It was announced earlier this week that Big Jim, a winner of $1,544,580, will be standing his first season of stud duty at Seelster Farms

.

As a two-year-old, Big Jim captured the Dream Maker Stakes final, divisions of the Nassagaweya and Champlain Stakes, his Metro Pace elimination and the prestigious Breeders Crown before setting a World Record when he scored a 1:49.1 victory in the Governors Cup at Woodbine.

As a sophomore, he captured the New Jersey Classic, an elimination of the Meadowlands Pace and a division of the New Jersey Sires Stakes. He was also second in the Meadowlands Pace and third in the Pepsi North America Cup.

He is owned by Jim Carr of Hamilton, Ont. and was trained throughout his career by James 'Friday' Dean while Phil Hudon was his regular reinsman.

"Jim Carr wanted to keep him in Ontario," said Ann Straatman of Seelster Farms. "He's most recognized here by his owner, trainer and driver. He narrowed it down to a few farms in Ontario and we were the ones that put together the deal so we're very excited to have him."

The son of Western Ideal is out of the multiple stakes winning Big Towner mare Bold Pink.

"He will offer Camluck mares and also Artsplace mares a nice cross for Ontario," noted Straatman.

Big Jim will stand at the Lucan, Ont. farm with a $5,000 stud fee.

“We wanted to make it easy for all breeders to be able to breed to Big Jim and we thought $5,000 was a fair price. Although there will be no discounts in the first year, we will be offering multiple mare and loyalty discounts in the consecutive years.

"I haven’t been off the phone in the last few days so we are very excited with the response we've had so far."

Big Jim also won the 2010 O’Brien Award and the USHWA Dan Patch Award for two-year-old pacing colt of the year. He retired with a record of 10 wins, three seconds and four third-place finishes in 20 lifetime starts.

(With files from WEG)