Western Terror still going strong

Western Terror (Western Hanover), who entered into the Ohio harness racing breeding program in 2017, continues to shine as a stallion, having sired 38 winners of $2,332,240 from 38 winners through the end of 2019 (the only data currently available from the USTA), from standing his first three years in the Buckeye State.

Now 22, this viral stallion shows no signs of slowing down, nor does he exhibit any of the problems that breeders typically face with an older stud, such as a libido diminishment, mounting and/or erection failure, ejaculatory dysfunction, or infertility.

Scott Hagemeyer, owner and stallion manager at Hagemeyer Farms, says Western Terror has not changed in attitude or stature since the first day he arrived at their Clarksville, Ohio facility in early 2017.

“Western Terror is exactly the same horse today as he was the first day he came here,” Scott offered. “His personality is the same and his libido is off the charts. Of every stallion we’ve had on this farm, he is the most dominant stallion without question—and I mean that in a very literal sense.

“He cannot be next to another stallion,” Scott explained. “And every one of my employees knows not to lead any horse past Western Terror’s stall for any reason. We have a ‘stallion row,’ where all the stallions reside, and he is at the end of the barn near the door, and there is an open stall between him and the next stallion. Nothing goes beside him or past him—otherwise he will destroy the barn. He has a very clear understanding that he is the king here, the dominant male.”

Bred by Robert Waxman and foaled on March 6, 2001, Western Terror was the first of 18 foals out of the outstanding race mare Arterra (Artsplace) p, 2, 1:53.4 ($161,976), and is a full brother to If I can Dream p, 3, 1:49.4f ($1,990,276) and Neutron Bomb 4, 1:51.4f ($130,064). He also has half-siblings in: Cinderella Guy (Real Desire) p, 6, 1:49.1f ($904,005); Davids Coming Home (A Rocknroll Dance) p, 6, 1:51 ($235,630); Alex Having Fun (Rock N Roll Heaven) p, 4, 1:50.3f ($163,852); etc.

Arterra is a daughter of the speedy Delinquent Account (On The Road Again) p, 5, 1:51.4 ($1,038,997), who hails from the mighty Bret Hanover p, 4, T1:53.3 ($992,616)  and Meadow Skipper p, 3, 1:55.1 ($428,057) bloodlines on her maternal line, while her sire, On The Road Again p, 4, 1:51.4 ($2,819,102), carries the genetical makeup of Happy Motoring p, 3, 1:56.2 ($538,495), Most Happy Fella p, 3, 1:55 ($419,033), and Meadow Skipper within his pedigree. Arterra, who was inducted in the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2012, is a full sister to Artiscape p, 3, 1:49.sz ($1,469,461).

“Western Terror is a real handful to interact with when he’s aware that he’s going to the breeding shed,” Scott said. “He’s intelligent enough to understand that when you walk in with a lead chain he knows where he’s headed, as opposed to if you go in to clean the stall he stands off to the side like an angel. I have one employee besides myself who can interact with him. He’s not vicious—he’s just very quick about everything and is pretty slick in his mannerisms. He knows why he’s in the breeding shed; he’s super professional and will tease a mare, and then race the handler to the phantom. We can still breed eight to ten mares per collection and his semen count is still strong.  When you’re interacting with him in a breeding environment, he psychologically knows the difference.”

Western Terror excelled on the racetrack, winning, among others, the Breeders Crown, Cane Pace, Windy City Pace, Tattersalls Pace, Bluegrass Stakes, North America Cup elimination and Little Brown Jug elimination.

At 2 he earned $51,435 from a 2-2-1 record in ten starts, with a mark of p, 2, 1:54.2s, while at 3 he added $1,112,739 to his bankroll, winning eight of 24 starts, with four seconds and five thirds to his credit as well, pacing in a career best of 1:48.3 at Lexington on Oct. 9, 2004, in the $234,8000 Tattersalls.

As a result of his efforts, he captured the 2004 O’Brien Award as outstanding 3-year-old Pacing Colt of the Year and was retired to stud duty beginning in 2005, standing his first two seasons in Ontario, prior to moving to New York in 2007, and then moving to Pennsylvania the following season, where he stood for a decade. He now commands a fee of $2,500 at the Hagemeyer facility.

By studying his foal statistics, one finds that Western Terror has produced a total of 12 foals who have earned $1 million or more, and 35 progeny who have earned half a million dollars or higher. His total foal earnings are $103,733,013 from 947 starters, with 684 who have beaten the 2:00 plateau, and 453 who have paced in 1:55 or faster. Since coming to Ohio, he has produced 135 registered foals (through 2021), with his fastest being and richest being the 2018-foaled gelding Feelin Western p, 4, 1:52.2h ($334,036) and the 2018-foaled mare Western Rosie p, 4, 1:52.h ($148,831), among others.

“He really puts his stamp on his foals,” Scott stressed. “When you walk out into our yearling pasture, I can tell you right off which ones are a Western Terror.  While they are not the physically largest horses, they are very conformationally correct.  With his paternal topline being Western Hanover and his maternal bottom being the Artsplace line, that is simply the golden pedigree for breeders.”

Western Terror’s older progeny continue to race well past their first decade of life, including these 2023 winners: Atta Boy Dan p, 5, 1:48.4f ($1,081,890); Clint Westwood p, 4, 1:48.4f ($569,247); and Fan Of Terror p, 7, 1:48.4s ($684, 114). Some of his younger winners—those who have gotten their first victory in 2023 include: Medoland Terror p, 4, 1:52.2f ($128,906); Cowboy Cool p, 4, 1:52.4f ($103,998); Lostthatlovinfeeling p, 3, 1:55.3h ($32,642); and Racing For Three p, 3, 1:55.2f ($25,950).

“Breeding is a funny business,” Scott said. “A horse has three years—his first two crops to kind of prove himself—and if he doesn’t, he kind of falls away. So, a lot of breeders appreciate a stallion like Western Terror, who’s a proven stallion, and by breeding to a horse like him, they are bypassing the “unknown” factor that you get with the newer studs. And especially with Western Hanover, who has produced foals who have raced successfully at a certain level of competition.”

Scott initially acquired Western Hanover via a series of business transactions that involved two of the stallion’s full brothers.

“Many years before we had Western Terror we stood May I Say, {p, 3, 1:53.1f ($30,565)} his full brother, and he was a nice-looking horse, but wasn’t well received in Ohio, but because of that relationship, it afforded us the opportunity to stand If I Can Dream, {p,3, 1:49.4f ($1, 990,276)} a full brother to both May I Say and Western Terror. He stood here in 2016, 2017, and 2018 and unfortunately his foals did not hit the way I thought they would, but that translated into Western Terror standing here.”

by Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink