Artsplace (1988 – 2006) was a champion harness racing horse who was the 1992 Harness Horse of the Year. Artsplace was also harness racings champion two year old in 1990, where he notably set a world record for 2 year old pacers by winning the Breeders Crown in a then unheard of time of 1:51.1 at Pompano Park in Florida, soundly defeating champion Die Laughing in a breathtaking performance that is still talked about years later. This performance is regularly cited as one of the great and memorable performances in harness racing history. Artsplace's 3-year old campaign was marred by injuries, though he still earned over $900,000 and won several major stakes races as he battled it out with Die Laughing and Precious Bunny, the latter of whom would go on to garner horse of the year honors.
Artsplace's connections decided to return Artsplace to the races at age 4. Once again fully healthy, Artsplace had arguably the greatest season in harness racing history, going undefeated and winning such races as the Breeders Crown, US Pacing Championship, American National, among many others. Driven throughout his career by Hall of Famer John Campbell, Artsplace's fastest recorded mile was 1:49 2/5, which was at the time the fastest race mile in harness racing history. In a poll by harness racing experts commissioned by the U.S. Trotting Association, Artsplace was voted the 10th greatest harness horse in history. The fans voted him the 12th greatest. Artsplace entered the breeding shed with a lifetime summary of 49 37-7-1 ($3,085,083), retired as the second-richest pacer of all time, and was the author of at least one world record in each of his three years of competition.
Artsplace perhaps gained even more fame as a stallion, if possible given his accomplishments on the track. Artsplace was a phenomenal producer of top horses – both male and female - since his first crop raced in 1996, having regularly dominated the breeding statistics for several years, with his sires earning some 115 million dollars until his death in 2006. Artsplace sired numerous champion horses, including millionaires Artiscape, Art Major, Worldly Beauty, Galleria, Grinfromeartoear, Art's Conquest, Astreos, Arturo and Glowing Report, among many others. Many of Artsplace's sons and daughters have gone on to sire champions themselves, including most recently Art Major, who sired 2008 Meadowlands Pace champion Art Official, winner of the 2008 Pace in 1:47 which was, at the time, a world record time for 3 year old pacers and the second fastest race mile in harness racing history.
Artsplace was euthanized at the age of 18 in 2006 due to complications of laminitis, which the great horse had been suffering with for some time.