Canadian Champion, Florida Sire Field Commission Dies

Millionaire Canadian champion sprinter and successful Florida sire Field Commission  died suddenly in his paddock Dec. 10 of an apparent heart attack, according to Solera Farm's Krista Seltzer.

"He looked fine this morning and was playing in his paddock as he usually does when turned out," Seltzer said.

Minutes later, she said, the chestnut stallion collapsed and died. The son of Service Stripe was 15.

Bred in Ontario by Minshall Farms, Field Commission was the third foal out of the Schossberg daughter Tearfull Moment. The mare never raced but was a half sister to seven black-type performers, including black-type winners Avid Affection, Barbed Wire, and Spider Wire.

Ed Seltzer, Krista's father, campaigned Field Commission primarily with trainer Danny Vella and later with co-owner Larry Baum. The horse debuted at 3 in 2008 and won his first start by an easy 1 3/4 lengths. Field Commission took a big step up in class at 4 when he competed exclusively in stakes and compiled a 2-3-1 record out of eight starts that included victories in the Nearctic Stakes (G2T) and Vigil Stakes (G3). His championship season of 2009 included seconds in the Play the King Stakes (G2T), Highlander Stakes (G3T), and Kennedy Road Stakes (G3), all at Woodbine.

Field Commission raced until he was 7, when he won the six-furlong Ponche Handicap at Calder Race Course in 1:09.75. He was then retired after pulling up in the Smile Sprint Handicap (G2), finishing with an 8-7-5 record from 30 starts and more than $1 million in earnings. 

Despite limited opportunities, Field Commission became a successful regional sire. His first crop of four foals all raced, and three were winners. His second crop included multiple group 3 winner Drafted, who raced for Godolphin and trainer Eoin Harty and later Misty Hollow Farm with trainers Doug Watson and David Duggan. Also in the second crop was stakes-placed winner Field Trip, who hit the board 12 times out of 25 starts.

Field Commission sired 72 winners and seven black-type performers. Besides Drafted, he sired two other black-type performers this year in Ricki Ticki Taffi, second in the Limehouse Stakes, and Hall Rich Legacy, third in the Hollywood Beach Stakes. Field Commission's progeny earned $4,664,005, or an average of $40,912 per starter, well above the North American average of $25,220.

Krista Seltzer said Field Commission was "a very, very special soul" who was a dream to be around every day. 

"Not only was he physically stunning and an incredible athlete with great speed, but he was kind and honest with a great mind," Seltzer said. "He was a true gentleman with just the right bit of mischief. He has, for certain, gone too soon. 'Commish' touched many lives and was well loved by many. Field Commission's loss is profound for all of us here at Solera."