There has been some talk lately about which were the most vital-siring stallions who left a legacy with successor sons prior to prematurely passing on and causing a major loss to the breed. The following names were bandied about in no specific order, starting with Spencer Scott, Billy Direct, Most Happy Fella, Windsong's Legacy, Rocknroll Hanover, and most recently Somebeachsomewhere. In that context, the following names did not necessarily pass on early but did succumb to premature infertility. They are Mystic Park, Valley Victory, Victory Dream, and most recently Self Possessed. Fortunately each of the above mentioned left images as to what might have been had they maintained fertility. Of those listed above, Spencer Scott, a 1937 foaled son of Scotland-May Spencer, accounted for six small crops numbering 146 foals in entirety. Remember, it was all live-cover back then. Fortunately one of those foals was Rodney from Earls Princess Martha, better known as "The Big Train" during his racing days. Spencer Scott succumbed at age 11. Rodney sired a horse named Speedster, who in turn sired the great Speedy Scot, still considered amongst the best American trotters ever. While not a great sire, Speedy Scot did account for one son in Speedy Crown, whose descendants are still flourishing in today's times. For example, Muscle Hill is a fifth generation Speedy Crown on his sire's side. That sire, Muscles Yankee, is from a Speedy Crown mare, which makes Muscle Hill a direct 5x3 line bred to Speedy Crown. Rodney lived long enough. Billy Direct, a son of Napoleon Direct, was the first 1:55 pacer, doing so at age 4 in 1938. Like Spencer Scott, he passed on at the early age of 11, but not before siring 265 foals from eight crops. They included the major stallions Tar Heel, Direct Rhythm and Dudley Hanover, in addition to super broodmares Evalina Hanover, Barbara Direct and Debby Hanover. Tar Heel, while not necessarily a sire of sires, emerged as the great broodmare sire of his or any time, credited with siring the dams of Bret Hanover, Romeo Hanover, Romulus Hanover, Romalie Hanover, etc. Billy Direct did plenty in his brief tenure at stud and probably would have done more had he not succumbed. Most Happy Fella was mentioned, and while he succumbed to a pasture injury at the age of 17, it's hard to imagine he could have done that much more than he did considering he single-handedly expanded his line from Meadow Skipper into three distinct power branches. Each are thriving today in 2021. From his second-crop son Oil Burner came No Nukes, responsible for the unbroken line of Western Hanover-Western Ideal-Rocknroll Hanover and American Ideal. The last three named each have their own distinct branch lines. In addition, Western Ideal's "other son," Always A Virgin, is responsible for last year's noticeable first-crop success Always B Miki, the world's co-fastest pacer at 1:46. Most Happy Fella sired his ultimate son Cam Fella, a fellow 1979 crop mate of the Oil Burner. Cam Fella became a brilliant sire of sires, accounting for Cam's Card Shark, Camluck, Cambest, etc. Cam's Card Shark in turn sired Bettor's Delight, he in the argument as one of the greatest stallions ever and sire of the aspiring contemporary greats Tall Dark Stranger, Bettor's Wish, Lazarus N, etc. Most Happy Fella had another significant son in Tyler B in 1977. Tyler B often played second or third fiddle to crop mate and champion Niatross. Still, Tyler B sired Dragon's Lair, the conqueror of Niatross's all-time best son Nihilator in that fateful multi-heat Breeders Crown at The Meadows. Dragon's Lair hung around long enough to sire the recently deceased Dragon Again, responsible for the world's richest racehorse Foiled Again. It remains to be seen if Dragon Again can continue his line though son Fear The Dragon, but he'll give it a whirl in Ohio. Most Happy Fella may have passed on prematurely, but in light of his astounding accomplishments it's hard to say just how much the "breed lost" due to that mid-life passing. Windsong's Legacy, by Conway Hall, had but four crops resulting in 255 foals before prematurely passing from a heart attack on the phantom in March of 2007. Consequently his last crop comprised just seven foals. Fortunately one of them was named Chapter Seven, he among today's greatest sires responsible for Atlanta, Walner, Gimpanzee, etc. While Chapter Seven may have brilliantly extended his sire's line, one could certainly say Windsong's Legacy was in the words Neil Diamond "Done Too Soon". While Somebeachsomewhere, a foal of 2005, was responsible for 11 crops and 1081 foals during his stallion tenure, one can surmise he had far more left in his siring tank as he's still A if not THE leading pacing sire today. The "Beach" legacy will endure through his brilliant son Captaintreacherous and the just-getting-started sons Downbytheseaside, Huntsville and Papi Rob Hanover. However, his ultimate contribution won't be measurable for a few decades. Undoubtedly his early demise at age 13 represents a breed loss. Rocknroll Hanover, a foal of 2002, managed eight crops before passing prematurely at age 11. Several in his final crop numbering 46 were conceived via available frozen semen, as the sire of Put On A Show, I Luv The Nitelife, Rock N Roll Heaven, A Rocknroll Dance, Pet Rock, etc. passed on early in the fateful 2013 breeding season Also mentioned above in that discussion were Mystic Park, Valley Victory, Victory Dream and Self Possessed, each of whom succumbed to infertility at an early age. Mystic Park, a son of the infertile Noble Gesture, managed 141 foals from his seven crops. His best was the superstar, though totally infertile, Mack Lobell. Mystic Park's daughter Feeling Great contributed Self Possessed to the marginally fertile Victory Dream, who managed just 72 foals in his short siring career. Victory Dream's greatest son Self Possessed managed five small crops comprising 341 foals. Fortunately one is current stallion star Cantab Hall from his initial 2001 crop. Another son, Cash Hall, from that same crop, still gets his share of good ones out Ohio way. It should be noted that Victory Dream is a son of Valley Victory. He was a super-sire in his own right despite chronic marginal fertility that saw his foal numbers dwindle from 86 and 69 in his first two years to a "precious few" in the years that followed. In that Valley Victory accounted for Continental Victory, Victory Dream, Donerail, Muscles Yankee, Yankee Glide and so many others, that fertility problem became a mammoth loss for the trotting breed. The premature loss of all of the above stallions certainly cost the Standardbred breed at least something. A few robbed the sport of quite a lot.