The 2023 Illinois Harness Horse of the Year Goomster (Travis Seekman) looks to bounce back after a sub-par 2024 season for the trotter. (Terry Young Photo).

By Mike Paradise for the I.H.H.A.

  It’s often been said that being a trainer or owner of a Standardbred racehorse could be compared to being on a roller coaster with its ups and downs and bumps in the road.

 A case in point is the former Illinois Harness Horse of the Year Goomster, owned by Dennis Gardner who also has shared in much the training of the talented trotter.

 The Cassis gelding, out of the Muscle Hill mare Sheeza Muscle Girl had a spectacular 2-year-old season in 2022, finishing first or second in 9 of his 12 starts and earned over $120,000 for his West Salem, IL proprietor.

 As a 3-year-old Goomster was even better, winning 16 of 21 outings, taking a mark of 1:52.4 at Springfield, and while banking $158,284. He was the no-doubt-about-it prairie state’s “King of the Hill.”

 The talk of the Illinois harness racing circuit was expected to put up more good numbers at the age of four and while he didn’t have a bleak year, the horse’s record of 3 wins, 1 second, two thirds and a substantial plunge in purse money to $34,541 has to be called disappointing.

 Goomster did capture an Open 3 event Hoosier Park last Spring and an Open 1 contest at Hawthorne in October, however he went off stride and finished up the track on the Night of Champions’ Plesac final and ended his 2024 campaign without getting a check in a pair of lower-level condition trots.

  Goomster hasn’t raced since.

  “We think last year Goomster ‘cast in stall” and might have hurt himself,” said Dennis.

 For those not familiar with the term “a horse is cast,” and why it’s a concern for horsemen. A horse is considered cast when it lies down and can’t get its feet under it to stand up. Often, it’s because of being stuck against a wall or in a narrow space. The situation can be scary because a horse’s inability to rise might lead to serious health issues or injuries.

 It appears that Goomster has avoided major health issues.

 “I have given him all the time off he might have needed. He’s in-training and he looks like his old self. He’s been really good,” said Gardner..

 We’re about three weeks away from his start back,” continued Dennis. “We’ve had a lot of rain down here (in southern Illinois) and that’s put my horses’ training about a week behind.”

  During Goomster’s sensational 3-year-old campaign Gadner turned over the training duties to the Seekman’s and to say the least, the move turned out very well. The trotter went on to pretty much dominate the opposition, winning 8 more races with Travis in his sulky, to earn the title as the No. 1 harness horse in Illinois for 2023.

  “Me and Travis has become very good friends,” continued Dennis. “We’ve gone fishing together and even bought some horses together. Of course, if those colts don’t turn out to be any good, it’s Travis’ fault,” added a laughing Gardner.