Beloved member of Michelle Hogan’s family

Moffat, ON — Talented equine artist Michelle Hogan first met iron tough pacer Conrad Seelster when she was in her early twenties and he was a grizzled racetrack veteran with eight years of harness racing under his harness. Eighteen years later they are still together and Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society graduate Conrad Seelster is a beloved member of Michelle’s family.

“He moved in with us when we bought our first home, he was there on our wedding day and now he’s here while my twins grow up. My daughter, Autumn, in particular, loves him dearly,” said Hogan.

Michelle, whose twins Owen and Autumn will be four this August, stays connected to horse racing now through her art. She is a juried member of the American Academy of Equine Art and her first award from AAEA was for “Shady Daisy Shadow Roll.”

“It is most unusual to see Standardbred art hanging in an AAEA show, so to see my racing art not only be accepted, but awarded, is something I am thrilled with. I have worked so hard to get here,” she said at the time.

More recently, Hogan’s beautiful ink drawing of the great trotter San Pail was selected by Owen Sound’s juried art show to be on a banner that is hung on the town’s harbor for a year.

Like San Pail, Conrad Seelster is enjoying retirement surrounded by people who love him. And for both, it is a well-earned retirement. Conrad Seelster may not have been horse of the year in Canada twice, but he was an absolute iron horse throughout his 13 year racing career which saw him face the gate an incredible 445 times. His lifetime summary was 54 wins, 61 seconds and 61 thirds for $279,176 in earnings.

The son of Threefold bred by Seelster Farms never left Ontario during his racing days and he competed at 16 different racetracks in the province including several which are no longer operating (Sudbury, Elmira, Belleville, Barrie and Windsor). He was ultra consistent, averaging 37 starts per year from age three through 14.

Conrad Seelster was trained at the start of his career by John Yake of Woodstock, Ontario, who campaigned him until the end of his 4-year-old season. Fred Maguire would take over the training responsibilities for a handful of starts. In May of Conrad Seelster’s 5-year-old season Jeff Houghton claimed him from a race at Elmira for $3,500. It was the only time in his long career that he was claimed and from the age of five until 14 he was owned by trainer Jeff and his wife, Catherine, and it was in the Houghton barn that Hogan first met Conrad Seelster.

She grew up close to Flamboro Downs and her love for horses led her to become a caretaker. She worked in the Houghton stable looking after Conrad Seelster from 2002 until 2004.

“Conrad was always a gentleman. He was the barn favorite, of course. Jeff’s boys grew up with him. He could be strong on the track to jog and warm up, he liked to do things his way,” Hogan remembers.

Jeff’s son, Eddie, was two when the horse first came into the stable.

“For my brother (Will) and I it was our routine for many years, each week watching Conrad race somewhere. He was such a special horse, he knew how to take care of himself and that’s why I think he raced as long as he did,” Eddie Houghton recalled recently.

Conrad Seelster’s most successful season was at age eight when he banked just over $70,000 from 44 starts. Jeff Houghton wasn’t afraid to race the consistent pacer throughout the province and Conrad Seelster spent quite a bit of time that season in Northern Ontario competing at Sudbury Downs. In late 2000 he had a four race win streak at Sudbury, including two in the $20,000 preferred.

“Dad would race him where he thought he could be the most successful and never touched WEG tracks. He excelled on a half-mile track. I remember racing at Sudbury and we’d eat at a restaurant that would give kids stuffed animals with their breakfast. I chose a horse and named him Conrad and took him everywhere with me for a long time,” said Houghton with a laugh.

The horse would earn his life record of 1:56.3 as a 10-year-old and Houghton remembers the amusing story behind that race at Clinton on July 14, 2002. Trevor Henry was up behind Conrad Seelster with the plan to leave with him. Just before the race was about to start the horse beside Conrad Seelster fell to the track (he was fine, but taken off the track and scratched).

“Conrad just took off, he ended up winning by five lengths. My dad always said he just wanted to get off the track as fast as he could after he saw that horse fall,” Houghton recalled.

Conrad Seelster made headlines at the end of his racing career. On New Year’s Eve in 2006 Rideau Carleton Raceway hosted a ‘Clash of the Iron Horses’ race that pitted Conrad Seelster against Kendal Python who was two years younger at 12. At the time Conrad Seelster had more lifetime starts than any horse in North America while Kendal Python had the second most. Kendal Python would surpass him in that category though, as he retired with 494 lifetime trips behind the gate two years later.

In that Rideau match-up Conrad Seelster set the pace, and down the lane his rival swept up the inside and the pair battled down the stretch with Conrad Seelster prevailing by a slight margin. It was Conrad Seelster’s last racetrack appearance and fittingly Houghton drove him for the first and final time. Many of the extended Houghton family were on hand for Conrad Seelster’s final performance. That race may be watched through this link.

At the end of the race, following the winner’s circle presentation, one of the commentators noted that a horse of his caliber deserved a decent retirement home and Hogan has certainly provided that for him.

After his racing career concluded at the mandatory age of 14, Conrad Seelster was part of the OHHA Youth Camps which saw children spending the week learning the basics of harness racing, and working with four retired Standardbred horses. At the end of the week they put their skills to the ultimate test, competing in two four-horse exhibition races while accompanied by professional drivers.

“Conrad hadn’t been off the track for too long and I think they found he was too competitive for those races, he still wanted to compete,” said Houghton.

“I believe he was with the camp for two years before being given to OSAS. I was working as a vet assistant at the time and came across an advertisement in Horse Trader magazine for him. I immediately sent an email saying I would bring him home. He has been with me now since July of 2010,” noted Hogan.

Conrad Seelster was part of Hogan’s wedding to her husband Tim Casson and her photographer on that special day, Carrie Clarke Scott, was thrilled to see Conrad Seelster.

“Carrie was his caretaker while he was with OSAS and she was my wedding photographer and was so happy to see him again,” said Hogan.

He also has other regular visitors.

“Jeff and his family come up and stay every so often to have a good visit with him,” explained Hogan.

“I remember the last time I went to visit him with Dad,” said Houghton. “We walked up to the paddock and couldn’t see the horses. Dad called out ‘Hey Conrad’ and we hear this nickering and then see the horse come running. I’m sure he remembered Dad’s voice. My Dad often says what a relief it is that he’s found a home with Michelle, she is awesome.”

Conrad Seelster spends most of his days hanging out with Hogan’s other horse, a paint. He’s been lightly ridden and she’s hoping to let Autumn sit on him this summer.

“He really is a special horse. He has been so lucky to have so many good people in his life,” said Hogan.

Judging by the beautiful photo Hogan recently posted of the now 28-year-old Conrad Seelster looking fantastic, the feeling is mutual.

by Heather MacKay. for the OSAS