Sims Brings ‘Lifeline’ Horse To London

Regardless of how Mattscape Seelster does in Western Fair’s $18,400 Preferred Pace on the Monday afternoon card of November 24, trainer and co-owner Jerry Sims he’ll still be fond of the horse he calls his ‘lifeline’ come Tuesday morning.

“Most every trainer has one horse they can point to as the one that really launched their career, and Mattscape Seelster is the one that did it for me,” Sims says from his home at Denfield, ON, just north of London. “He’ll soon reach $500,000 in lifetime earnings. I owe my career to him. He allowed me to make the change from working for other people to working for myself…and in the process to make the change from training regular horses to good ones.”

The Artiscape-Mattjestic six year old pacing horse will start from the outside post seven in London on Monday against an accomplished field which includes a top three year old invader from Michigan, Gooch, and the sturdy cast of Fall Meet regulars such as Pacific Oak, Button Up, XLB Patrick and Speakin Greek. Sims was asked why his stable’s foundation horse has had only two career starts to date on half mile tracks.

“It really wasn’t a game plan that kept Mattscape Seelster away from half mile racing, it’s just that he was good enough to race every week down at Mohawk and Woodbine,” the trainer says. “I usually had him on the truck with Aahm Canadian Now to go downtown (to Toronto). This week it’s just worked out a little different that they’ll race in two places. Even though ‘Matt’ has been racing in the Open at Woodbine this is no easy chore in London on Monday from post seven either.”

For the record Mattscape Seelster has never won on a half-mile track. His previous starts on the configuration were October 27, 2006 at Western Fair when he finished fifth in a $20,000 invitational to XLB Patrick. In last September’s Ray McLean Memorial at Clinton when he was just returning from a turnout, Mattscape Seelster finished a hard closing second to Arts Ragin Jet.

“From the $456,000 or so that he’s made I’ve been able to reinvest in the business,” Sims adds. “I bought a Rocknroll Hanover yearling colt earlier this month at Harrisburg (hip # 66 Vincent S) and I have a Four Starzz Shark two-year-old (Allamerican Motive) that I’m pointing to some winter meet stakes at Woodbine. Mattscape Seelster I call my ‘lifeline’ horse, he’s just the nicest little horse to be around and to work around too. Regardless of the outcome in London this start I’ll feel that way about him come Tuesday morning for sure.”

And Holliday Makes Three

The Friday evening program of November 21 brought a special moment at Western Fair as 21-year old horseman Ryan Holliday marked the occasion of his first lifetime driving win.

He guided trotter Out All Night to a front end score in the 7th race for owner Graham Jackson of Listowel, ON. Holliday also trains the five year old Earl-Suelstone gelding.

"I was really relieved to get that one out of the way," said Holliday. "My Dad and the guys in the paddock were starting to kid me about it. It took me twenty-three tries to get the first one and I hope the second one isn't quite so long coming."

Ryan learned the standardbred trade from his Dad, Dave and he was instrumental in the stable's top win to date when they captured the 2007 City Of London Series final at Western Fair with pacing mare Hayseed.

The resident of Mount Forest, ON becomes the third young Ontario driver to score their first lifetime win in the bike in 2008 at Western Fair. Earlier this year, 18-year old Doug McNair of Guelph and 20-year old Mike Robblee of Woodstock tallied their first lifetime driving wins at the London track.

Toy Drive Underway

Western Fair Raceway has partnered with Granton Trailers and The Salvation Army for the 2008 holiday season toy drive. The goal is to fill the horse trailer in the front lobby at Western Fair with new, unwrapped toys for children under the age of twelve by December 19.

Through December, post time at Western Fair each Monday and Tuesday afternoon is at 3:05 p.m. eastern and each Friday and Saturday evening at 7:05 p.m. eastern.

Post time for the traditional Boxing Day harness racing matinee on Friday, December 26 is 1:15 p.m. eastern and the traditional New Year’s Eve card on December 31 starts at 7:05 eastern.