Double millionaire and world record holder Maltese Artist was put down following his Molson Pace Elimination at Western Fair on Friday night

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"After consulting with multiple vets and the connections, it was decided that it would be in the best interest of the horse to be put down," Ian Fleming, General Manager and Race Secretary of Western Fair Raceway told Trot Insider.

Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, PA and James Koran, Macedonia, OH, and trained predominantly by Mickey & Ron Burke, Maltese Artist won 39 lifetime races and over $2.3 million. He is both the richest and fastest son of sire Artiscape. He is also one of the few horses in harness racing history to record sub-1:50 miles on half-mile (1:49.4), five-eighths (1:48.3) and mile (1:48.4) tracks - with the half-mile and five-eighths mile times standing as world records. The 1:49.4 mile at Northfield Park was the first time a sub-1:50 mile had been paced over a half-mile track at night.

Please join SC in offering condolences to the connections of Maltese Artist.