by Jessica Schroeder, USTA Outreach & Membership Enrichment Coordinator

Columbus, OH — Nancy Salazar and Steady’s Bad Boy logged 485 miles in 2012 to take the second annual High Mileage Standardbred Award, given by the USTA through the American Endurance Ride Conference.

Based in Minnesota, Nancy and Steady’s Bad Boy traveled to rides in their home state as well as Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The AERC awards banquet and convention is being held in Reno, Nev., this Friday and Saturday (March 8-9). Salazar has already received her awards blanket as she will not be attending the ceremony, and the duo will be the subjects of the next ad in Endurance News, the AERC’s membership magazine.

USTA photo

Nancy Salazar and Steady’s Bad Boy took the second annual High Mileage Standardbred Award.

Steady’s Bad Boy is an 8-year-old gelding by Badlands Hanover that made $24,496 on the track and took a lifetime mark of 1:54.3 at Colonial Downs in 2010. His dam, Steady Ironstone (by On The Road Again), made more than $109,000 and his Pro Bono Best half-brother is the currently racing Road Storm, who is also a $100,000 earner.

“This is Steady’s Bad Boy’s second year in long distance riding,” said Salazar. “In addition to being a pacer, he now has acquired a long trot and a beautiful canter. What I love about him is he just does what you ask him to do, mile after mile. He remembers his racing days and uses a bit of that attitude when he needs to.”

Finishing second was the inaugural winner of the Standardbred Mileage Award, East Meets West and Patricia Clark; together they logged 280 miles of both Endurance and Limited Distance rides.

The AERC High Mileage Standardbred award is given to the Standardbred that has the most miles ridden during the current riding season (Dec. 1 through Nov. 30). All rides are considered, including the limited distance 24-35 mile rides, and standard endurance rides (50-plus miles). Riders must be a member of AERC in order to track horse and rider mileage. For more information on the AERC, visit their website at www.aerc.org.

Since 1996, the Standardbred Equine Program has worked with off-the-track Standardbreds and their owners to educate the general public about the many disciplines at which Standardbreds excel once they are retired from racing. For more information about the SEP at the USTA, visit standardbreds.ustrotting.com, or send e-mail inquiries to sep@ustrotting.com.