Mattscape Seelster Euthanized
![mattscape-seelster.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/headline_image_1024_x_577/public/mattscape-seelster.jpg?itok=VOf3fAJo)
Mattscape Seelster, a winner of more than $651,000 in his long career and a regular on the Woodbine Entertainment circuit for many years, was euthanized
Tuesday morning after suffering a spiral fracture of his left hind cannon bone in the 12th race at Western Fair Raceway yesterday.
“We’re not exactly sure what happened, but he just started to run,” said the horse’s trainer and owner Jerry Sims. “They could have tried to operate and put one or two plates in but he was fighting and fretting and the vet was worried he might not make it out of surgery without re-breaking it.
“It was a very hard decision for Penny (girlfriend Penny Francis) and I to make this morning. I just had a vet in who told me we made the right decision but it’s a tough one.”
Bred by Perretti Farms of New Jersey, Mattscape Seelster was a son of Artiscape from the Matts Scooter mare Mattjestic (a daughter of the great Nadia Lobell). The colt was purchased by Sims from the Seelster Farms consignment at the 2003 Forest City Sale for $15,000 and remained in Sims’ ownership and care throughout his entire career.
“I had another horse by his sire who was a nice horse,” explained Sims. “(Mattscape) wasn’t that big but he was put together well. He was fine to break, no problems. I had $30,000 in the bank when I bought him so I spent half of what I had to get him.” The investment proved worth every penny.
“He was always a nice, happy horse to work with, very likeable with a lot of charisma. He had a ball in his stall to play with all his life and would always step up to greet you.”
A June 15th foal, Mattscape didn’t start during his two-year-old season until December but the following year he earned $112,480 as a sophomore. Victories that year included two legs of the Summertime Series at Mohawk and he finished second by a nose in the final.
At four he shipped to the Meadowlands for the Exit 16W Series where he won an opening leg in 1:51.4 and was fifth in the final. However, the vast majority of his earnings came the hard way through harness racing's overnight route.
“He was supposed to start in the Des Smith (in 2009) and they didn’t have eliminations so I raced him in an overnight at Mohawk. It was a wet and rainy night and he pulled a suspensory in that race. So I had to scratch him from the Des Smith which went for $175,000,” remembers Sims.
“He was never exactly the same after that, up until last fall he was still charging home in the Preferreds at WEG but it put him back a step. He still liked to race, though.”
For many years he was a regular on the WEG circuit and lately he’d been making forays to Western Fair, winning his last race there in February. From ages four through eight he averaged about 30 starts per year and lifetime shows 179 starts with 28 wins, 33 seconds and 17 thirds. His life mark of 1:49.4 came as a four-year-old at Woodbine.
Mattscape Seelster was also the main reason that Sims, who was best known as the trainer of $808,000 winner Aahm Canadian Now before him, was able to go out on his own and open his own stable.
“I’ve bought a lot of horses since I bought him and none are no where near him. He was a classy horse."
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Mattscape Seelster.
(Western Fair Raceway)
I've followed Mattscape thru
I've followed Mattscape thru his career and he was a true warrior. I'm proud to have his full sister. She had a beautiful filly this week. I just hope she gets some of Mattscapes heart and desire. Mattscape left many people with great memories and you should be proud of the job you did with him.
Penny and Jerry,so sorry to
Penny and Jerry,so sorry to hear about Mattscape.He was truly a great one.
We are sure, he has brought you many exciting and happy memories,that will last forever.
Please accept our condolences.
Gord and Nancy Graham
Jerry & Penny, So sorry to
Jerry & Penny,
So sorry to hear of your great loss. What a great career for such a nice horse. He will be truly missed by his many fans. Jim & Lorna
What sad news to hear of
What sad news to hear of Mattscape Seelster's passing. He will be missed. I am sure for the same people to have this fine horse all these years it must have been heartbreaking to have him euthanized. A tough decision but perhaps best for the horse.
I know one race he beat my favorite pacer, Franco Catapult N, at Woodbine on March 24, 2007, and since that date I have had respect for Mattscape and played him reguarlary in Canada.
Once again, it is such a sad time for all connected with Mattscape and I am very sad at reading the news.
Janelle Scherbik
so sorry to hear of the
so sorry to hear of the passing of Mattscape Seelster...another classy racehorse that will be missed!
My condolences go out to you
My condolences go out to you Jerry,he was a tough horse and will be missed by all us fans
He brought you alot of great memories
Santo Vena
Jerry and Penny, I'm so
Jerry and Penny,
I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to Mattscape Seelster. He was a gritty little guy and an extreme pleasure to watch. Please accept my condolences.
Sincerely,
Ken Middleton
In reply to Jerry and Penny, I'm so by Ken Middleton
My condolences to Jerry and
My condolences to Jerry and Penny on your loss . Matts was one of my favorites to watch over the years and he was a true Champion.
Sorry for your loss
Steve Jewitt
So sorry to hear about
So sorry to hear about Mattscape.
Jerry, I am very sorry to
Jerry,
I am very sorry to hear about Mattscape Seelster. It is a very sad loss.
Joe Serratore
Penny and Jerry We were so
Penny and Jerry
We were so sorry to hear about your loss. It will be tough just looking at his empty stall. Horses like Mattscape Seelster just don't come along every day. Remember all those times he swooped the field from last to first.
RIP
RIP
So sorry to read about your
So sorry to read about your loss
He was an amazing horse to watch
Marie Stoyles-Moura
In reply to So sorry to read about your by Marie
very sorry for your loss i
very sorry for your loss i watched him many times he was a very fast horse those ones are hard to replace! i have a small artiscape and he was my first race horse small but put together nice too. wish he was as fast as him! good luck to ya!
Penny & Jerry, So sorry to
Penny & Jerry, So sorry to hear about Mattscape. Always brought his game and he was a pleasure to watch race. Glenn & Sue Rollings
In reply to Penny & Jerry, So sorry to by Sue Rollings
always a gamer, and always
always a gamer, and always hate to hear when any of the game's heroes go down.
jctoronto
I'm sorry for Mr.Sims and
I'm sorry for Mr.Sims and Ms.Francis. One gets attached to their horse and it's a tough loss.