Winbak Farm has reported that world champion Royal Mattjesty, p, 2, 1:50.3; 3, 1:50.2s; 1:48.4 ($1,840,681) passed away suddenly at the age of 23 while enjoying a beautiful day in his pasture field on Nov. 4.

“We are deeply saddened over the loss of Royal Mattjesty,” said Jack Burke, General Manager. “He was a true champion on the racetrack and we were lucky to be able to stand him at stud at Winbak Farm of Canada and Winbak Farm of Delaware.”

Royal Mattjesty was a $210,000 yearling out of the U.S. Hall of Fame mare inductee, Lady Hathaway.

He was a full-brother to O’Brien Award winner His Mattjesty, p, 2, 1:52.1f; 3, 1:51s ($1,038,861).

“We are proud to have been the owners of Royal Mattjesty; he was the complete package, with a phenomenal pedigree, success on the track and outstanding looks,” said Joe Thomson, Winbak Farm Owner. “We were proud to stand him in our stallion lineup and to raise and sell his offspring.”

As a racehorse, Royal Mattjesty was the first horse to ever take a sub 1:51 record at two, three, four and five. He was the winner of 19 races and finished first, second or third in 57 races.

He was a world champion at age two. He set the two-year-old world record winning the Bluegrass Stakes in 1:50.3. He also won the International Stallion Stakes and was second in a division in the Nassagaweya Stakes.

At three, Royal Mattjesty won the Messenger Stakes elimination and New Jersey Sire Stakes leg. He was second in Hoosier Cup elimination, James Dancer Memorial elimination, New Jersey Classic elimination and final, New Jersey Sire Stakes division, Oliver Wendell Holmes Stakes and Provincial Cup elimination.

At four, he won a Whenuwishuponastar Series leg. He was second in the Pacing Classic Stakes final and Whenuwishuponastar Series final. As an older racehorse, he won the Allerage Farm Stakes final, Battle of Lake Erie Stakes final, Breeders Crown elimination, Magical Mike Stakes, Pacing Classic elimination, a Spring Pacing Championship leg and the War On The Shore FFA Invitational. He was second in the American-National Stakes final, Breeders Crown final, Canadian Pacing Derby elimination and final, two Presidential Series legs and a Spring Pacing Championship leg.

As a sire, Royal Mattjesty sired 17 winners of $250,000+ highlighted by Bay Girl, p, 3, 1:50s ($600,299), Pointsman, p, 1:50.2f ($498,146), Uncle Goodfellow, p, 1:50.2s ($450,867), and Officernagentleman, p, 1:50.3f ($405,420).

“Royal Mattjesty’s final crop will be born in 2023,” said Burke. “We look forward to their arrival and hope they will be successful on the racetrack and carry on their sire’s legacy.”

Royal Mattjesty also found success as a broodmare sire, siring the dams of performers like King Royalty, p, 1:51f ($364,150), Ollies Ztam, p, 3, 1:49.4 ($334,543), Vintage Babe, p, 1:52.2f ($303,944), and Royaltywestho, p, 1:50.4 ($283,345).

“Winbak Farm is proud to have 12 Royal Mattjesty daughters in the broodmare band,” said Burke. “We hope that they will produce champions as great as their sire.”

Royal Mattjesty will be fondly remembered by the Winbak Farm team.

“Royal Mattjesty was a truly special horse,” said Thomson. “He will be missed.”

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Royal Mattjesty.

(With files from Winbak Farm)