived an exceptional life. He will be missed by all of us here at Seelster, but especially by his former caretaker, Nicki Pedden-MacQuarrie and his current caretaker, Joanne McGinnis.”

A Big Night For Sunshine Beach's Offspring!

Sat, 15 May 2021 13:46:53 GMT

GREAT GRADUATES at the Meadowlands: A pair of divisions for the Graduate Series’ second preliminary sandwiched the evening’s feature.

Speedy fractions paved the way for Poseidon Seelster to scoot through a narrow seam at the pylons and nail pacesetter Warrawee Vital in the opening division of the Graduate.

With a few taps of the whip, driver Tim Tetrick landed 8-5 favourite Warrawee Vital on the point past a :26.2 opening quarter. Tattoo Artist, who hustled off the gate from post 8, yielded for the pocket entering the backstretch while Poseidon Seelster sat third. No Lou Zing, positioned fourth, soon edged uncovered into a :53.4 half and inched closer to the pacesetter circling the final turn.

No Lou Zing’s first-over grind came to a halt as Warrawee Vital remained revved on the lead passing three-quarters in 1:21. Room opened for Tattoo Artist to pop pocket while Poseidon Seelster stuck to the inside, with both making ample gains as the leader grew leg weary. Warrawee Vital gamely fought his late challengers from in between, but Poseidon Seelster snuck a nose in front at the finish of a 1:47.4 mile with Tattoo Artist finishing third. Captain Barbossa, from off the pace, rallied for fourth.

“Going into the race, I was in the room back there and I looked at the program, and I legit just said ‘I don’t know what I was going to do,’” winning driver George Brennan said. “I know he’s got good gate speed, so I figured if I could establish good position, just sit there [and] try to be in on the last turn. The trip couldn’t have worked out any better.”

A four-year-old gelding by Sunshine Beach, Poseidon Seelster won his third race from five starts this season and his 10th from 31 overall, earning $154,757 for owners Don Lindsey, Paul Kleinpaste, William Alempijevic and Garth Bechtel. Nik Drennan trains the $30.40 winner.

Two more fast winners of Sunshine Beach were Sundown Kid (1:48.4) and PL Ozzy (1:49.3).

All Day Sunshine Digs In, Prevails

Thu, 06 May 2021 13:37:15 GMT

All Day Sunshine wrested the early lead from Amelias Courage A, then thwarted her late challenge to capture Thursday’s (May 6) feature at The Meadows, a $10,500 fillies and mares conditioned pace.

All Day Sunshine easily repelled the first-over bid of Dorothys Legacy, but Amelias Courage A had the entire Lightning Lane to pick her up. The four-year-old daughter of Sunshine Beach and Mustang Kensley responded to the urging of Mike Wilder and held off Amelias Courage A by a neck in 1:51.4, a tick off her lifetime mark. The game Dorothys Legacy earned show.

Paul Corey trains All Day Sunshine , who triumphed for the fifth time this year and lifted her lifetime bankroll to $189,370, for Kenneth Ashba.

Dave Palone piloted four winners, including a pair for trainer Tim Twaddle, on the 13-race card.

Farewell to a long-time, valued member of our Seelster team

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 18:10:42 GMT

It is with a heavy heart that we say farewell to a long-time, valued member of our Seelster team. Delahni has been a much valued part of our yearling and foaling teams at Seelster and we wish her the very best as she embarks on a new path. "Del: you will be greatly missed, leaving some very 'big shoes' to fill at Seelster. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to the care and well-being of all of the horses. We wish you every happiness in your new position."

Seelster will be looking to add a team member in the very near future. If you would like to join us at Seelster; if you enjoy working as part of dedicated group; if you’d like a job that changes with the season; and if you have horse handling experience; please submit your resume to seelster@quadro.net

2020 O'Brien Awards

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 18:38:09 GMT

Seelster bred Lawless Shadow was voted Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year after an ultra-consistent season that saw him hit the board in eight of nine races, including four victories, while earning more than $307,000. He scored two victories in Ontario Sires Stakes events, a win in the Nassagaweya, runner-up finishes in his Metro elimination and OSS Super Final and a third-place finish in the Metro Final.

Pemberton , a son of Wheeling N Dealin, was voted Canada’s Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year. A winner of eight of 10 races, he earned more than $363,000 during his sophomore season. Four of his victories came in Ontario Sires Stakes events including the season-ending Super Final.

So Much More , a daughter of Big Jim, a dominant competitor in the Fillies & Mares Preferred Ranks at Woodbine Mohawk Park, took Older Pacing Mare honours. She won 12 of 30 starts and eclipsed $300,000 in earnings last year while winning in a career best 1:49.3 at Mohawk.

First foal of the 2021!

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 16:21:39 GMT

First foal of the 2021 foaling season, a colt by Big Jim, arrived on January 14 for first time mom, Rough N Ready. She is a sister to IDEAL NUGGETS p, 2, 1:50.4, BT1:50.2 ($399,074) ; STRONG OPINION p, 2, 1:52.3f, 3, 1:51.1f, BT1:49.1 ($364,674) ; ROUGH ODDS p, 3, 1:51.3f, 1:50.1f, BT1:49.4 ($220,031) ; and from the dam ROUGH SKETCH p, 2, 1:55.4h, BT1:52.4 ($117,226) who is a sister to the Big Jim, Gold winner GOOD WILL HANOVER p, 2, 1:52.3s, 3, 1:50s ($368,314) .

SBOA Finals In The Books

Sat, 14 Nov 2020 15:03:35 GMT

Karma Seelster and Lmc Bumble Bee captured SBOA Stakes glory to wrap up the 2020 stakes season on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

With the temperature sitting at the freezing mark, the SBOA’s saw full fields of 10 Ontario-sired fillies clash in the $138,518 pacing final and $141,518 trotting final.

Karma Seelster finally got her big win, shooting up the rail after a two-hole trip to win in 1:53 for driver Doug McNair and trainer Gregg McNair. The daughter of Sportswriter entered the evening with over $200,000 earned this season, despite having just found the winner’s circle twice in 14 starts.

“She finishes second, third quite a bit and I mean going for money like that it adds up,” said Doug McNair of Karma Seelster. “It’s a little frustrating sometimes as a driver when you get a trip like that and sometimes she’ll shoot through and just kind of hang around and finish second and third, but she really put out tonight and raced great.”

Karma Seelster blasted to the front, posting a :27.2 opening quarter. Rose Run Victory also flashed early speed and made the front early in the second-quarter after being parked around the first turn.

The middle-half saw little action, as Rose Run Victory got to the half in a comfortable :56.3 and three-quarters in 1:26. Lauras Love angled out from third to sit first-up on the far turn, while Rose Run Vantage followed that cover.

In the stretch, Karma Seelster found daylight up the pylons and shot through to the lead, holding off Rose Run Vantage in the centre by a head in 1:53. Lauras Love finished third, while Rose Run Victory was fourth.

“I figured the way Hensley’s filly (Rose Run Victory) raced last week she was probably the one to follow and as soon as I made the front he was on the move right away,” said Doug McNair. “In the last turn I just thought we were racing for second or third off those fractions, but things opened up and she raced great.”

Karma Seelster ’s win is a family affair, as she is owned by Hall of Famer Keith Waples, his wife Eileen Waples and their daughter Karen Hauver. The pacing filly now has three wins and $277,570 earned this season to bring her career totals to seven wins and $539,775.

A $2 win ticket on Karma Seelster returned $5.70.

The SBOA Filly Trot final delivered a thrilling finish, with LMC Bumble Bee capitalizing off some nifty stickhandling from driver James MacDonald to win at odds of 9-1.

“I was in an awful spot with nowhere to go,” said MacDonald about his position at three-quarters. “They kind of hooked wheels for a second in front of me and I got a seam to get out and at the top of the stretch I was just dying for some daylight because I had all kinds of trot.”

LMC Bumble Bee hustled off the wings of the gate to lead into the first-turn just before Shape Shifter cleared to command at a :27.1 opening quarter. Princesspartypants, who was parked around the first turn, got a rough ride in the second-quarter on her way to the top, finally clearing at a huge :55.2 half.

Race-favourite P L Notsonice was out and moving going to the half, taking over the top spot racing to three-quarters in 1:25.1. Second-choice Susies Lady was left uncovered first-up, while LMC Bumble Bee was pinned at the rail and shuffled back to seventh turning for home.

The stretch drive saw P L Notsonice and Susies Lady square off for a good chunk, but neither filly had enough in the tank to hold off the back field.

Jula Shes Magic and Yen were marching strong in the centre, but the strongest of all was LMC Bumble Bee. The Nick Gallucci trainee and MacDonald were flying up behind rivals before diving down to the rail and maintaining momentum to pull off the thrilling victory by three-quarter lengths over Jula Shes Magic. Yen grabbed third, while Susies Lady and P L Notsonice settled for fourth and fifth, respectively.

A daughter of Muscle Mass, LMC Bumble Bee has found her best stride late in the season after some setbacks.

“When we trained her down, we thought she was the best trotting filly we had ever owned,” said owner Frank Cirillo, who shares ownership with his daughter Loredana. “She got two surgeries last year, she had two surgeries this year after the first Gold and we never thought she’d make it back, but (Nick) Gallucci did just an amazing job bringing her back, so it’s just unbelievable to be standing here right now.”

The Gallucci-trained LMC Bumble Bee is now four for nine with $121,975 earned on the season. Her clocking of 1:55 on Saturday established a career best.

LMC Bumble Bee will be racing in the upcoming Harvest Series, as she had little money on her card prior to October and met the eligibility. She paid $20.00 to win.

Max Shadow Tops London Day 3

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 20:33:20 GMT

Max Shadow sold to Samuel Taylor of Lucan, Ont., for $113,400 on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 21) in the third and final session of the 2020 London Virtual Yearling Sale hosted by onGait.com, making him the fourth six-figure yearling to change hands this week.

Max Shadow, a son of Shadow Play out of Lady D M p,2,2:00.1h, 3,1:52; 1:51 ($634,732), is a half-brother to three 1:55 performers, including Ontario Sires Stakes Gold winner Lay Lady Lay p,2,1:53.3s, 3,1:52s, 4,1:51s ($467,599).

Over the three days of auctions, a total of 102 yearlings grossed $3,312,990 for an average of $32,480.

During Session Two on Tuesday (Oct. 20), Addison Seelster, a filly by Bettors Delight from a full sister to champion race mare Rocklamation, brought a winning bid of $103,500 from Amanda Fine. Novella Seelster, a Sportswriter filly from the Mach Three mare Nila Seelster, was hammered down by Daniel Plouffe for $81,200.

In Session One on Monday (Oct. 19), Goldrush Seelster, a son of Bettors Delight and the first foal from the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold winner Glamour Seelster, brought a winning bid from Gregg McNair of $201,000. Amanda Fine was the high bidder on Shanghai Seelster for $152,000. This daughter of Bettors Delight is the first foal from stakes winner Soiree Seelster.

Eight Bettors Delight yearlings sold for an average of $88,588 to lead all sires. The first crop of multi-millionaire Resolve was represented by two yearlings, selling for an average of $51,745.

Ann Straatman, who pulled double duty for the sale managing the Seelster Farms consignment as well as liaising with onGait.com to facilitate the sale's operations, indicated that the sale results were "beyond [her] expectations."

"Before the sale, the only feedback — until very recently — that I received was negative," Straatman told Trot Insider. "I only fielded complaints and even threats, so it was very difficult to predict the participation we would receive with the new online format with OnGait."

Despite the early skepticism some may have harboured, the numbers ultimately represented a significant uptick from last year's sale, with the average price of $32,480 representing an increase of over 40 per cent from 2019.

"I knew that this was the strongest catalogue that we had ever had, so in pre-pandemic times, I would've expected the average to be up," Straatman continued. "I'm very happy for our consignors to have this format so well received.

"I have to thank Eric Cherry and Maurice Chodash for their partnership and professionalism. OnGait is an excellent organization to work with. Our goal was to keep everyone safe and provide an effective, inclusive and fair yearling auction format for all participants, and I'm happy to say that we have accomplished both."

'Addison' Tops Tuesday London Session

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 20:29:24 GMT

Addison Seelster, a filly by Bettors Delight and from a full sister to champion racemare Rocklamation, became the third six-figure yearling to sell thus far at the 2020 London Virtual Sale hosted by onGait.com.

Addison Seelster, filly by Bettors Delight and from a full sister to champion racemare Rocklamation brought a winning bid of $103,500 CAD from Amanda Fine on Tuesday. Also during Session Two, Novella Seelster, a Sportswriter filly from the Mach Three mare Nila Seelster, was hammered down by Daniel Plouffe for $81,200 CAD.

Sessions One and Two have grossed a combined $2,355,380 CAD for an average of $34,637. Auctions for the third and final session will end on Wednesday afternoon.

The first crop of multi-millionaire Resolve was represented by Conflictresolution, which was purchased from the Nu-Quine Farm consignment by Gregg McNair for $47,000 CAD on Tuesday. Century Spring Farms will be offering the Resolve colt Century Invader on Wednesday.

During Session One on Monday, Goldrush Seelster, a son of Bettors Delight and the first foal from the Ontario Sire Stakes Gold winner Glamour Seelster, brought a winning bid from Gregg McNair of $201,000 CAD. Amanda Fine was the high bidder on Shanghai Seelster for $152,000 CAD. This daughter of Bettors Delight is the first foal from stakes winner Soiree Seelster.

Goldrush Seelster Tops First London Session

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 20:31:54 GMT

Thirty-five yearlings sold during the first session of the 2020 London Virtual Yearling Sale, hosted by OnGait.com on Monday afternoon (Oct. 19).

Goldrush Seelster, a son of Bettors Delight and the first foal from the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold winner Glamour Seelster, attracted a winning bid of of $201,000 CAD ($154,000 USD) from Gregg McNair.

Amanda Fine was the high bidder on Shanghai Seelster for $152,000 CAD ($116,000 USD). The daughter of Bettors Delight is the first foal from stakes winner Soiree Seelster.

Trotting-breds were led by Archery Seelster, a Wheeling N Dealin colt that sold to Marcel Barrieau for $85,150 CAD ($65,000 USD).

Century Invictus sold Monday from the Century Spring Farms consignment for $67,500 CAD ($51,500 USD). Another son of Bettors Delight, he is the first foal of his Ohio Sires Stakes winning McArdle dam. Anthony MacDonald will train the colt.

Session One grossed $1,354,540 CAD for an average of $38,701. Trotting fillies led all categories with 17 head averaging $45,588 CAD.

In For A Penny, In For A Pound

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 14:46:21 GMT

If you flipped through a Webster’s dictionary and had to choose one word as the most important in the English vocabulary, what word would that be? Maybe the most important word, and perhaps one of the most underrated, would be ‘experience’ – a word with several different meanings, all being extremely crucial in navigating through life.

OSS Program Strong Heading Into This Fall's Yearling Sales

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 14:38:53 GMT

For those looking to breed Standardbreds or buy yearlings this fall, Walter Parkinson said one of the best returns on investment comes from Ontario-sired and Ontario-bred horses.

Parkinson, the president of the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association (SBOA) and the Standardbred breeder representative on the board of Ontario Racing (OR), pointed to a number of advantages the province’s Standardbred Improvement Program (SIP) offers horse owners.

First and foremost is the rich and deep Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) program which offers two tiers, multiple events at the province’s Standardbred tracks and, most importantly, total purses of some $15 million, making it one of the most lucrative sires stakes programs in North America. This year, OR added a third tier, called the 'Prospect Series,' as a pilot project.

On top of that, in 2020 there is just over $3 million available in Standardbred breeders awards.

SIP is one of three breed-specific improvement programs that flows out of Ontario’s Horse Improvement Program (HIP) administered by OR. HIP also supports the Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) and the Quarter Horse Racing Industry Development Program (QHRIDP).

While TIP chooses to allocate more funding to Thoroughbred breeders awards, Parkinson stressed the SIP program is driven mostly by the OSS program.

“Certainly in our breed, it goes hand in hand to have the strongest purses you can have and then reward the excellence you can achieve from that. I think it works well for Standardbreds in general, not just the Ontario program. Overall, that’s been the basis of Standardbred breeding, having a strong sires stakes program,” Parkinson said. “I think we're extremely competitive in getting the best stallions available in any given year, along with Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio in some capacity. So I think that's what the sires stakes program does. It gets you top sires in your jurisdiction. And in order to do that, you need to create a program that incents them to come and incents breeders to breed in your jurisdiction to those stallions.”

This year, Gold purses have typically exceeded $100,000 per race, Grassroots divisions were going for an average of $23,000, and Prospect Series events carried purses of, approximately, $7,000.

“I think the uptake on it has been fairly good,” Parkinson said of the Prospect Series. “It gives people an alternative if they have a nice quality horse that is ready to race, but maybe not quite Grassroots competitive. They have a nice option to race (in the Prospect Series) instead of just an open overnight.”

Parkinson said planning meetings for next year’s OSS events will be held this fall, but he doesn’t anticipate any dramatic changes to the program for 2021 and, likely, the Prospect Series will return.

Though, the COVID-19 global pandemic will have some impact on purses.

“Your home market area wagering is your determining factor for a lot of money in this industry,” Parkinson said of the primary source of SIP funding, which comes from what people physically wager in the Ontario area where they live on Ontario horse racing. With teletheatres and on-track betting windows closed due to the pandemic, that means home market wagering is only coming from those that bet on Ontario horse racing over the internet. Much of the current handle is coming from simulcast wagering from outside of the province. “The sooner (teletheatres and on-track betting windows) can open up, hopefully we can recover a bit from that. I think it's important too to realize everything in the world has been affected. So, people should assume that horse racing is going to be affected to some extent, but it’s not anything specific to horse racing. It’s across the board, worldwide, industry wide.”

One advantage Ontario has over other jurisdictions is a long-term provincial funding agreement in place that provides approximately $100 million annually to the horse racing industry. In many other Standardbred jurisdictions in North America, purses are dependent on casino revenue. Some casinos — such as the non-tribal locations in the state of New York — remain closed, meaning the biggest funding source for purses is temporarily halted in that state and some tracks have plans to end their racing seasons early this year. Not so in Ontario.

As Thoroughbred breeder David Anderson recently told OR, “I think we're fortunate that our purse structure is not focused around casino revenue. With our long-term funding agreement in place [with the province of Ontario], there’s a real sense of security.”

Parkinson said Ontario’s program, “remains strong due to the dedication of the funding and the horses themselves. If COVID-19 wasn’t even in the scenario, the quality of the horse is still the same. I think it's an amazing, excellent group of Ontario-sired horses that are going to be sold, wherever they're being sold this fall. We're seeing a great year in the Ontario Sires Stakes program.”

Parkinson said those horses to be sold this fall were the result of mating decisions made long before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

He also pointed specifically to this year’s three-year-old pacing colt division that features two top colts in Beaumond Hanover and Tattoo Artist that are both undefeated through three OSS Gold Series events in 2020. As well, Ontario-sired Tall Dark Stranger is the leading horse in the division and is the recent Meadowlands Pace and Cane Pace winner.

“There's no question about the quality of horse,” Parkinson said. “If you want to race next summer or in a sires stakes program — or just have an open stakes horse — then this fall is the time to purchase an Ontario Standardbred.”

Nightlife Seelster wins OSS Grassroots in 1:52.4

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 13:34:54 GMT

Bob McClure and Nightlife Seelster kicked things off in the first $23,150 division, going gate-to-wire from Post 1 in a sharp 1:52.4, the quickest mile of the five Grassroots splits. Congratulations to Shawn Steacy who trains Nightlife Seelster for Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, QC, Conrad Leber of Montreal, QC and Bertrand Gilhespy Stable of Edmonton, AB.

Seelster Farms will sell Neptune Seelster a full brother to NIGHTLIFE SEELSTER (f, Sunshine Beach) p, 2, 1:52.4s -'20 in the London Virtual Yearling Sale this fall .

read the complete story

Tokyo Seelster Wins Gold .... Again!

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 15:45:38 GMT

Woodbine Mohawk Park hosted a pair of $108,000 Gold Series divisions for the two-year-old trotting colts on Wednesday, July 30 and Macho Martini and Tokyo Seelster both made their third straight appearance in the Milton oval’s winner’s circle.

In the second division Tokyo Seelster (c, Kadabra) 2, 1:57s -'20 ( $98,033 ) 3 wins, left smartly from Post 7 and was sitting third when Highland Mowgli reached the quarter in :29. Regular reinsman Sylvain Filion soon had Tokyo Seelster on the move and the fan favourite hit the half in :58.2. Harry mounted a challenge heading for the 1:29.1 three-quarters and got a head in front of Tokyo Seelster, but the colt kicked it into another gear and powered away to a three and one-half length victory in 1:57.

Seelster Farms sells Tijuana Seelster , a Muscle Mass half sister to Tokyo Seelster in the London Virtual Yearling Sale this fall.

.... read the complete story

Seeking The Next Camluck?

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 13:37:46 GMT

There's no arguing that super sire Camluck was instrumental in putting Seelster Farms on the map. And while Walter Parkinson's eye is always on the lookout for another of Camluck's stature, he is confident that Seelster's current string of stallions can keep the Lucan, Ont., farm at the forefront of the breeding industry in Ontario.

"We always want to promote quality over quantity," said Parkinson, who serves as assistant farm manager at Seelster Farms, along with his roles as the president of the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association and a director on the Ontario Racing board. In addition to handling any number of tasks ranging from barn work and marketing, Parkinson handles Seelster's string of nine stallions for collections during breeding season.

Seelster's group of stallions including State Treasurer and Sunshine Beach surely stands up with any other major breeding operation, but the prospect of another icon like Camluck would no doubt bolster an already strong roster.

"Camluck's shoes are certainly a tough pair to fill," Parkinson said of Seelster's flagship stallion who stood at stud for 23 years until he was pensioned in 2014 and passed in August 2015. "His dominance was felt throughout North America. He didn't just set the stage for the Ontario Sires Stakes; he took the farm and the pacing breed to a different level."

Camluck, a true game-changer in Standardbred breeding, saw his progeny — 30 millionaires among them — bank nearly a quarter-billion dollars in their careers.

As for the next Camluck? It would be a boost for business, no doubt, but Parkinson is high on Seelster's current stallion roster — and for many reasons.

"Trying to find another one of him is always a long-term goal, but I think the farm has a lot of nice up and coming stallions — stallions who are proving to be perennial top performers like Big Jim, and Sunshine Beach is starting to show himself," continued Parkinson. "On the trotting side, we have Wheeling N Dealin. And then new stallions that are just coming with their foals on the ground — this season All Bets Off and Lookslikeachpndale. But on balance, I think we have a really nice group.

"As to who's going to be the next Camluck, that's what you're looking for — and they're few and far between. It's certainly a process: You want to attract the best you can, but you know that you're having to against other Ontario farms — farms in Pennsylvania and New York are major competitors. Certainly, you want the combination of on-track performance and pedigree, and hopefully the conformation to go with it. Once you start narrowing it down that much, the stallions that everyone wants becomes a narrow pool in any given year."

Given the strength and depth of the Ontario Sires Stakes program, the breeding industry in the province — and beyond — is an extremely competitive one. But Parkinson feels that the competitiveness — buoyed by a spirit of cooperation — can only bode well for everyone long-term.

"It only benefits everyone to work together," he concluded. "We want to have the best and be the best, but that doesn't mean wishing not well on other people. We're friends with everyone — we wish them well, they wish us well. And we know that it's going to come down to a small pool of people ... a handful of operations. What each group of owners decides to be their ultimate selection is certainly something we can respect, and we hope that it's often us, but we know it's not always going to be us."

Tokyo Seelster Grabs Gold

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 13:55:33 GMT

It was debut night for the two-year-old trotting colts on Thursday and the 25 youngsters put on an impressive show for Woodbine Mohawk Park fans in a trio of $73,000 Gold Series divisions.

Tokyo Seelster went off as the heavy favourite in the first division and the Kadabra son delivered a commanding front end performance that saw him trot under the wire two and one-half lengths ahead of his peers in 1:58.1.

Congratulations to owners Michael and Sam Sergi of Canton, NY, trainer Richard Moreau and driver by Sylvain Filion.

Seelster Farms will sell Tijuana Seelster, the Muscle Mass half-sister to Tokyo Seelster this fall.

Read the complete story here .

Alumni Seelster Wins OSS Gold

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 14:42:26 GMT

Woodbine Mohawk

Alumni Seelster opened the two-year-old pacing filly season with a 1:52.2 clocking that saw her do most of the work up front and then hang on for a three-quarter length victory over favourite Sports Check. “She’s all heart, and all desire, there’s no doubt about that,” said Moore, who also campaigned the filly’s sire, $2-million winner State Treasurer. “I’m really pleased because of State Treasurer. He didn’t get much support and yet to me, if I was a breeder, he was a hell of a horse and he’s the type of horse you’d love to have.”

A $50,000 purchase out of the London Selected Yearling Sale, Alumni Seelster is owned by Sally MacDonald and Paul MacDonald. The filly qualified twice, on June 12 and 19, and Moore thinks she will be even sharper for the second Gold Leg on July 19 at Georgian Downs.

“I think Alumni is going to get better -- that other division went in 1:50.4, that’s quite a mile -- I think our filly is going to get better because it’s been almost three weeks since she qualified and I only trained her once, last Tuesday, so I felt that she was little short, she could have been a little tighter going in maybe,” explained the Cambridge resident. “But I don’t like to over-train babies, not after they’ve had such a hard campaign training down, I like to go easier on them now.”

Congratulations to all her connections, owners Sally Macdonald, Paul Macdonald, trainer Dr. Ian Moore, and driver Sylvain Filion.

Seelster Farms will sell the Thinking Out Loud half brother Athens Seelster this fall.

Royal Witch, Absolut Seelster Retired

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 15:36:04 GMT

Trot Insider has been informed that a pair of trotting mares that are well known to followers of the Ontario racing scene have been retired and will be bred to Alarm Detector.

The mares in question, Royal Witch (5,1:51s [$345,803]) and Absolut Seelster (6,1:54.4f [$328,516]), are owned by Tom and Elizabeth Rankin of St Catharines, Ont., who are also co-owners of Alarm Detector. The Rankins are hoping that the speed and pedigree of Royal Witch, and the consistency and grit of Absolut Seelster will provide Alarm Detector two perfect suitors to carry his offspring.

Both six years old, and with combined earning just shy of three-quarters of a million dollars, the two mares have more than earned their retirement at the Rankin farm. There, they are joining other notable broodmares such as World Class Image (3,1:55.2s [$300,756]), a Balanced Image mare who recently gave birth to the first Alarm Detector foal: a long-legged light bay colt with long ears just like his two brothers, R First Class (a Kadabra gelding with a lifetime mark of 1:53:1, earnings of $442,795, and winner of the three-year-old Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final in 2017) and R Raised Emotions (who is also a son of Kadabra, that banked $121,934 in purses and took a lifetime mark of 1:52:3). In breeding both Royal Witch and Absolut Seelster to Alarm Detector, the Rankin family is continuing to provide their stallion the best mares they can.

Royal Witch, who was a $100,000 purchase from Harrisburg, is a Kadabra mare out of the Self Possessed dam Royal Tennis, who is a half-sister to Credit Winner. Royal Witch is the fastest resident mare in Ontario today. Having taken her lifetime mark of 1:51 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the summer of 2019, Royal Witch not only trotted the fourth fastest Canadian mile for the year 2019 regardless of sex, but the third fastest for trotting mares. In doing so, Royal Witch entered a coveted group of only 15 top trotting mares to have recorded a mile in 1:51 or faster in North America. Trotting in the ‘:51 range’ twice more that summer, she performed consistently in the :52 range throughout her career in top condition classes, the Ontario Sires Stakes program, and several Grand Circuit Events (Armbro Flight, Allerage, Miss Versatility, Breeders Crown, etc.).

Royal Witch’s stablemate, Absolut Seelster, on the other hand, is a staple of the Preferred 2s and 3s in Ontario. She won an impressive total of 34 races, and took a lifetime mark of 1:54:4 at Georgian Downs in the summer of 2019. Whereas Royal Witch represents speed and pedigree for Alarm Detector, Absolut Seelster represents grit and consistency. Having earned almost as much as her stablemate, Absolut Seelster earned it the hard way, as she demonstrated her tenacity in all of her 136 starts. It is this spirit that the Rankins hope she passes down to her offspring.

One thing that Alarm Detector surely showed throughout his racing career was that he possessed raw speed, which is something that his trainer, Ben Baillargeon, is well aware of. Along with the Rankins, Baillargeon is hoping to see that speed passed down to Alarm Detector’s offspring. The speed was surely on display when Alarm Detector won six out of his seven freshman starts, which included a Canadian record 1:52.4 mile in the William Wellwood Memorial at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The Rankins are excited, and understandably so, given Alarm Detector’s pedigree. He’s the only son of Chapter Seven standing in Ontario, and is out of a Yankee Glide dam who is a full sister to both Ken Warkentin and Holiday Road.

Seelster Tops Breeders’ Awards List

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 16:33:41 GMT

Seelster Farms topped all participants in the Ontario Resident Mare Program in 2019, as it earned a total of $370,026 in breeders’ rewards from the efforts of offspring from its resident mares.

Pacing filly Karma Seelster topped all Seelster-breds that competed in 2019, as she contributed $75,727 to the Lucan, Ont. nursery’s bottom line. In her juvenile campaign, the daughter of Sportswriter and Kiddie Cocktail won an Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Series leg and finished third in her Super Final, captured her elimination and the final of the Battle of the Belles, and finished second in her Eternal Camnation leg for a record of four wins, three seconds, three thirds and earnings of $262,205 from 11 starts.

“It’s encouraging to be able to see a horse that you bred go on and achieve,” said Walter Parkinson, assistant farm manager at Seelster Farms and president of the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association.

“You can do well here in Ontario when everything is done here, from the breeding and the raising to the actual racing.”

Seelster Farms enrolled almost all of its mares in the Ontario Resident Mare Program (ORMP) in 2016 and 2017, and a total of 28 two and three-year-old starters from 22 different mares contributed toward Seelster’s 2019 breeders’ rewards. Of the $370,026 total, $359,039 came in the Ontario Sires Stakes, while the remainder came from open stakes.

“Generally, we’re breeding on average about 60 mares that are farm-owned each year. Certainly every one of them gets enrolled in the resident mare program when she’s in foal, with the hope that we’ll be able to participate once they hit the track as two and three-year-olds,” said Parkinson. “There might be years where it’s slightly higher or slightly lower, but I think it’s a fairly good representation of OSS performers that we had in the 2019 stakes season.”

From his perspective as SBOA president, Parkinson feels the breeders’ rewards are both an excellent incentive for Ontario breeders to upgrade their operations and a tangible acknowledgement of the investments those breeders have made in the province’s Standardbred industry.

“I think it’s a tremendous bonus to have these breeders’ rewards allocated towards the performance of the offspring. I think it encourages breeders to continually invest in their breeding stock, to upgrade, and to reward them for producing horses that perform,” he explained. “Certainly this year’s standout was Century Farroh, so a horse like that, who is an Ontario-bred horse, versus Alicorn, who was not, the earning potential for the breeder is substantial. Both great horses, both had great seasons, but one is Ontario-bred and one is not.”

All horses produced by Ontario resident mares are considered Ontario-bred and their earnings in eligible races contribute toward their breeder’s rewards. Prior to foaling, mares that meet the eligibility requirements can be enrolled in the program for $100. After foaling and before September 1, the enrollment fee is $300 and third-party proof of residency is required.

For complete information about the Ontario Resident Mare Program, click here. Further questions can be directed to program co-ordinator Kathie Wilkinson at ontariomare@ontarioracing.com or 416-477-5529.

Top 10 Ontario Breeders’ Rewards Recipients in 2019

Breeder

(Top Performer)

Total Breeders’ Rewards

Seelster Farms Inc.

(Karma Seelster, Sportswriter-Kiddie Cocktail, $75,727)

$370,026

Century Spring Farms

(Century Farroh, Mach Three-Beachy Girl, $180,386)

$193,159

Charles and Gordon Lawrence

(Boadicea, Big Jim-Rose Seelster, $138,281)

$138,287

Warrawee Farm

(Warrawee Vicky, Royalty For Life-The Tall Poppy, $72,736)

$129,677

Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. / CSX Stables / Al McIntosh Holdings Inc.

(Sunny Dee, Sunshine Beach-West Of L A, $106,542)

$119,637

Tymal Farms

(Haveoneforme, Kadabra-All Filled Up, $98,607)

$110,941

Glengate Farms

(Scorched Romance, Kadabra- Tequila Slammer, $32,990)

$100,033

Bet Max Stables Inc.

(Bright Eyes M, Kadabra-Motown Muscle, $87,159)

$87,556

Leonard Gamble

(Teddys Littleangel, Archangel-Pine Knolls, $63,973)

$64,125

Winbak Farm

(Hetalkstoangels, Archangel-J Marie, $23,496)

$62,399

(Ontario Sires Stakes)

Records Set In First London Session

Sat, 19 Oct 2019 15:31:19 GMT

The opening session of the 2019 London Selected Yearling Sale made Canadian history within the first hour of the sale, and it ended with record numbers.

Marlboro Seelster entered the sales ring at the Western Fair District Metroland Media Agriplex in London, Ont. as Hip 25 on Saturday (Oct. 19), and when the hammer fell the high bid was $270,000, making him the highest-priced Standardbred yearling to sell in Canada.

"We're excited to hold the Canadian record for highest price yearling to sell," Sale Manager Ann Straatman told Trot Insider. "He was by a proven quality sire, Bettors Delight, and from a great maternal line. Buyers are very confident in those types of purchases."

The high bidder on the horse was Dr. Ian Moore, bidding on behalf Jeffrey & Michael Snyder.

"Bettors Delight's been a terrific sire everywhere he's been, and continues to be," Moore told Trot Insider. "He surely had a good year up here with two-year-olds. That #25 is a really good-looking individual; I saw him at the farm around the first week of September, they'd just come in and he was a good looker then and he's even better looking now.

"Hard to fault him in anything, really. He's well-made and he's got a nice producing pedigree there that would suit Ontario. Jeffrey & Michael Snyder are the buyers and they're going to let me have a piece of him as well."

Moore had pegged the son of Bettors Delight out of Macapelo Rose as the likely sale topper going into Saturday, but he wasn't sure just how much interest there would be and how much he'd have to spend to obtain the stunning yearling.

"Jeff told me last night to go to $150,000 and I told him this morning that he was probably going to go more than that, and he said 'well, get me on the phone' and I did. Jeff edged it up a little bit and when it went to $260,000 he said 'that's probably it.' And then he said 'what do you think?' and I said 'he's a damn fine looking animal' and he said '...OK, one more' so that's how it went."

Given the success of Ontario Sired horses on the Grand Circuit, including his own sophomore pacer Century Farroh, Moore felt the investment was solid.

"The Ontario breed has been good, especially at home here and quite a few of them do very well on the Grand Circuit including the one we have obviously. We're hopeful that this guy's going to turn out.

"Seelster Farms do a fantastic job, I was just standing here talking to Billy O'Donnell and all their babies look very good, they're all well-handled, they're raised properly and they don't bid them up, and they don't buy them back, and they don't race any. Anything they have here is going through the ring for sale in a fair and legitimate manner and that makes a big difference."

The previous record for a Standardbred yearling sold at public auction in Canada was set two years ago in London when Marlboro Seelster's brother, Mohawk Seelster, fetched a bid of $220,000.

The highest-priced trotting-bred yearling of the sale came just a few horses later. Full Of Muscles, selling as hip 39, was a $140,000 purchase. Ben Baillaregon signed the sales slip on the Icy Stables-consigned son of Muscle Mass - Windsong Nolwenn.

In front of an enthusiastic Agriplex audience, 119 yearlings were sold on the Saturday session of the London Selected Yearling Sale with total sales at a record $3.376 million. The average price was $28,730, meaning increases on both gross and yearling average. In 2018, 100 yearlings sold for a gross total of $2,870,000.

"We’re thrilled with Day One at the sale. We had a super crowd and enthusiastic bidders," said Straatman. "The London Selected Yearling Sale continues to prove that breeders can sell Ontario-sired yearlings right here at home in Ontario for outstanding prices.

"Tomorrow’s roster is every bit as exciting as today’s offerings, so we look forward to seeing everyone back at the Western Fair Agriplex."

Among stallions with multiple yearlings offered in the first session, Bettors Delight boasted the biggest average. His seven yearlings averaged more than $73,000, while Kadabra was best among trotter with four yearlings averaging $53,500. First-crop stallions Control The Moment ($23,333 average for three yearlings), Il Sogno Dream ($30,000 average for two yearlings) and State Treasurer ($27,500 average for eight yearlings) were also well-received.

History Through Our Eyes

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 15:28:02 GMT

Aug. 12, 1950, The Van Bussel Family Arrives

The family of 14, the 12 children ranging in ages from 19 to two, seemed startled at being greeted by reporters and photographers.

On Aug. 12, 1950, we covered the Van Bussel family’s arrival from the Netherlands on a Royal Dutch Airlines flight. The family of 14, the 12 children ranging in ages from 19 to two, seemed startled at being greeted by reporters and photographers.

It was the size of the family, seen in a photo from our archives, that sparked the attention, although large families were hardly unknown in Quebec in those days.

“What do you mean? This is not a big family. In the province of Brabant, where I come from, this is a good family, but not unusual,” the father said.

As the eldest, Gerardus, listed off the children’s names for reporters, “Papa expertly scooped two pint-sized offspring under each arm and headed toward the customs shed. Mama marshalled the teenage set with a flick of her finger, and the caravan set out.” For some reason, we did not report the parents’ given names, which were Frank and Gerarda. They were headed to a farm in Lucan, Ont., 30 kilometres north of London.

The family were among the nearly 100,000 Dutch immigrants who came to Canada in the decade after the Second World War. The war had devastated the Netherlands; among other things, the destruction of dikes had flooded a great deal of farmland.

Mr. Van Bussel was an experienced carpenter as well as a farmer, we reported.

“We will soon settle down,” he said. And settle down they did. Eventually, they established Frank Van Bussel and Sons Construction, and became involved in breeding standardbred horses, founding Seelster Farms. Many of the family members and descendants still live in the Lucan area.

The 14-member Van Bussel family arrives at Montreal Airport from the Netherlands as immigrants on a Royal Dutch Airlines "Royal Dutchman" flight. The family was headed for Lucan, Ont., where they were going to live on a farm. Our story about the family's arrival ran on Aug. 12, 1950. The 12 children and their parents are pictured above.