‘Arty’ joins harness racing greats

Lochinvar Art (Modern Art) has joined some of the greats of harness racing with a second Victorian Horse of the Year award.

The star pacer backed up his honour from 2020 by being voted as the state’s standout performer through the 2021 season.

Amazingly, it took “Arty” just three runs to secure the crown.

While trained and driven by David Moran, Lochinvar Art won the Shepparton Gold Cup and Ballarat Pacing Cup in January and the A.G. Hunter Cup during February before injury struck and ruled him out for the remainder of the year.

The three dominant victories were enough to see judges place him ahead of the likes of Amazing Dream, Ladies In Red and Plymouth Chubb as Victoria’s leading pacer or trotter.

“He’s been very special, obviously, as anyone would say,” owner Kevin Gordon said.

“The whole Hunter Valley have supported the horse all the way through… he came along at a time when harness racing needed a champion, the ‘Arty Party’ label stuck and that’s where it was.”

Lochinvar Art is now just the seventh standardbred to have received the Victorian Horse of the Year award twice and joins greats of the track Gammalite (1982 and 1984), Shakamaker (2000 and 2001), Sokyola (2004 and 2005), Smoken Up (2011 and 2012), Caribbean Blaster (2013 and 2014) and Lennytheshark (2016 and 2017) as dual winners.

He competed in the same three races he did in 2021 during the early part of this year, but has not raced since.

Lochinvar Art served mares in his time away from the track and is currently back in work for new trainer Rodney Lakey.

“At this stage he’s 100 per cent, he’s working along nice and doing fast work now,” Gordon said.

Lochinvar Art is a winner of 28 races and $1,400,956 in prizemoney from 53 starts.

Sunday night’s gala function saw more than 200 people celebrate the achievements of both horse and participant at the Melbourne Showgrounds.

On top of a host of age/sex honours, trainer Emma Stewart and drivers Chris Alford, James Herbertson and Kate Gath were acknowledged for their outstanding seasons, while Bill and Anne Anderson were crowned Woodlands Stud Breeders of the Year.

2021 AWARDS

2YO Pacing Fillies – Winner: Encipher. Finalists: Amore Vita, Irish Black Label

2YO Pacing Colts and Geldings – Winner: Catch A Wave. Finalists: Heza Son Of Agun, Solesseo Matuca

3YO Pacing Fillies – Winner: Ladies In Red. Finalists: Joanna, Tough Tilly

3YO Pacing Colts and Geldings – Winner: Act Now. Finalists: Bondi Lockdown, Patsbeachstorm

4YO Pacing Mares – Winner: Amazing Dream. Finalists: Maajida, Spellbound

4YO Pacing Entires and Geldings – Winner: Honolua Bay. Finalists: Boots Electric, Mach Dan

5YO and Older Pacing Mares – Winner: Our Princess Tiffany. Finalists: Mona Mia, Tangoingwithsierra

5YO and Older Pacing Entires and Geldings –  Winner: Lochinvar Art. Finalists: Max Delight, Wolf Stride

2YO Trotting Fillies – Winner: Just A Bit Touchy. Finalists: Aldebaran Misty, Ebonys Avenger

2YO Trotting Colts and Geldings  – Winner: Plymouth Chubb. Finalists: Courage Stride, Lettuce Trot

3YO Trotting Fillies – Winner: Queen Elida. Finalists: Banglez, Keayang Xena

3YO Trotting Colts and Geldings – Winner: Aldebaran Zeus. Finalists: Kyvalley Hotspur, Parisian Artiste

4YO Trotting Mares – Winner: Pink Galahs. Finalists: Im Ready Jet, Queen Of Crime

4YO Trotting Entires and Geldings – Winner: Rules Dont Apply. Finalists: Cover Of Darkness, Powderkeg

5YO and Older Trotting Mares – Winner: Sleepee. Finalists: Aldebaran Crescent, Monaro Maro

5YO and Older Trotting Entires and Geldings – Winner: Maori Law. Finalists: Majestuoso, Tornado Valley

2021 Horse of the Year – Lochinvar Art

State Trainers’ Premiership – Emma Stewart

Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership – Emma Stewart

State Drivers’ Premiership – Chris Alford

Metropolitan Drivers’ Premiership – Kate Gath

Concession Drivers’ Premiership – James Herbertson

Woodlands Stud Breeder of the Year – Bill and Anne Anderson

Maori’s Idol Trotting Championship – Well Defined

Trots Country Cups Championship – Malcolms Rhythm

by Tim O’Connor, for HRV