from Seelster Farms

Lucan, ON — It is with great sadness that Seelster Farms, along with owners Bob McIntosh, Al McIntosh and New Destiny Stable, announce the passing of Camluck (Cam Fella–Lucky Lady) p,3,1:52.4f, T1:48.4 ($1,003,260).

The 28-year-old stallion stood at Seelster Farms for 23 years before being retired from active duty in October 2014.

Camluck left an indelible mark on the Standardbred breed.

Seelster Farms photo

Hall of Famer Camluck was a top racehorse and one of the greatest stallions in history.

The son of legendary Cam Fella became one of the fastest horses of his generation by virtue of his 1:48.4 time trial effort in 1992 at Lexington’s Red Mile. Over the course of his brilliant racing career, he earned more than $1 million while facing one of the very best older pacing crops of all-time that included the likes of Artsplace and Staying Together (his stablemates from the Bob McIntosh stable), Cambest, Silver Almahurst and Odds Against, just to name a few.

Camluck was voted the O’Brien Award winner for Pacing Horse of the Year at age four. His major stakes victories included the Breeders Crown and the Provincial Cup.

However, it was in the breeding shed where Camluck made his greatest impact and stamped himself as one of the greatest pacing stallions in harness racing history. He retired recently with overall offspring earnings of a staggering $203,545,168.

Camluck’s offspring have averaged more than $104,812 per starter and he produced 21 millionaires including Burning Point p,3, 1:50.3s, 1:49.2 ($2,853,289); Dreamfair Eternal p,3,1:55.3h, 1:49f ($2,478,093); Chancey Lady p,2,1:52s, 3,1:50.3f, 1:48.4f ($2,072,092); Invitro p,2,1:53s, 4,1:50s ($1,983,077); Mystician p,2,1:52s, 3,1:49.2s ($1,921,529), and Michael’s Power p,3,1:48.1s ($1,867,801), just to name a few.

Camluck has also made his mark as a prolific broodmare sire, with his daughters producing the likes of I Luv The Nitelife p,2,1:50.1s, 3,1:48.4f ($1,944,667); Thinking Out Loud p,2,1:52.4s, 3,1:47.4s, 4,1:47.2 ($1,929,765); American Jewel p,2,1:50.2s, 3,1:48.2s ($1,840,565); Aracache Hanover p,2,1:53.1s, 3,1:50.1f, 1:48.1f ($1,726,617); Deuce Seelster p,2,1:52s, 3,1:50.3s,1:49.4 ($1,141,102), and Kindly Poet p,3,1:51s, 1:49.4s ($982,376), etc.

On multiple occasions, Camluck has been the leading money winning sire of all age pacers in North America.

Camluck was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2008 he was the first Canadian horse inducted into the United States Living Hall of Fame. Just a few months ago in May, Camluck was inducted into The Raceway at Western Fair District’s Wall of Fame in London, Ontario.

Bob McIntosh had this to say on behalf of the owners of Camluck.

“It has been a great experience to work with Chris VanBussel and now the third generation of the VanBussel family, for all of these years. I’m proud of the job that Seelster Farms has done with Camluck and the contribution Camluck made to the breeding industry. Not just in Ontario, but his sons and daughters can be considered amongst the best in the world.”

“The legacy of Camluck will live on for generations to come in the offspring he continues to influence with his determination and intelligence,” said Ann Straatman for Seelster Farms. “What the pedigree pages cannot say is what a privilege it has been to care for Camluck all of these years and how much we will miss our friend.”