by Helene Gregory

East Windsor, NJ — The spotlight on harness racing this past weekend was at the Meadowlands and the Hambletonian. But for some Standardbreds, this week was the highlight of the year, as the SPHO-NJ held their 21st annual Standardbred show at The Horse Park of NJ.

A total of 46 USTA registered Standardbreds competed during this day and a half show in 73 different classes and 23 divisions. The SPHO-NJ is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization whose mission is to promote the Standardbred breed as a pleasure and performance horse during and after their racing careers are over, and in some cases even before.

Treacherous Cat is a trotter that proved that although harness racing was not suited for him, his career as a riding horse has been more then successful as he has won countless blue ribbons, Grand Champions and year end awards in both breed specific and open shows. The 2015 season will be his last year of showing as his owner Kelly Marshall (daughter of Jim and Donna Marshall) has decided that her horse’s age and beginning ailments are starting to slow him down some and he deserves to live out his days in her parents’ back yard. Treacherous Cat has nothing else to prove in the show ring and the SPHO-NJ honored this lovely pair with a retirement ceremony during the show.

This year the SPHO-NJ was very happy to see some new faces and horses. One of them was a big fixture at the racetracks up until April this year and Mighty Young Joe also has his own Facebook page.

Stacy Chiodo, his trainer and driver though his whole career (more than $500,000 and a 1:49.3 mark), sadly had to retire her very fast pacer after a race injury at the Big M in April. Mighty Young Joe healed up very nice and as he showed signs that he was sound enough to be ridden, Stacy got him ready with the National show in mind. Her horse did not disappoint as his first division of the day was the Rookie Horse Division and he ended up Grand Champion in his first horse show ever. He ended the weekend with 11 ribbons out of 12 classes.

The Roadster Division (sponsored by the USTA) was won by Barbara Matthews and Speedy Jesse, also a first time exhibitor at the National show and Barbara actually brought two very nice roadsters to show off.

For complete results of the show, click here.

The SPHO-NJ want to thank all the fantastic sponsors and supporters for their continued support. The sportsmanship at this show is just growing and getting better every year.

Save the date for the 2016 show which will be at the same location on Aug. 13-14.

More pictures from the show can be seen at the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Facebook page.