Reports indicate that legendary pacer and stallion Falcon Seelster has been put down at the age

of 29.

Purchased as a yearling from Lucan, Ont.'s Seelster Farms, Falcon Seelster was developed in the Maritimes by Francis Belliveau and and professional wrestler, turned horse trainer, Yvon 'The Beast' Cormier. He was lightly campaigned at two and then sold early in his three-year-old year to trainer Tom Harmer for $65,000 US.

As a three-year-old, the son of Warm Breeze went 24 for 31 and was named three-year-old pacer of the year in Canada. (Honours stateside went to Nihilator). His victories included the Prix d'Ete, Provicial Cup, elims of the Cane Pace and the Messenger, the Nat Christie Memorial, the American-National, Sophomore Championship and a leg and final of the Pompano Beach Series.

He was a multiple track record holder, with the most famous track record coming on Sept. 19, 1985 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds when the Jug-ineligible colt raced in an invitational event. That race has been cemented as one of the most stunning performances in harness racing history as Falcon Seelster set an all-age world record on a half mile track. His time of 1:51 stood for 17 years.

Falcon Seelster retired at the age of 4 with 36 wins in 51 starts and more than $1.1 million in earnings. A tremendous stallion career followed, producing winners of over $80 million in North America and $30 million in Australia & New Zealand with starters averaging over $80,000. While he was ineligible himself, Falcon Seelster produced Little Brown Jug winner Shady Character, McArdle and the incomparable Shady Daisy in North America plus the great Elsu and The Falcon Strike in the southern hemisphere.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Falcon Seelster.