The Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society is happy to announce the addition of Hemi Seelster to its roster as the trotting star was recently retired from racing.
Now 10, the gelding by Holiday Road enjoyed a long career at the racetrack with 175 lifetime starts for $856,000 in earnings. He was purchased by trainer John Bax from the Seelster Farm consignment at the 2013 Forest City Sale.
Hemi Seelster provided Bax with one of the highlights of his long and successful career in June of 2015 when he won the Goodtimes Final at Mohawk Racetrack (paying more than $155 for the winning ticket). The race is named in honour of John’s most distinguished trotter of all time and a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Since the race was renamed in Goodtimes’ honour, John has been on hand for every final to make the trophy presentation to the winning owners. Thanks to Hemi, he both gave and received the Goodtimes trophy that evening.
The horse was sold at the conclusion of his sophomore season and over the next few years he spent time in several stables both in Ontario and stateside. In total he started at 13 racetracks throughout his long racing stint. His career summary stands at 36-21-15.
Hemi’s dam, the Angus Hall daughter Hollywood Beauty, is still producing for Seelster Farms. Her 2022 yearling, Heist Seelster (by Resolve), sells as hip number 38 at the upcoming London Select Yearling Sale. Hemi’s half-sister Hershey Seelster, a three-year-old this year, won earlier this month at Georgian.
Hemi’s seven-year-old full brother, Henderson Seelster, is showing the same veteran vibes as his older brother as he currently sits with 135 lifetime starts for more than $350,000 in earnings. However, it is their nine-year-old brother Heineken Seelster who can claim the iron horse title.
That nine-year-old gelding by Federal Flex surpassed Hemi’s record of 175 lifetime starts last week when he raced at Georgian Downs. It was his 176th lifetime start and he’s scheduled for another trip around the track on Saturday (August 27).
“We’re very pleased that Hemi’s connections have entrusted him to OSAS,” noted Joanne Colville, OSAS’s co-ordinator. “He’s the definition of a true iron horse and one of those tough campaigners the fans enjoyed watching week after week.
“He’ll have some down time before he begins his retraining. He’s earned some time to just be a horse,” she added.
(with files from OSAS)