Local Owners' Horse Wins Big N.J. Race
$555,000 Purse
by David Pugh Buckeye Staff Writer

Artist's View, a three-year-old colt pacer owned by Dean Miller and Bill Rufenacht, Archbold, won the Breeders Crown race at the Meadowlands, Saturday, Nov. 14, in East Rutherford, N. J.

The horse finished the onemile course in 1:54.4, a careerbest time.

The odds-makers said the chances of Artist's View winning the event were 42 to 1, so the payout on a $2 bet was $87 to win, $37.60 to place, and $15.60 to show. The purse was $555,000.

Artist's View didn't have it easy. Rufenacht said his horse drew the 10th starting spot in a 10-horse race.

A press release from the Meadowlands said the two top horses battled hard in the early going, but in the home stretch, driver George Brennan took Artist's View around the outside for the win.

"It was a dogfight to the wire, but it was a good horse race," Brennan said.

Rufenacht said he and Miller purchased Artist's View as a yearling at the Kentuckey Standardbred Sale in October 2005. They paid $30,000 for the colt.

Artist's View first went to the Fulton County Fairgrounds, where Mike Roth, of Wauseon, broke him and started his training. After that, Rufenacht said Artist's View went to New Jersey, to the stables of trainer George "Buzzy" Sholty.

Rufenacht said he had made several trips to the Meadowlands to see Artist's View run, but while he was there, the horse never had any luck. He stayed home from the Breeders Crown, and Artist's View came home a winner.

Rufenacht described Artist's View as an even-mannered horse, and very accepting of training.

"He's a very smart animal," he said.

For the year, Artist's View earned about $457,000; but Rufenact said the horse's expenses are high.