Page 36 - Canada Spring 2021

THE LIGHTER SIDE
“The part that almost got me out of Quarter Horse racing was the abuse of drugs. I am happy to say I’ve been involved on the level of cleaning that up.”
City, Montana, located between two Quarter Horse ranches—one that bred working horses and one that bred racehorses. Eventually, he bought a mare from his neigh- bors. She produced a foal, and he moved to Grants Pass when
the horse was about six months old.
“Once the horse got old enough, I started looking for a trainer,” Lowe recalled.
That horse didn’t win a race. Lowe tried again, and his next starter, Tornados Judgement, won eight times. Lowe was hooked after that.
Now let’s learn more about Lowe in the latest installment of our Lighter Side.
Q: Where were you born?
A: Billings, Montana.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of horse racing? A: I like to hunt and fish and play golf.
Q: What is your favorite movie, and why?
A: The movie that comes to mind [is] “The Man From
Snowy River.” It had some great horse riding in it. It was a Western. I loved the scenery, loved the action of the horses that were in it.
Q : Do you have a nickname and, if so, what is it and how did it come about?
A: In high school, I was “Hot Rod.” I think it was just a catchy name more than anything. I was a little heavy-footed [driver] at
the time.
Q: What is the strangest per- sonality quirk you have ever seen in a horse?
A: I had a horse one time we were breaking, a yearling. Actually, the horse that won eight races for me [Tornados Judgement]. We put him out in the arena. He always wanted to be doing something and he was always busy. So, we threw
a plastic, big, round garbage can out there for him to kick around or jump over or whatever. And that horse would take that garbage can, stick his head inside it, flip
it up so it was open, and he’d run around with that garbage can over his head until he hit a fence or something and it would fall off. He would nuzzle that thing around and get it stood up again and do it all over again.
Q: If you were not in the horse racing business, what job would you like to have? A: I don’t know of anything else right now that has perked my interest as much as the racing
Oregon Racing Commissioner Chris Dudley & Rod Lowe
36 SPEEDHORSE CANADA Spring 2021