You don’t need to tell Rick Lancaster, because the seasoned horseman would be the first to tell you that he knows better. Lancaster’s spent enough time in the Standardbred game to fully understand that trainers just shouldn’t get attached to claimers.
It goes without saying that the veteran British Columbia horseman didn’t do it on purpose, but over the years Lancaster has forged quite a special bond with a particular ‘transient’ racehorse. Now, after a recent victory that definitely carries some weight, Lancaster has taken the time to discuss the gritty, honest, Rock Allstar with Trot Insider.
By design, claimers, the industry’s nomadic starters, come and go. ‘Grow attached at your own risk,’ that’s the mindset that should to be copped, because, in more cases than not, developing a deeper relationship with the courageous battlers usually leads to varying degrees of heartache. Lancaster is well aware of this – after decades in the business, he is no stranger to the ropes. Given that, the versatile horseman has to front that tough veneer out of necessity, because at the end of the day business is business. Although, Lancaster’s professional stoicism is quickly compromised when you mention the name ‘Rock Allstar.’ Put simply, the BC stalwart and the Rocknroll Hanover gelding just click, and Lancaster would be the first to admit it.
“I’ve been in the business a long time and have been involved with a ton of horses, so I know not to get too attached to them,” Lancaster told Trot Insider, “but it’s a different story with Rock Allstar – he and another one of my horses, in particular, are pretty special to me.”
Rock Allstar, victorious for driver Serge Masse at Fraser in November 2017
‘Rocky’ started his career as a two-year-old back in 2009. He made roughly 80 starts south of the border before he was claimed and relocated to British Columbia. At that point, the bay had recorded 18 career victories. Rock Allstar has since notched 32 additional wins, the most recent of which occurred on January 20 at Fraser Downs.
“I spoil him a lot and walk him a lot,” Lancaster said. “He really has a unique character to him and he really thrives on the attention.”
The horseman told Trot Insider that 'Rocky' has the work ethic of a champion. Get him out on the track and he’s going to go. No, really, he’s going to go.
“He’s quite a handful training and wants to run away a lot,” Lancaster explained. “I usually train him two days back to back before he races. He’s a big, strong horse that likes to work -- he likes to train hard. He’s about 16 hands and wears a 63-inch hopple. He’s long-gaited and is just a big horse that loves the work.”
The aforementioned January 20 win was big -- not just because the rail starter was the public’s odds-on choice and promptly delivered on that pari-mutuel promise -- but because Rock Allstar earned his 50th career victory via the triumph. Lancaster has been right there for a significant portion of the gelding’s 264 career starts and the duo has made many associated trips to the winner’s circle.
Lancaster first hooked up with Rock Allstar at Fraser in the fall of 2013, as the horseman claimed the hard-nosed character one year after the gelding had arrived in BC. In the roughly five years since that initial claim, the two have been dance partners in the claiming game for many go ‘rounds. Rocky has come, Rocky has gone, and Rocky has gone on the road. He’s headed over the mountains to race in Alberta and has ventured back south of the border to compete in Minnesota. Although, at the end of the day, Rock Allstar’s stomping grounds are at Fraser Downs. He thrives at the BC course – he even captured the Open on multiple occasions under Lancaster’s care.
Rock Allstar in the winner's circle after a win in March 2017
The last time Lancaster claimed Rock Allstar back was late in November of 2016 and the duo has been in step ever since. “He hadn’t won a race for a year after having been claimed away from me (in December of 2015), so I claimed him back and he went on quite a tear where he won nine races in four months,” said Lancaster.
“Whenever I’ve claimed him back, I’ve always gotten the feeling that he’s glad to be back ‘home.’ I know his idiosyncrasies and I know what he needs and likes. I stand him in hot water quite a bit and really pay attention to his feet. He’s a tie-up horse, so I keep my eye on that quite a bit, as well.”
Some people keep tabs on milestones while others don’t. Not one to play coy, Lancaster told Trot Insider that he was fully aware that Rocky’s 50th win was on the horizon, and, given his workhorse’s sharpening form, he knew it was just around the corner.
“I was aware of the milestone leading up to it and was excited,” the horseman stated. “He had put in a really big closing mile the race before (January 13) he hit the milestone. I knew he was sharp, so I was looking forward to it.”
The now-12-year-old has answered the bell numerous times. He’s banked $268,000 in overall purses. Rock Allstar’s racing days may not be done quite yet, but, if the end is near, win No. 50 may just prove to be the proverbial cherry atop ‘Rocky’s honest, admirable career. He seeks win no. 51 this Sunday at Fraser Downs.
“I’m going to keep racing him until he lets us know that he’s done,” said Lancaster. “He’s an older horse now, so when I let him go I won’t be looking to get a ton of money out of him or anything, I’ll just be looking to find him a good home where he can enjoy his days. He deserves it.”