by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — When many of his colleagues where making their career debuts, Cams Art was still running the fences, but his late start was not due to injury: it was by design.

“It was an experiment,” explained Morgan McInnis, who co-owns the 4-year-old pacer. “I never broke any of them (his 2-year-olds) until they were coming towards three that year. I gave them all an extra year in the field to just mature and I think it made a difference.”

The Delaware-bred son of Cam’s Fortune-My Foolish Art is conditioned by McInnis’ son Ryan and co-owned by his wife Jeanne. They also bred the gelding. Cams Art has contested 25 race miles throughout his career, winning 13, placing second three times and finishing third on three occasions. The gelding has earned $137,765 in purse money with $109,975 coming from his 11 starts this year. In 2011 he has collected nine victories, one second and one third and just established his lifetime mark of 1:50f on April 4 at Dover Downs where he has competed since last October.

Fotowon photo

Cams Art set his lifetime mark of 1:50 in his most recent start on April 4 at Dover Downs.

“We started him a few times at three and he looked the part right from the start,” McInnis, a resident of Bridgeville, Delaware, said. “But he started getting on one line a little bit and we couldn’t find anything. Finally when we pulled his shoes off and trimmed his feet down, we found some separation in a hoof, so we turned him out. Once that healed up, we came back with him and he’s been perfect all winter.”

Cams Art is a relaxed horse, but certainly takes an avid interest in his surroundings.

“He’s quiet and wouldn’t harm a flea, but he’s always alert,” McInnis said. “Even when he’s in the field, he’s always keeping his eye on everything. When you jog him sometimes he will try to play with you and race with other horses. He’s a great horse to be around and just loves everything that’s going on around him.”

After Monday’s career performance, the gelding is receiving a short break before he heads to Harrah’s Chester.

“He went in (1):50 flat on Monday (in winning the $32,500 Delaware Special at Dover) and I’m giving him a little rest now with a week off before we go to Chester,” McInnis explained. “I didn’t stake him, so I’m sure he’ll have to go with, I guess you can call them, free-for-all pacers. I’ll start him in those kinds of races this fall. He’s getting plenty of experience and knows what high speed is now. Also, I think he can race anyway you want him to.”

His connections were especially pleased with Cams Art’s latest performance after he encountered some trouble in another $32,500 Delaware Special on March 28 when he finished third but was placed second.

“He threw a shoe leaving the pocket,” his owner said. “Dave (Miller) said he was just on one line a little bit going on the one foot barefoot, so he tried to get what he could out of him, while looking out for the welfare of the horse, and he came right back this week and romped again.

“There’s a fine line with something like that in this business,” McInnis continued. “You need to take care of the horse, but you need to take care of the public too. He has a following and they have been betting on him pretty good, so you need to think of that too.”

Although they have no concrete plan for Cams Art’s future, the McInnis’ are simply enjoying what he is accomplishing now.

“I was born and raised in this business,” McInnis said. “My son Ryan is fourth generation and we have 16 in training, with seven 2-year-olds and five broodmares with a couple babies. We breed to race and it’s seven days a week, 365 days a year. We like it and we like it even more when we are making money.

“A horse like this is what you have fun with,” he continued. “He’s what this business is all about and it’s not just us. All owners look for that special horse to make it worthwhile to do every day or invest in. We like young horses to put in conditioned races and sometimes it’s tough, but when you get one like this it doesn’t matter where you put him because he’ll get the job done. He really is fun.”