“Arty” enjoying some well-earned downtime

Sensational Down Under pacer Lochinvar Art (Modern Art), who has swept all before him on the USA harness racing circuit this year, is enjoying a break in a lush spelling paddock.

Owner Kevin Gordon and his training partners Shane and Lauren Tritton decided to give “Arty” a couple of months off when he became ill after his latest appearance at the Meadowlands on July 1.

“His run was great – he finished fourth beaten about six metres in 1.46. But 24 hours later Shane noticed he’d lost weight and was sick. He told me the horse was pretty crook,” Gordon said.

“So he was taken to a clinic and treated for a virus. He’s now jumping out of his skin and while we initially planned to spell him just for a few weeks, we decided let’s do it right and give him a good spell. With no big races around we decided to give him a couple of months,” he said.

“It’s probably the best time to spell them over there because it’s summer, with 26 to 27deg days, and lots of green pasture. He’s out during the day, and then back in his stable at night.

“Before his last run, Shane had told me the horse was ‘airborne’ and working the place down. While he went okay, he was a little off. So his welfare is the most important thing.”

Lochinvar Art has won six races in the USA and with his latest victory two starts ago took his stakemoney earnings to over $2.1M, winning the invitational Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park.

“The horse has earnt a great deal of respect over there and it’s nice that people are asking Shane and Lauren about him,” Gordon said.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to say that his biggest win was in that last win.  He ran 1.50 on a half mile track and it was so exciting to be over there.

“The club was fantastic the way they looked after us—and it was a big thrill to see Lauren drive him to another win.

“She is really a leading light for reinswomen over there. When she became the first woman to drive in the Battle of Lake Erie and the first to win it, that was just huge.”

Gordon said all going well, Lochinvar Art would continue to race for the rest of this season and then the next.

“Then that will probably be it. He’s already got eight or nine live foals out here, so whether he stands as a stallion over there if there’s enough interest, or if he comes home, we’ll just see what pans out. Either way there’s a home for life back here with us absolutely guaranteed!

“It wouldn’t surprise me if Arty came back better than ever after this spell. He took a while in his first season to get used to their racing style, because they don’t let up the speed.

“I think he may come back to racing this time as an ‘American horse’, now that he’s used to their style and that there’s no easing up halfway through like it can be back home.

“But there’s very little separating a group of half a dozen in that top class, and which one gets the right run in transit is usually the winner. I also think the grading system over there is very good.”

Lochinvar Art has had 70 race starts for 34 wins and 27 placings.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink