Bits and Pieces by Terry Gange

Business as usual after Borgata

There’s understandably plenty of smiles coming out of the Pine Bush, New York, harness racing stables of expat Aussies Shane and Lauren Tritton.

Their pin-up pacer Lochinvar Art (Modern Art) finished an unlucky fifth in the highly acclaimed $511,000 MGM Borgata Finale on Tuesday morning (Australian time) and all reports are that he’s pulled up super.

“It was so good to have Arty back to himself. He was really strong in the stretch with no luck in running with his last half mile off the page—and he got a cheque,” the stable posted.

Lochinvar Art is now likely to go around in an open class event at The Meadowlands in a fortnight. And then looking further ahead, there’s a big chance the speedster will compete in a number of feature stakes races he’s been invited to late next month and mid-June.

After the Borgata, it was business as usual for the Tritton stable the next day with Its A Me Mario (American Ideal) making it three from three at Yonkers and Cyrus N running a nice fourth on debut.

And at Monticello Raceway, Duck Dynasty (Huntsville) got the money, while Marathon Mary just got nailed at the wire and finished second.

Welcome back to the winner’s circle!

A special harness racing homecoming was complete this week, when former elite-level driver Amy Tubbs scored her first victory in the sulky in more than six years.

Tubbs, a winner of 11 Group One races in her driving career, has had less than a dozen drives since giving up the sport in 2017, but piloted Rio Rock (Pet Rock) to perfection to score a half-neck victory in the Golden Point Football Club Billies Legends Pace at Ballarat on Wednesday night (Apr 26).

The pacer is trained by Amy’s sister Jess – and it was a double delight for the team at Larajay Farms, with Jess scoring a double, courtesy of trotter Cognati (Majestic Son), raced by the sisters with Don Smith, a longtime friend and loyal stable supporter.

Amy Tubbs has almost 700 wins to her name but stepped away from her 15-year involvement in the sport after the sale of her parents’ property at Bacchus Marsh.

Tubbs worked in other roles during her time away from the industry but has been slowly increasing her involvement at Larajay Farms with Jess and her husband Greg Sugars.

She began working as a Saturday helper a couple of years ago for Jess and Greg “for fun” and stepped back into a full-time role at Larajay this year.

The highlight of Amy Tubbs’ stellar career was a 2008 Victoria Cup win with Melpark Major, a horse trained by her late father Alan.

Amy Tubbs and fellow driver at Larajay Farms, Bailey McDonough.

Honoring the trotter – and its loyal devotees

There is one night on the calendar that Victorian trotting fans and tragics just can’t afford to miss!

The Victorian Square Trotters Association’s 2022 awards night will be held at Tabcorp Park Melton tomorrow night week (May 6).

As always when those who own, train, drive or admire the square gaiters get together, there’s guaranteed to be plenty of laughs – and the sharing of wisdom on unorthodox ways to get the sometimes-frustrating equines to compete.

All the nominees have been released for the three award categories and the increased popularity in the trotting brigade is refreshing.

In the Bob Conroy Excellence in Trotting award, we see longtime staunch supporters in Dick Lee and Bob Kuchenmeister nominated, along with Andy Gath, John and Maree Caldow, Chris Angove, Chris Alford, Brent Lilley and Anthony Butt.

Bubbly Katrina “Smiley” Fitzpatrick, a passionate owner/trainer, is one of eight nominees in the Colin Redwood Determination in Trotting award. The others are the Ainsworth family, Glenn and Chris Sharp, Eddie Conroy, Bec Morrissey, Bob Kuchenmeister, Stuart Ashby and Lyndal Conroy.

The Dick Lee Rising Star nominees include popular faces in the trotting circles—Jackie Barker, Jason Ainsworth, Annalise Scott and Declan Murphy.

Tickets are still available and can be booked with Emma, telephone (03) 8746 0626.

And VSTA has put out a reminder regarding its fundraising raffle to be drawn on the awards night. Up for grabs are one night’s accommodation at Tabcorp Park, a dinner package for four at Ballarat Harness Racing Club, 80 litre wheelbarrow of household essentials, $100 gift card, a ride in the mobile barrier and priority seating at Bendigo Harness Racing Club. Tickets are available from any committee member or message the VSTA Facebook page.

*The prestigious 2023 Aldebaran Park Bendigo Trotters Cup G3, of $30,000, is on tonight (April 28) at 8.30pm. Two classy horses in Harry Stamper and Locksley Lover are resuming, while 20m backmarker One Over All is aiming for five straight wins.

Bendigo trainer Bec Morrissey, a Col Redwood Determination in Trotting nominee, has been doing a great job with Centurion Dream and Wish Upona Dream.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink