Modest start to the Lochinvar love story

There are few modern-day names in harness racing better known that the “Lochinvar” prefix – but the filly that started it all gave well-known Newcastle owners Kevin and Leonie Gordon an inauspicious introduction to the sport.

The filly that first carried the Lochinvar name failed to inspire at her first few harness racing outings, but later turned it all around and certainly holds a special place in the Gordons’ hearts.

“She couldn’t complete a race without galloping—she probably had three or four starts as a two-year-old and just galloped all the time,” Kevin said.

“We were told by our trainer that she was too immature and needed to be tipped out.”

The horse, named Lochinvar Girl, was the first foray into harness racing for the young couple — and in a remarkable turn-around, she would set the foundation for their future in the sport and in life.

“It was back in the 1970s and I was going out with Leonie. We bought a horse for her to race with her parents and because she was attending the Lochinvar boarding school at the time, that’s where the name come from,” he said.

“But after Lochinvar Girl’s early performances we didn’t hold much hope.  Then out of the blue, months later, our trainer Les Wilson, who was near Cessnock, rings us and says the horse was going to be racing at Taree and we should get down there.

“We drove to the meeting, and she jumped to the front and won easily by 10 metres. She later won the Tamworth Oaks and was second in the Parkes Oaks. She sat in the death-seat another time at Harold Park and was beaten a neck.”

Les decided that ‘Lochie’ was a city horse and told Kevin and Leonie to find another trainer.

“Leonie was working in a bank at this stage, and she went through the telephone book and found a trainer in V. W. (Vic) Frost,” he said.

“So that was the new home for the horse. Vic couldn’t get her to go early and wanted to sack her, but luckily, we were on holidays, and he wasn’t able to get in touch with us. He eventually thought he’d worked her out and at her first start was at the old Menangle track – she galloped!

“But then she hit a purple patch and won seven in a row—starting off a handicap of 40 behind in one race. It was during a great era of harness racing in Sydney with the likes of Don’t Retreat, Rip Van Winkle and co and she finished up with 12 wins at Harold Park and one in Melbourne.

“We were able to buy our first house thanks to Lochinvar Girl. In the end she won over $90,000 in stakemoney – and I did call on Vic for a bit of advice while we were making the decision to send Artie to the US.”

The Lochinvar moniker has been used by Kevin and Leonie in their racing ventures ever since – most notably by champion pacer Lochinvar Art (Modern Art), now campaigning successfully in the USA for Shane and Lauren Tritton.

Kevin said the couple went into greyhounds in 1985/86 to “give the kids some fun”.

“We first of all raced Lochinvar Grant who won three at Wentworth Park,” he said.

“We’ve raced quite a few pacers under the Lochinvar name – we also have a three-year-old in Lochinvar Dundee with the Trittons, and back here Greg Sugars has four and Luke McCarthy and Peter Neilson each two,” Kevin said.

“Our numbers in the greyhounds, including pups, would be about 25.”

And while the Gordons could be enjoying the spoils of their success, as always, Kevin and Leonie are looking to the next new challenge.

“We have a two-year-old trotter, our first one, with Darren Binskin, and we’re trying our hand at breeding now,” he said.

“Gordon Girl has a weanling Lochinvar Art filly and is due to foal to Captaintreacherous in September. She’s booked to go to Bettors Delight in the upcoming season.  Lochinvar Xena is also going to Bettors Delight and Raworth Girl, our daughter Clare’s first horse, is booked to Stay Hungry.

“We’ve certainly had a bit of luck along the way, but it gives us a lot of satisfaction to be investing back into the industries that have given us so much enjoyment.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink