by Jessica Schroeder, USTA Outreach & Membership Enrichment Coordinator

Columbus, OH — The USTA, Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and New Vocations Racehorse Adoption have once again teamed up to promote the Standardbred at Equine Affaire, April 7-10, at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Highlighting the group of horses representing the breed is $1.5 million earner Grain Of Truth. Having raced during 12 seasons mostly for the Ray Schnittker barn, Grain Of Truth took his lifetime mark of 1:53.1f as a 9-year-old.

The Self Possessed gelding will be representing the Standardbred racehorse in demonstrations, the Horse & Farm exhibit promoting racehorse ownership, and Fantasia, the “special musical revue (that) will feature a star-studded line-up of professional equestrian performers and exceptional horses choreographed to a wide variety of musical styles.”

Other horses representing New Vocations in the Horse & Farm Exhibit as available for adoption are:

• Artgentina, an Artiscape gelding who earned $193,636 in 270 lifetime starts
• Big And Little, a SJ’s Caviar gelding who earned $337,781 in 106 starts
• Mr Bailey, another Artiscape gelding who earned $58,047 in 134 starts

The USTA and OHHA have partnered to have a 10×20 booth in the Voinovich breed pavilion where attendees can pick up information on harness racing, the two organizations and the use of Standardbreds in other careers after racing. A petting stall adjacent to the booth will give people an opportunity to see the stars of our sport up close.

There will be two 10 minute breed demonstrations, one on Friday at 5 p.m. and one on Saturday at 1:15 p.m, featuring Grain Of Truth and:

• Armbro Dane, a 13-year-old Camluck gelding who earned $193,468 on the track
• Investor, a 13-year-old Angus Hall gelding who has earned $362,930 to date and is currently racing at The Meadows
• Studs Hooligan, a 20-year-old Razzle Dazzlem gelding who earned $37,990 on the track
• Today’s Success, a 14-year-old Maybe Today gelding who earned $176,044 on the track

Standardbreds are also participating in the Equine Fundamentals Forum on Thursday at 4:45 p.m. and Sunday at 11:45 a.m. There will be an “Intro to Harness Racing” 30 minute presentation at Rod’s Equestrian Experience Pavilion on Sunday at 12:45 p.m. Breanna Carsey is scheduled to speak at 4 p.m. on Friday to discuss her experience with 2015 Ohio Sire Stakes champion MJB Got Faith and “The Road to Glory: Training a Winning Standardbred as a Youth Owner.”

For more information on attending Equine Affaire, visit their website. Show hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. Fantasia, a separately ticketed event, starts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.

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