SHAKOPEE, MN – In a record breaking sale, Mary and Eric Von Seggern’s Discreet Cat yearling gelding out of former Minnesota stakes winner Gypsy Melody fetched $100,000 at the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association’s yearling sale Sunday afternoon at Canterbury Park. The sale shattered the old record of $55,000 set in 2012 by a Holy Bull-Run with Joy colt named Holy Keoni.
Gypsy Melody raced from 2011-2015, had five wins from 25 starts including the 2014 Lady Slipper Stakes at Canterbury. Her earnings totaled $191,268 out of Robertson’s barn.
“We knew we were bringing some pretty good horses to the sale,” said Eric Von Seggern. “So we were hopeful, but you never know. This…this is a once in a lifetime sale.”
The Von Seggern’s had lost everything four years ago after a tornado tore through their Pilger, Nebraska farm destroying all they had built together.
“Eric looked at me and said, ‘we’re going to roll the dice, go to Kentucky, get a mare and rebuild this thing’,” said Mary Von Seggern. “To come from not even having a farm or home to this? It’s incredible.”
Four years later they brought three thoroughbred yearlings to the Shakopee and grossed $183,000 including the new Minnesota record setter. While hard to imagine anything could make this comeback story even more special, the ability to set the record and complete the comeback with a broodmare bred and owned by close family friend Marlene Colvin was icing on the cake.
“I never had any children of my own,” said Colvin. “I was blessed to be able to choose these people as my family. My late husband Bun and Eric were friends for a long time. They’ve just been through so much, losing the farm and all and then being able to come back this strong. They’re just such great people and I couldn’t be happier for them.”
Colvin continues to own a share of Gypsy Melody.
“I never knew a sale could be this emotional,” said Eric, his eyes welling – as well as those of everyone around him. “I told Marlene, ‘Bun is smiling down on us now.'”
“This was at least as exciting as anything that has gone on with ‘Skier the last few years,” said Colvin, referring to her homebred gelding Heliskier who will be inducted into the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame on September 1st.
“We just appreciate it all so much,” said Eric. The people here in Minnesota have been so accepting of us and have been wonderful. They really opened up to an outsider, really, from Nebraska. They have really taken good care of us.”
