Trot Insider has spoken with trainer Ed Lohmeyer, who confirmed that 2009 O'Brien Award winner Classic Lane had to be euthanized Friday, June 4 due to
an impacted stomach.
An impacted stomach occurs when the stomach stops digesting food, thus leading to a back-up and an infection in the intestine, which then leads to a rupture.
"I had jogged her Friday morning and she was fine, and then I went and raced one at Chester (Chester Racetrack)," Lohmeyer explained. "When I got back she was down in her stall and in some obvious discomfort."
Lohmeyer explained that his wife, renowned veterinarian Dr. Patty Hogan, was able to administer a tube into Classic Lane's stomach, which revealed that the problem was serious.
The horseman explained that Classic Lane was transported to the Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center. Her condition had worsened by the time she arrived at the center, and after assessment it was decided to put Classic Lane down.
Lohmeyer told Trot Insider that the five-year-old daughter of Lindy Lane mare hadn't been sharp this year, but didn't want to speculate on whether it had anything to do with the stomach issue or not.
From 53 lifetime starts, Classic Lane assembled a record of 14 wins, 14 second-place finishes and seven thirds, good for over $741,000 in purses. The mare lowered her lifetime mark to 1:52 as a four-year-old during the $100,000 Perretti Matchmaker at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
"She's a tough one to replace," Lohmeyer said of Classic Lane, who was named Canada's Older Trotting Mare of the Year for the 2009 racing campaign.
In addition to multiple victories in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes, Classic Lane -- who was just a $15,000 yearling purchase -- captured victories in the $82,830 Buckette, the $353,710 final of The Classic Series' Classic Oaks and multiple Open events.
Classic Lane was owned by Robert and Lauren Tucker of Glen Gardner, NJ, who planned on racing her this year before retiring her to broodmare duty at Stonegate Farm.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Classic Lane.