Three's a charm for Lockharts - Highland Happening Stakes: our horses running 1st, 2nd & 3rd - Reprized Dream, Weepecket & Vurze
ABOUT US:
CEDAR LOCK FARM HAS THREE GENERATIONS OF HORSEMEN AND ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE ARE STILL HOME TO OUR NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONS. FOUNDED BY LLOYD LOCKHART; THE FIRST GENERATION HORSEMAN OF OUR FAMILY, WHO BEGAN THE PASSION FOR GENERATIONS TO FOLLOW. CEDAR LOCK FARM CURRENTLY HAS TWO LOCATIONS; ONE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND ONE IN FLORIDA. THE TRADITION IS CONTINUED BY HIS DAUGHTER LORI LOCKHART, AND HIS GRANDCHILDREN, LAURINE FULLER-VARGAS AND JOHN ELDERKIN
AN EXCERPT FROM LAURINE VARGAS'S SPEECH AT THE NEW ENGLAND TURF WRITER'S ASSOCIATION AWARDS BANQUET:
LLOYD WAS INDUCTED INTO THE NEW ENGLAND RACING HALL OF FAME IN JULY 2013
It all started about 60 years ago when my grandfather, Lloyd Lockhart bought his first horse at a sheriff’s sale in Massachusetts. He bought that horse named “Freecamp” for only $200 and in his training career’s first 10 starts at Scarborough Downs had 2 wins and 6 seconds with that horse. My grandfather was hooked to the sport immediately.
In 1960 my Grampa met and married my Nana, Carol Parsons. They soon started a family, having 3 children and then in 1967 purchased Cedar Lock Farm in the small town of Swansea, Massachusetts. After his early success as an owner and trainer, Grampa began to explore the breeding aspect of the sport also. But since we all know how unpredictable being in the business can be he decided to get involved in his father’s insurance agency business to ensure financial stability for his family. He quit training horses, but continued to own and breed them. Then just as he was reaching the top of the ladder as a businessman tragedy struck; when his eldest son George passed suddenly at the age of 20 while on vacation with family and friends in a shocking drowning incident. As if that wasn’t enough of a hardship to endure, less than 2 years later his doorbell rang with the untimely news that he’d now lost his 18 year old son John in a car accident. Grief-stricken, my grandfather found salvation when he returned to training horses when prompted by his daughter, my mother Lori Lockhart to return to doing what he loved. After college Lori had decided to buy a racehorse and she needed a trainer… so who better for the job than her own daddy!
With only a farm in Massachusetts, my Grampa decided to expand his breeding business by purchasing Cedar Lock Farm South in Morriston, FL in the early 1990’s. “Ask the Question”, “Time to Ask”, “Nu Wimborne”, “Fetch Gold” and “Innocent Verdict” were some of his most successful broodmares. All were dams of stakes winning racehorses, attributing to the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association awards that he received throughout his career.
Now, despite my Grampa’s trials and tribulations he never lost sight of what was truly important… and that was genuinely caring about the horses and their well-being on and off the track. While yes it is was his business it was also a hobby, and he loves all of his horses as his pets. For as long as I can remember, he has walked up and down his shedrow spoiling the horses with treats. And all the stories he has shared with us about them, make it evident that he had such unique bonds with each horse and listened to their individual needs. I quote him when I say “That horse has been good to me.” This is his response anytime someone has questioned why he has so many retired, “useless” horses sitting on his farm. To my Grampa it didn’t matter if they made him $100,000 or cost him $100,000, all of his horses had been “good to him”. Being his granddaughter I truly believe that anytime he answered that question he was speaking of the good the horses did for his soul, rather than financially. The values he upheld during his career have been instilled in the Lockhart family; they are something we never plan to lose sight of.