Matt's Scooter

Matt's Scooter (1985 – June 30, 2014) was a Standardbred pacer and sire who was named Harness Horse of the Year in 1989. Matt's Scooter competed as a pacer in harness racing, winning the Meadowlands Pace, Prix d'Été, Confederation Cup, Messenger Stakes, American National Stakes, Breeders Crown, Driscoll Series, Mohawk Gold Cup, he was named Pacer of the Year in 1988 and 1989,[1] and Harness Horse of the Year in 1989 by the United States Harness Association.[2]

Matt's Scooter
BreedStandardbred
SireDirect Scooter
GrandsireSampson Direct
DamEllen's Glory
DamsireMeadow Skipper
SexRidgling
Foaled1985
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederMax Gerson
OwnerGordon Rumpel, Illa Rumpel & Charles Juravinski
TrainerHarry J. Poulton
Record61:37-?-?
Earnings$2,455,609
Major wins
Meadowlands Pace (1988)
Messenger Stakes (1988)
Prix d'Été (1988)
Gold Cup Invitational Pace (1989)
Breeders Crown Open Pace (1989)
Awards
American Harness Horse of the Year (1989)
American Pacer of the Year (1988, 1989)
Canadian Harness Horse of the Year (1989)
Honors
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
(2006)
United States Horse Racing Hall of Fame (2006)

Background

Matt's Scooter was a bay ridgeling bred by Max Gerson of New York. He was sired by Direct Scooter out of Ellen's Glory by Meadow Skipper. As a yearling he was bought for $17,500 by Gordon and Illa Rumpel of Calgary, and Charles Juravinski. He was trained by Harry Poulton at his base near Lake Scugog, Ontario.[3]

Racing career

As two-year-old, Matt's Scooter was given a relatively light campaign winning three of his nine races. He was not an easy horse to handle: Poulton described him as "always bucking, kicking or doing something... he wanted to do everything 100 miles an hour".[4]

In 1988, despite being ineligible for the Cane Pace and the Little Brown Jug, Matt's Scooter earned $1.78 million winning eleven of his twenty two races. His major victories included the Meadowlands Pace and the Messenger Stakes.[5]

In Autumn 1988 he paced a mile in 1:48.2 at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, lowering the world record previously held by Niatross, by four-fifths of a second.[6]

As a four-year-old he won 23 of his thirty races and earned $1.14 million.[7]

Honors and awards

Matt's Scooter was named Pacer of the Year and best three-year-old in 1988. In the following year he was again named best pacer and was awarded the title of Harness Horse of the Year. Matt's Scooter was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the United States Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.[8]

Retirement and stud career

He was retired from racing after 4 years, and stood as a breeding stallion for Perretti Farms in Cream Ridge, New Jersey. He was pensioned from stud duty in 2011. Bob Marks of Perretti Farms said "His libido is willing, but with his hind suspensory, we're afraid he could hurt himself".[9]

Matt's Scooter was euthanised at Mid-Atlantic Equine Clinic in Ringoes, New Jersey on June 30, 2014.[10]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Matt's Scooter (USA), bay ridgling, 1985
Sire
Direct Scooter (USA)
1976		 Sampson Direct (USA)
1957		 Sampson Hanover Volomite
Irene Hanover
Dottie Rosecroft Billy Direct
Beam's Hanover
Noble Claire (USA)
1969		 Noble Victory Victory Song
Emily's Pride
Scotch Claire Scotland
Abbey Claire
Dam
Ellen's Glory (USA)
1978		 Meadow Skipper (USA)
1960		 Dale Frost Hal Dale
Galloway
Countess Vivian King's Counsel
Filly Direct
Gloria Barmin (USA)
1968		 Greentree Adios Adios
Martha Lee
Adept Hanover Tar Heel
Arbutus Hanover
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References
  1. AP, 1990-01-04 (1990-01-04). "Matt's Scooter Wins an Award". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2009-02-27.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. "Harness Racing Champions from 1952-2000". OddsOn Racing.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  3. http://horseracinghalloffame.com/1992/11/01/matts-scooter/
  4. http://horseracinghalloffame.com/1992/11/01/matts-scooter/
  5. http://xwebapp.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/templates/article.aspx?articleid=59655
  6. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1988-09-24/sports/8802020228_1_janney-topped-sophie-amiach
  7. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19900104&id=h8BPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DAcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4255,1464523
  8. Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame bio for Matt's Scooter
  9. http://standardbredcanada.ca/news/5-7-11/matts-scooter-pensioned.html
  10. http://xwebapp.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/templates/article.aspx?articleid=59655
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