The Standardbred Connection November 2017 Edition
Military Funeral for Pretty Boy Maine Standardbreds Win Jumper Team Challenge
Bandit Brings Home the Win
South Australia: Dressage Dreams Come True
The Standardbred Connection November 2017 Edition Harvey Six Finds His Place
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Maine Standardbreds Win Jumper Team Challenge by Amy Higgins
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Veruca Salt
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The Junior League Of Lexington Closes Its’ Chapter On The Red Mile by Sara Spires
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Gone to Carolina with Amy Higgins
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Barn Fire Prevention with Equine Guelph
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Military Funeral for Pretty Boy
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2017 World Standardbred Show Results
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OTStandardbred Incentive Program by Lori Ferguson
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250 Years of Racing In Canada
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Hoopie
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My Standardbred Story: Duke of Kyalla by James Bromley
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We Love Our Smitty with Jeff Seltzer
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Dreams Come True with Jessie Smith
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On the front cover: Cassidi Wright showing Bandit. They won the James Gibson Memorial Class, an Amateur pacing class, at the Clintwood Memorial Show (Virginia). Photo by Sherry Hilton Photography Have a story to share? Contact The Standardbred Connection at STBConnection@gmail.com. Looking for a past issue? Our website is www.TheStandardbredConnection.com
x i S y e v Har : e c a l P s i H s Find y
t ersonali p e g u h rse with a a little ho iny tail) (and a t
Harvey Six with Kamryn Coppock
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hen Harvey Six first joined the Barga family in July 2015 he wasn’t entirely sure of his new place in the world. The gelding had been passed over many times at Starting Gaits, a Standardbred rehoming organization, due to his small size (15 hands) and even smaller tail. “Unfortunately for adoptions - combine that physical “blemish” with being a little insecure under saddle and he was a hard case for us to adopt,” says Mandi Cool, director of Starting Gaits. “Karin and her daughter started spending time at my farm working with Lanson (who her daughter adopted) and soon grew attached to Harvey. I was very thankful for them because unfortunately not everyone takes the time to work past the confidence issues and overlook the “blemishes” like a small tail.” Karin Barga is Harvey’s primary caretaker and rider now, although her daughter, Kamryn, is the one who shows him under saddle. Karin has spent many hours working with the then 10-year old gelding. She says that her work with an unbroke mule prepared her for Harvey. The gelding is a thinker, he likes to be shown a ‘scary’ object two or three times. “He’s very curious and doesn’t run from what scares him, but studies it instead, moves closer and closer until he’s comfortable with it,” Karin reports. “After lots and lots of groundwork, trust-building exercises and communication with his race owners, we finally got him figured out,” Karin says, “Harvey is very hands-on and thrives with touch and gratitude from his “person”. We’d brought him home for my daughter’s boyfriend to ride and he ended up choosing me. He’s become a wonderful trail riding horse.”
Harvey Six with his race owner, Steve Livingston (yellow hat) and his new owner, Karin Barga. This summer Harvey ventured into the show world at the local county fair. His new family was a bit nervous, the show was at the very same race track that he had raced at for much of his life. Their worries were unfounded, with Harvey loading and unloading like a seasoned traveler, showing like a professional. Harvey competed in his first Open Halter class and placed 4th out of 7 in his first Easy Gaited Pleasure class.
The Barga Standardbreds - from left to right: Harvey Six with KC Higgins, Brooks with Karin Barga, and Lanson with Kamryn Coppock.
Maine Standardbreds Win Jumper Team Challenge by Amy Higgins
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hree Maine Standardbreds took home blue ribbons in the .80 Team Challenge Jumper Classic open class at the New England Jumpers Association’s 3rd Annual Halloween Jumper/Fun Show held at Kennebec Morgan Farm on October 28, 2017.
Competing in the Team Jumper Classic were (l to r) – Meaghan Martin on her pacer mare Lindon’s Rose Me N, Kathleen Bailey on Amy Higgins’ pacer mare Gone To Carolina and Grace Cloutier on her gelding trotter Flex Fuel. Team members cantered and jumped the challenging 2’7” course expertly and Meaghan Martin’s super quick Rosey flew around the jump off to seal the win, beating out two non-Standardbred teams. The three Standardbreds show competitively individually but their riders had such a great time they hope to find future opportunities to compete together as a team!
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ur condolences to Laura Harbour on the passing of her 23-year old mare, Veruca Salt (Legs). On October 6, 2017, Legs was humanely put down following an illness.
Legs was an inspiration for Standardbred owners. She was one that did it all - winning over 200 blue ribbons, 169 of them against open competiton in a variety of disciplines - pleasure, games/contest, trail, over fences, under saddle, equitation, reining, dressage, combined training, hunters, western. Legs battled back from navicular syndrome in 2008 and went on to see the spotlight at the World Equestrian Games in 2010 as part of the Standardbred Team at the International Equestrian Festival where she demonstrated under western tack. Our condolences to all of Legs’ connections, ‘the little mare that could’ will be sorely missed.
The Junior League Of Lexington Closes Its’ Chapter On The Red Mile Story by Sara Spires,
reprinted by permission from The Bluegrass Horseman
Early History
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e can trace the decorated history of the Red Mile to the first trotting association in Lexington being organized in the old Phoenix Hotel downtown, all the way back in 1859. Shares of stock were sold and a track was completed on what is now University of Kentucky property that, according to several historians, was at the intersection of what is now South Limestone and Rose street where UK recently expanded its hospital. The track was very popular up until the War Between the States caused harness racing to take a backseat. Soldiers began camping on the grounds with the fencing and some buildings being destroyed for campfires. At the same time, there was a track known as Abadallah Park in Cynthiana, KY that held specialty races, generally for owners presenting their horses as sort of a gentlemen’s “my colt can beat yours” showcase. In 1872, Standardbred movers and shakers of the era met for the first time since the war. Over the next few years, stock was sold and stockholders grew into an
array of people including Lexington native John Cabell Breckenridge, who was Vice President of the United States and a former Confederate general. This was due to a gradual increase of public interest in the business and entertainment of harness racing. Since thoroughbred racing was the king during this time, thoroughbred owners were much against trotters holding successful events and tried to prevent its growth in Lexington. But with Stockholder Breckenridge’s leadership, there were many early successes that allowed for the building of a new track known as the Red Mile. Red Mile opened in September 1875; on what was the opening day of The Great Fall Trot, sponsored by the reorganized Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders Association. The event received minimal coverage from the local paper, The Lexington Daily Press, only mentioning it the day after that there was little attendence. Apparently the founding fathers neglected to advertise the grand opening adequately, so The Daily Press reporter was left to inform the public that the races were indeed in session. So, attendence finally started to pick up.
While preparing for the World Equestrian Games in 2010, all of the Standardbred participants shipped into the Red Mile for practices. Here the entire team is shown in front of the iconic Round Barn. The Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders Association leased the facility for the harness races from the Agricultural and Mechanical Fair Association By the early 1890s, the association continued to grow. A 5,000 seat double-decker grandstand was constructed and they purchased the remaining interest at an auction from the old Agricultural and Mechanical Fair Association. The Red Mile was also the site for the 1905 Kentucky State Fair. Since then, this 142 year old and 175 acre campus has seen many rennovations and adjustments over the years. The first grandstand built in the 1890s burned down in 1931, so a new one constructed of block/steel was completed in 1934 and has contiued to be updated up to present day. The Red Mile Clubhouse was added in the late 1950s.The tunnel from the barn arena where the tent stalls are put for the Junior League to the infield was filled with stones and mortar after engineers declared the roof was weak and unsafe in 2001. At the western-most end of the infield of the historic track is a small cemetery to the left of the grandstand. Several horses are buried there going back a century including a couple Standardbreds, a Thoroughbred and an American Saddlebred named The Replica, owned by Chicagoian Judy Marks. Upon lining up in the Amateur Five-Gaited class, the horse next to her kicked, breaking The Replicia’s leg. He was humanely uthanized there and then buried in the above spot. These
horses graves are marked by stones, several of which were replaced a few year back due to deteroration. Red Mile is a racetrack that has seen many records – met and broken, special events including the Under Saddle race where the late Francis Dodge Johnson Van Lennep rode the immortal 8-year-old “Grey Ghost” Greyhound to the world record in the 1940 under saddle – a mile in 2:01 3/4. This record stood for some 50 years when it was broken here at the Red Mile. A bronze plaque honoring this is on the balcony of the east end of the grand stand. Since 1893, Red Mile is home to the infamous Futurity of Kentucky, held annually and considered the final leg of the the Triple Crown of Harness Racing of Trotters. The inaugural Jr. League Horse Show was opened there in July 1937 and the Red Mile has been its home up until this year with its relocation to the Kentucky Horses Park in 2018. The “Round Barn” In 1879 the Fair Association commissioned Lexington architect John McMurty to design a formal exhibit hall first called Floral Hall. He produced a structure that is now consider a Lexington and Red Mile landmark. Its unique octagonal architecture housed flower exhibits during fairs and was used for selling auction pools on races in the early years of the Red Mile. When harness racing first started in Lexington, auction pools on rac-
es were generally sold the night before at the Phoenix Hotel until a city anti-gambling ordinance ended the practice. It just so happened that the Red Mile property cut between the city-county line, which allowed for auction pooling to be legally transferred into the Floral Hall. Some believe that this could have been because of political influence that drew out the line in such a matter, but at any rate, the sporting gentlemen of the time were able to carry out their business cheerfully and legally in Floral Hall. Floral Hall transitioned into a horse barn and a third floor was added where the grooms stayed. Its name soon came to be known as the Round Barn or Barry Barn after English immigrant and trainer, Tom Barry, housed his horses there for years. It was used to stable horses up until the 1950s and a major rennovation took place in 1963 since the facility was starting to show its age. Not long after in 1971, it was changed into The Standardbred Stable of Memories and the beautifully done American Roadster Horse and American Roadster Pony Museum that has since closed. Losing this was a sad loss for the equine community. Now it is used for various parties and special events throughout the year. It is widely photographed today, used in artist’s illustrations, and is admired by all those who drive by it or enter its hallowed portals. Tattersalls Adjacent to the Red Mile is Tattersalls, the nation’s oldest light horse market. It was founded in 1892, when the well-known London and Newmarket sales company saw an opportunity to get into the North American markets. The venture was a great success for various owners and management teams since the demand for saddle and carriage horses was so high. During the early 1900s, there were four sales annually of mainly Standardbreds and Saddlebreds. In 1933, the famous Bob Moreland sold the great stallion, American Born, to Tattersalls. He commanded a final bid of $12,000 which was the highest price ever to be paid for an American Saddlebred during that time. During World War I, Tattersalls shifted its efforts to supplying horses to the French, British, and U.S. governments. In the 1950s, the facility was purchased by wellknown Dodge Stables and Castleton Farm owner, Frederick Van Lennep, and other Lexington horseman. By 1986, Teater Saddlebred Enterprises, Inc. was formed to manage Saddlebred auctions where sales
were conducted three times a year. TSE/Tattersalls trainer Ed Teater and his brother, farm manager, and now deceased breeder, Louis Teater, added a new spark to the historic sales tradition. By 2000, the Tattersalls and Red Mile facilities were sold to five Standardbred breeders dedicated to the revitalization of the race track and sales pavillion. But their efforts ran dry and The Red Mile sold 10 acres facing South Broadway, including the Tattersalls sales pavillion, to a developer planning a major housing project to accommadate University of Kentucky students. Sales of Standardbred and Quarter Horses were eventually moved out to the Fasig-Tipton Pavillion on Newtown Pike. Since its founding in 1892, an untold number of horses of all breeds have been sold at Tattersalls, including reportedly 300,000 of Standardbred yearlings alone, for some $400 million. With its demolition in 2012 a chapter closed on an integral part of Lexington and the horse industry as a whole. Junior League at The Red Mile For over 80 years, the Lexington Junior League Horse Show has been one of the favorites of the show horse world. Each year something new is presented, records are made or broken and the tradition continues. It is an event with so much going for it and yet includes some things not so popular. The weather can certainly be unpredictable. Some do not like the fabricated ring on part of the historic race track in front of the grandstand, but nonetheless, they keep returning year after year. Sadly, this will be the last year the show horse world will make their way to the Red Mile. It was announced in April that the show will relocate to the outdoor Rolex Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park for the 2018 show. The historic Red Mile and the Lexington Junior League certainly go hand in hand as two parts of the equine world in Lexington. Both have had numerous records made and broken over the years. The Red Mile is the second oldest harness track in the world, second only to the one in Goshen, New York. Harness racing goes back to the early 1800s with racing at county fairs and events. The Goshen track dates back to circa 1838, a time when every home owner had at least one horse or more by necessity for work, travel and for fun, either racing or showing them. To win a contest of the fastest or best looking animal on the local square downtown was a fete! In 1937, during the throes of the Great Depres-
The muddy conditions at the Red Mile may have contributed to the decision to move the show to its new location at the Kentucky Horse Park. Several classes were canceled as a result of rain and the resulting muddy track in 2017. sion, the first Junior League Horse Show was held, lasting five days. Certainly an ambitious undertaking considering the economy at the time. The ladies of the Lexington Junior League needed a venue to raise more monies for community projects. They were told it could not be done and would not work during the dire financial woes the country was in. Yet, on the other side of town, out in the country, some ten miles from the Red Mile, Pansy Yount, was building the magnificent mansion Spindletop Hall on her world class Saddlebred nursery at a cost of $1 million. The budget for the first Junior League Horse Show was only $500. They made $5,000 and the Junior Leaguers are still making money to donate some 75 years later. Serving as the first chairman was Mrs. Marshall Pryor, who along with Marie Kittrell, W. Jefferson Harris brought the idea to fruition. W. Jefferson Harris was the manager and one of the founders. He had been wanting this type of event in Lexington for several years. Unfortunately, his untimely death in 1943, he did not really see the fruits of his labor for neither the show or Lexington. The first show was held July 21-24 at the Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders’ Association Track, as the Red Mile was called then. According to the program of that first year in our collection, the horsemen’s advisory
committee was a Who’s Who of the day, from horsemen to all the movers and shakers of the community. W. Cape Grant, Senator H.S. Caywood, Douglas Chenault, Charles Dunn, B.P. Eddie, George Gwinn, Robert Jewell, Allie G. Jones, Robert Moreland, Billy Mountjoy, Dr. A.B. Plummer, William Treacy, and Stoddard J. Young, just to name a few. The judges for that first show were H.C. Barham of Seekonk, Massachusetts; Claude L. Pemberton, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky; and William Collins, of Washington, D.C. The Hunter judges were Arthur W. Shutts and William Preston, both of Lexington, Kentucky. The show had Hunter classes up until circa 1970 and they showed during the day hosting the top Hunters from around the country. Saddle horses came from all points as well, bearing in mind this was 1937 and in the heart of the Great Depression. Kalarama Farm, John Lair, R.C. “Doc” Flanery, Sterling Owen, Minton Hickory Farm, Robert McCray, R.E. Moreland, Mountjoy and Son, Stoddard Y. Young, and J&B Stables. J&B Stables was named after Joyce and Barbara Harris, the daughters of show founder, W. Jefferson Harris. According to the program, there were 208 entries. The Five-Gaited Championship was sponsored by the Lexington Herald and was won by GOLD CLOUD
for owner Glad Acres Farm of Midway Road in Dallas, Texas. The Roadster Championship, always a favorite on the track here, was won by Play Boy for R.C. “Doc” Flanery of Kansas, Illinois. Old programs through the years show the difference in the dress of the day. Much of that is gone, albeit the last couple nights of the event. The ladies and gentlemen come to show, and as a show event, to present themselves and be a part of what was once considered a major social event in Lexington. What’s Next for The Red Mile Various reports have come out about the future of the Red Mile; the demise in part or in total. When it was built, it was several miles from downtown. Now it is in the middle of town, literally- surrounded by homes and businesses. Many of the old structures within the vicinity have long since gone. Just on Broadway the Old Ingleside Mansion and estate is one example. It was destroyed in 1964 for a trailer park, businesses and houses now there. The old gate house is now an office building. The Red Mile has been the location for numerous concerts and, for a time, the Lions Bluegrass Fair. Now, the major events include live racing three times a year, both harness and thoroughbred simulcasting, casino games, and the for the final time in 2017, the Lexington Junior League Horse Show. The Red Mile’s vision for the future is in the the push to redevelop Lexington’s South Broadway, just west of the University of Kentucky’s campus. They are hoping the resurgence of this area with retail, bars, restaurants, housing, offices, and jogging and bike trails will draw a new crowd into The Red Mile to play slots, bet simulcasting, watch live horse racing, and even motocross. Only time will tell the fate of this historic center for the equine communities in Lexington, but the future as such, seems bleak. A more current view of The Red Mile shows how the city of Lexington has grown up around the track. The housing boom, even in the last 20-years, has been transformative.
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one To Carolina, an off the track, 20-year old, pacer mare, jumped to a third place finish in her Novice division at the Area 1 USEA recognized Fall Horse Trials held on October 1st at the University of New Hampshire. Carolina, owned by Amy Higgins and trained and ridden by Kathleen Bailey, went double clear in show jumping and cross country to secure her yellow ribbon in a competitive field of nine.
Following her career as a multiple Maine Sires Stakes winner at two and three, Carolina briefly was carriage driven and then broken to saddle. Thanks to receiving a solid dressage foundation that instilled strength and balance, she has achieved great success competing in a variety of disciplines. She has shown second level dressage and schools third level, was a multiple Maine Horse Association year end winner in the open Road and Show Hack divisions and is currently eventing and show jumping. At age twenty she remains fit and eager and her love for jumping is only surpassed by her talent! Photo by Cindy Arendt
Barn Fire Prevention
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ith cooler, darker days ahead – and more pressure on heating and lighting systems – the risk of barn fires increases. So, now is the time for your annual combustible
clean-up! Combustibles are everywhere and unavoidable around the horse farm, but your management of them can considerably reduce the risk of a barn fire. To help you learn more about the combustible hazards in your barn and evaluate the safety of your facility, go to Equine Guelph’s Barn Fire Prevention online tool. The interactive assessment tool asks 20 questions about inside and outside of your barn and takes five minutes to complete. The chart below outlines some of the common fuel sources that burn rapidly once ignited and discusses best practices for prevention.
Hay • Ensure moisture content is not too high before storage. • Tidy up loose hay from storage area and barn aisles. • Store in a separate building at least 50 feet away from barn.
Bedding • Also preferable to store in a building at least 50 feet away from barn. • Sweep up any loose material.
Cobwebs • Take them down with a broom.
Weeds, Overgrown Grasses • Use the weed eater to trim around buildings.
Gasoline or Diesel • Keep any fuel for farm equipment in a separate storage area at least 50 feet away from the barn. This includes the tractor and equipment!
Paint, Pesticides & Other Flammable Liquids • Keep in a separate storage area at least 50 feet away from the barn.
Dust • Avoid fine sawdust shavings as a bedding material. • Sweep and clean dust from surfaces of the barn on a daily basis. • Remove dust and debris from fan blades and motors.
Lint • Clean dryer lint traps and ensure proper exhaust.
Garbage • Take out the trash (empty feedbags, binder twine...all combustible)
Wood • Consider other building materials such as concrete block or steel. “Once you have reduced your risk taking care of combustibles, inspect all possible sources of ignition,” said Equine Guelph director, Gayle Ecker. Electrical malfunctions are a primary ignition source for many fires including barns. To reiterate, farm buildings can have an increased fire risk in winter when heating and electrical systems are more heavily taxed for heating and lighting. Portable heaters are a risk as are other appliances not intended for agricultural use. When not in use, electrical equipment should be unplugged and properly stored away. It is important not to let water bucket heaters run dry. Once empty, the continuous heat can melt the bucket resulting in ignition of stall bedding and hay. An annual electrical inspection, completed by a qualified electrician familiar with livestock barns, is highly recommended to check for signs of deterioration or corrosion. The Electrical Safety Authority has stringent requirements for installation of electrical equipment in animal confinement areas. Have any issues that are found repaired without delay.
Jim Zyta, vice president of loss prevention with Heartland Farm Mutual, provided the following tips: For additional protection against fire, especially in the animal housing area, consider arc-fault protection on 15 and 20amp circuits and receptacles. This is especially important if your wiring is recessed within barn walls and above ceilings. Arc-fault protection could prevent a fire due to loose connections or rodent damage saving your building and much more. When using 240-volt ‘approved barn heaters,’ consult with your electrician and ESA inspector. It is a best practice to hardwire these units directly to a 30amp circuit avoiding a receptacle connection. These 30amp/250V receptacles are notorious for burning up! Always maintain clearances to combustibles as per manufactures installation guidelines. Zyta says Heartland is happy to partner with Equine Guelph on this initiative, “We are helping barn owners protect what they value the most.” For more tips on fire prevention and to complete interactive activities inside and outside your barn, visit the Barn Fire Prevention Tool, sponsored by Heartland Farm Mutual. Want to learn more? Consider taking a Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue Course, with a fire safety component, offered by your local university, fire department or Large Animal Rescue group. Article provided by Equine Guelph
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Military Funeral For Pretty Boy
n October 21st, over 50 people had the honor of attending the funeral service for Pretty Boy. Pretty Boy was an equine member of the Camp Nelson Honor Guard, a caisson unit at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Jessamine County. The unit was founded by Tracy Lucas in 2008 and is one of the few all-volunteer caissons in the country. Camp Nelson itself dates back to the Civil War era, having been established by an order of President Abraham Lincoln in June 1863. It became Camp Nelson National Cemetery in the late 1860s. Pretty Boy was an off-the-track Standardbred who raced successfully at The Red Mile (Lexington, KY) before being retired. He was Tracy Lucas’ first driving horse and the first caisson horse at Camp Nelson (Nicholasville, KY). Caissons were originally built to pull artillary but are altered to carry the casket of fallen soldiers. Pretty Boy pulled the caisson for the funerals of over 1,000 soldiers during his years of service.
by Kathleen Haak
he knew what it meant,” said JB Reynolds, in his eulogy. “He walked the caisson down the hill with honor and distinction.” In the week prior to the funeral, the Honor Guard held a “Pretty Boy’s Honor Day,” an opportunity for people to come and say goodbye to the 35-year old gelding who was battling severe arthritis. The following day, on his way to be put down, the Nicholasville Police Dept, Fayette Co. Sheriffs Dept. and the Jessamine County Sheriff ’s Dept, gave Pretty Boy’s horse trailer a rolling escort; honoring him but also helping to insure the smoothest trailer ride possible for Pretty Boy. Pretty Boy was laid to rest at the headquarters of the Camp Nelson Honor Guard, just across the field from the National Cemetary. There is a movement to create a monument to all the caisson horses that have passed. The Honor Guard is about half way to reaching their goal. Donations can be sent to:
CNHG “He’d show off, dance around and play but when he 213 Southtown Branch doned that harness he got busy. Pretty Boy knew his job, Nicholasville, KY 40356
Standardbred War Horse Halter GOLDEN RECEIVER shown by Dani Kemper
Standardbred Down & Back - Youth FOX VALLEY LEE shown by Alexandria Horton
Standardbred Barrels - Adult JOSHUA TREE N shown by Jullian Duehren
Standardbred Hunter over Fences - 2’ BEWARE OF R PARTY shown by Haleigh Kruse
Standardbred Jumper Over Fences - 2’6” STUDS HOOLIGAN shown by Amanda Munson
d Show e r b d r a Stand d l r o W 2017 2017 , 5 1 3 1 r Octobe Ohio , k r a P Eden Results Standardbred Western Pleasure-2-gait-Elite SILVER MATCH shown by Chris Glover
Standardbred Country Pleasure Racking Championship CULLENS BLUE JEAN shown by Devan Miller
Standardbred English Equitation 2-gait Championship FIT FOR ACTION shown by Tia Biro
Standardbred English Pleasure - 3-gait - Adult FEELIN’ SHADY shown by Janie Motts
Standardbred STB Sidesaddle Western or English - 2-gait BIG ENOUGH shown by Lizzie Allers
Standardbred English Equitation - 3-gait - Youth 18 & under MICKEY shown by Ella Moscinski
ber 15th m e v o on N d e c n u last. nno e a h s t a e w b t I would w o h S World 7 show 1 l 0 u 2 f s e s e h t c that a suc g n i n n u ns on r o i t a l u t Congra years. n e v e s for
Standardbred Western Horsemanship-2-gait Championship ARMBROS REVENGE A shown by Jaci Payne
Standardbred Leadline - under 10 GAME WALTER shown by Keionnie Ackley
Standardbred Driven Cones METRO’S ESCAPE shown by Marcia Harmelink
Standardbred Speed Championship THRILL HILL FLYER shown by Mandi Cool
Standardbred SaddleSeat Championship ALLAMERICAN LEGACY shown by Kassidy Leasure
ber Coom
y Trac ! s t a r go Cong & Hu
The OTStandardbred Incentive Program is designed to help support the market for Standardbreds at the end of their racing careers and encourage the purchase or adoption of the breed for participation in Ontario Xtreme Cowboy sanctioned events. Tracy and Hugo, a 15 year-old trotting bred gelding competed throughout the season in two different divisions earning them an invite to the OXC Provincial Championships in Norwood, ON where they finished fourth. As well, the program sponsor Waples’ Stable (Ron and Liz Waples) matched the total award money won this season by Tracy and Hugo. “I joined OXC this past summer with Hugo and it was a lot of fun. I plan on continuing this new adventure next year,” said Tracy.
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he Off Track Standardbred Incentive Program (sponsored by Waples’ Stable) and Ontario Xtreme Cowboy are pleased to announce that Tracy Coomber and her horse Hugo have earned the 2017 High Point Standardbred award for this year’s OXC sanctioned race season.
Ontario Xtreme Cowboy appreciates the support of this program by Waples’ Stable and more information on the OTStandardbred Incentive Program and Ontario Xtreme Cowboy can be found online at www.ontarioxtremecowboy.ca and its Facebook page.
Photo credit: Amanda Struz
250th Anniversary of Horse Racing in Canada
he 250th Anniversary of Horse Racing was showcased as part of the 95th Annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.
Under the lights and glamour of the Royal Horse Show, an exhibition celebrating the racing industry’s milestone anniversary included a combination of videos, current and retired racehorses, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame members and a special presentations. The off-the-track career showcase included current road horse competitor Standardbred Rachel Lauren; pacer Spago Hall currently engaged with OHHA’s Hands On Horses/Wanna Drive program, providing opportunities for racetrack patrons to experience what it is like to ride behind a race horse; Calamar and Debi O’Brien-Moran, both familiar faces at tracks leading post parades; and trotter Lets Leavem who is still an active racing participant in both RUS and in harness for owner Sarah Town, including a win and new season mark at Flamboro the night following his trip to the Royal. The event was spearheaded by the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. (CHRHF)
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oopie is leaving his mark on the Pennsylvannia 4-H scene, finishing 7th in keyhole at the PA State Competition in Haririsburgh. This was his first year in 4-H with his rider, Cheyenne Christman. Hoopie has been owned by the Christman family for over 10 years, during his time with them he has set a track record and made almost $500,000. In 2016, Hoopie really started being ridden under saddle, starting lightly on barrels - all while he was still racing. He took most of this year off from racing but has started back in the jog cart and should be qualifying in mid-November. When not racing or running gymkhana, you’ll find Hoopie and Cheyenne out on the track marshalling. A highlight of their year was carrying the flags during Adios Day at The Meadows, along with Scarlet Wilder and Savannah Gelly.
E I P HOO
Adios photo credit: Chris Gooden
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y r o t S d re b d r a d n My Sta e of Kyalla Duk
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eb or ‘Duke of Kyalla’ completed his last race in 2014 at Redcliffe and tragically was sent to the sale yards with a very grim future in sight. Fortunately Save A Horse Australia happened to attend on that day. Zeb, standing tall and towering above all the other horses, caught the eye of SAHA’s president. She stepped in and outbid a buyer to purchase him for a mere $220. This beautiful rescue horse donned the barn name Zeb after he was put in a very stylish zebra-striped rug. He is a 17hh, big gentle giant. I adopted him in late 2014, after having a 25 year break from riding. We were both very green and everything was very new. We took some lessons and it’s incredible how far we have come. Zeb is a very quick learner and has shown a lot of promise. We have already competed in a number of events locally. • 2015 SAQ’s (Standardbred Association Queensland) State Dressage Championships and won the Judges’ Choice Award. I was very proud of Zeb and the obvious potential the judges saw in us as up and coming competitors. • 2015 SAQ’s State Hack Championships and won Maiden Hack State Champion. • 2015 Police & Emergency Services Games. Bronze and Silver medal for hacking. • 2016 SAQ’s State Hack Championship Reserve Champion Novice. • 2017 SAQ’s State Dressage Championship Begginer Dressage State Champion. He is a very intelligent horse. He’s a gentle giant really. It’s hard to believe the fate that was once in store. Recently we participated in a preliminary dressage test at the Pink Ribbon Fun Day at Park Ridge Active Riding Group. We won 2nd prize for best dressed rider in pink. It really was a fun day. Zeb was being complemented by another participate until she realized he was a Standardbred. What happened next took me by surprise. I was asked if I felt inferior bringing him to dressage competitions. We are more determined now to place in a preliminary test. We all have our own journey. Zeb has potential, versatility and always tries. He is a great mate who has an excellent life after racing. Kind Regards, James Bromley
Duke of Kyalla (Zeb) with James Bromley
e v o L e W
! y t t i m O ur S
with Jeff
Seltzer
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tandardbred Retirement Foundation hors- SRF Standardbreds in the barn. Smitty and Wes, howes, Motor City Smitty, Western Leader, and ever, needed specific training to join the Company. Zonka joined the ranks of the First Company Governor’s Horse Guard in Avon, ConnectiMotor City Smitty is a 21-year old gelding, son of cut, this past July. The Company is part of the Dexter Nukes, who is enrolled in Full Circle. organized militia of the State of Connecticut. Western Leader is a 17-year old gelding who was Chartered in 1788, First Company Governor’s Horse previously registered as Western Chablis. The NJ-bred Guard is the oldest active continuously mounted Cal- is enrolled in Full Circle. vary Unit in the United States. Its mission is to serve the State whenever called upon by the proper. There Zonka is a 13-year old gelding, orginally from Kenare typically ten horses in the troop. These three hand- tucky, who was previously registered as Forty Forty. He some and particularly well-mannered geldings have is also enrolled in Full Circle. special duties, none of which require fast quarters. They will be asked to control crowds, participate in regular The good news is, all three horses underwent a 60 day training drills and parades, and shine at important po- trial period and passed the initiation test. All three have litical events such as inaugurations and memorials. The been officially and proudly sworn in. Company is also training to become a certified mounted search and rescue unit, the only one in Connecticut. Zonka has a leg up already; he served the city of Newark, NJ in their Mounted Unit which was dominated by Pictured: Motor City Smitty and Jeff Seltzer
Dreams Come True
straps you see in her photo. Jessie doesn’t let that stop her from showing off Stormy’s talents. They’ve done so well that at the Standardbred Pleasure and Performance Horse Association of South Australia awarded them the Presidents Award, in recognition of advocacy for the breed. They also picked up the Open Junior STB of the Year Award and R/Y Junior Highpoint. Although Stormy is moving well at 21 and shows no signs of stopping, Jessie has picked out her horse, Kiwi, to start training for dressage. You can follow Jessie and Stormy on Facebook and Instagram using #thestandiewhocan. You’ll also find inspirational quotes there like.... “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals”
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hile her friends were prepairing for their 12th grade formal, Jessie Smith was focused on achieving her lifelong dream and competing at the South Australia State Dressage Championships with her horse Northern Storm. Their 8th place finish at Dressage Championships - Youth capped off a fantastic year for them. The pair were also selected to represent South Australia in the Interschool National Champs Show Horse competition. They won all but one of the qualifying events for Nationals and were excited to show what a Standardbred can do - Stormy being the first Standardbred to compete at the show. They came away from their eleven day stay in Toowoomba with a very good showing including a top 10 finish. Stormy, who is 21, has learned to adapted aids to help Jessie during their five years together. Jessie has chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), a neurological disorder that targets your body’s nerves. As a result she has no use of her right leg, hence the