Watta Hotshot dies during race Saturday at Meadowlands

The 6-year-old gelding pacer Watta Hotshot died of an apparent heart attack midway through the 13^th race Saturday night at the Meadowlands. The son of Artiscape had been purchased for $250,000 in July 2007 by Sylvia Burke, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and Randy Ringer and had been racing for trainers Mickey and Ronnie Burke.

“He had atrial fibrillation a couple of times in the past and we’ve treated him for it and given him time off, so this is not without precedent,” Mickey Burke told harnessracing.com Monday afternoon. “There was no indication or we would not have raced him. Yannick (driver Yannick Gingras) said he just slowed down to a walk (at the half) and laid down. The veterinarian (at the Meadowlands) said she was sure he had a heart attack.”

After being purchased from Canadian-based owner Wayne Whebby midway through his 3-year-old season, Watta Hotshot earned $371,974 for his new connections. Watta Hotshot won just once in 2007 in 21 overall starts, that victory coming in his 12^th start in the Burke Stable in a Matron elim; he went on to finish fourth in the final.

“What was unique with him was that he didn’t win a race until the next-to-last race of the year,” said Burke. “We even had a special bike built for him because he goes so wide behind, and that cost us $8,000.”

Overall, Watta Hotshot had nine wins in 56 starts and earnings of $733,260. He took his mark of 1:51.3f in his Matron elimination win at Dover Downs.

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