artsplace
Pacer Artsplace, by Abercrombie and out of the Albatross mare Miss Elvira, was foaled on March 2, 1988. Bred by Hall of Famer George Segal and his business partner Brian Monieson, Artsplace was raised at Brittany Farms in Versailles, Kentucky and was trained by Hall of Famers Gene Riegle and Bob McIntosh. He was driven for most of his career starts by Hall of Famer John Campbell.
In his freshman year, Artsplace won 11 of 15 starts, earned over $1 million, and set a world record of 1:51.1 for two-year-old pacers on a five-eighths mile track. His major victories included the Metro Stakes, the Governor’s Cup and the Breeders Crown. For these accomplishments he was voted 1990 Two-Year-Old Pacer of the Year.
At three, Artsplace won 10 of 18 starts; and despite missing the Little Brown Jug because of illness, he still managed to earn over $970,000 that season. Victories included the Terrapin, the American-National Stakes, the Adios elimination, in which he equaled the world record of 1:50.4 for all-age pacers on a five-eighths mile track, and the James B. Dancer Memorial.
Artsplace was undefeated in 16 starts at four, earning over $930,000, and was voted 1992 Pacer and Horse of the Year. During that year he again won the American-National and another Breeders Crown and set a world race record of 1:49.2 for all-age pacers on a mile track at the Meadowlands with Hall of Famer Catello Manzi in the bike. He also set a world race record of 1:52.1 for four-year-old pacers on a half-mile track with John Campbell driving. A career winner of 37 of his 49 starts, Artsplace retired as the second-leading moneywinning pacer of all time with earnings of $3,085,083. He still ranks in the top ten.
Artsplace has also made his mark as a prominent stallion. As of 2009, he was the fifth-leading moneywinning pacing sire of all time, and he is currently responsible for winners of over $150 million. He has sired 17 $1 million winners, 385 $100,000 winners and 646 1:55 pacers with 32 under 1:50. His top stars include Art Major p,4,1:48.4 ($2,727,224), Glowing Report p,5,1:49.2 ($1,992,269), Worldly Beauty p,4,1:49.3 ($1,900,255), Galleria p,4,1:49.1 ($1,814,453) and Grinfromeartoear p,3,1:50.1 ($1,746,009). Artsplace has sired the dams of winners of over $175 million, and he has been the top-ranking broodmare sire for the years 2007-2009. He was inducted into the Living Horse Hall of Fame in 2000.
Artsplace was euthanized at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center in October of 2006 after being treated for a persistent and irreversible case of laminitis. He was 18 years old.
Published in the Harness Racing Museum's "The 2006-2009 Immortals" (2011)