AUSTRALIA’S one time pin-up pacer Lochinvar Art has run his last race Down Under.
Owner Kevin Gordon said the former Hunter and Victoria Cup hero would either be retired or be sent to North America to continue his career.
The shock decision came after Lochinvar Art had a minor bleed and was stood down from racing for 28 days after last Saturday night’s Gammalite Free-For-All at Melton.
“There’s only two options as far as I’m concerned,” Gordon said. “Retire him or send him to the US. He’s had a bleed now and even though you can treat him, you can’t race him properly here anymore.
“We have to do what’s right for the horse now, he’s been too good to us.
“I simply won’t degrade him and run him in lesser races here.
“It’s all pretty raw at the moment. I’m gutted, David (Moran, trainer-driver) is gutted. We spoke yesterday (Sunday) and decided to let the dust settle and make a final decision in a couple of days.”
It’s a huge blow to Moran, who has just returned from a lengthy suspension and was hoping to resurrect Lochinvar Art for the Inter Dominion, Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile.
“David’s best day, coming back from that seven month’s out, turned into a nightmare when the horse had a bleed the night before,” Gordon said.
“It’s a very emotional time for us all, but especially David. He’s made this horse, together they’ve gone from zero to hero.
“David’s had the horse since he was a yearling and done everything with him. I’m gutted, but I know however I feel, David would feel worse.”
The North American option is very real and viable because the rules differ over there and many horses races on an anti-bleeding agent called Lasix.
“He could race as normal over there, but he would be very limited if we kept going with him here,” Gordon said.
There is talk former Aussie horseman Shane Tritton, who is now based in the US, is front-runner to get Lochinvar Art should he move to the US.
Lochinvar Art has raced 56 times for 28 wins, 22 placings and banked $1,405,516.
He was sidelined by a hoof injury which became a serious leg injury after winning the Hunter Cup in February, last year.
Lochinvar Art has been winless in six comeback runs across two different campaigns since.
There was a six-month phase in late 2020 and early 2021 where Lochinvar Art was almost unbeatable. He raced 10 times for nine wins and second with the wins including the Victoria and Hunter Cups.
He was unquestionably the best pacer in this part of the world at the time.
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp
