Louisville, KY — In 14 career starts on the racetrack in 2017-18, the now 7-year-old trotter Justahayfer was winless. The best showings for the son of Noble Venture out of the Muscles Yankee mare Ornellaia were a fourth and a fifth, which brought his total earnings to just $1,423.

In less than 10 minutes on Thursday night (Aug. 25) at the World’s Championship Horse Show at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky., Justahayfer brought home $6,864 to his owner when he won the $28,600 U.S. Trotting Association Roadster Classic.

Justahayfer won the $28,600 U.S. Trotting Association Roadster Classic. USTA/Kyle Creditt photo.

Bred by Massachusetts residents Peter Goldberg and Michael Seidman, Justahayfer was purchased after his racing career by Carl Kramer, a member of the Amish community in Missouri who owns a construction company. While many owners after buying a retired Standardbred change the name prior to a roadster career, Kramer kept the name. While Justahayfer is now competing as a roadster to bike on the Horse Show circuit, Kramer has now sold the horse and he will now be trained by Larry Hodge at Kalamara Farm in Springfield, Ky.

The USTA Roadster Classic was just one of several events contested over a full week of competition from Aug. 20-27. More than $1 million in prize money was rewarded in 236 total classes. The USTA’s sponsorship for the Roadster Classic is $5,000, plus the winner’s trophy. Horses that compete must be a registered Standardbred and the owner, trainer and exhibitor must be a current member of the USTA and American Road Horse & Pony Association.

There were 23 nominations to the event with 12 entered, and an elimination was conducted three nights earlier on Monday (Aug. 22) to pare the final field to 10.

Steve Crabtree, who lives in Elizabethtown, Ky., trains and drove Justahayfer in the Roadster Classic. USTA/Kyle Creditt photo.

Steve Crabtree, who lives in Elizabethtown, Ky., trains and drove Justahayfer in the Roadster Classic, where the trotter was the unanimous choice by the three judges over nine rivals. Crabtree noted after the win that while Kramer had purchased Justahayfer four years ago, it was just his fourth time in the show ring.

“Carl bought him as an investment and put him with me. He had never been in a show ring until July when I took him to my little home show at the Hardin County Fair,” he said. “Then we went to Harrodsburg and he won there and then we came here. He showed the other night in the qualifier when they eliminated two horses to cut the field to 10, so this is the fourth time he’s been in the ring.”

Crabtree believed Justahayfer was at his best on Thursday night so he wasn’t surprised that all three judges placed him first on their scorecards.

“He made an excellent show,” said Crabtree, who has trained horses for more than 50 years since he was 18. “He hit the ring showing and he left the ring showing. He never put an ear down. I can’t say enough good about him.

“I’ve had a lot of horses over the years, including several world champions, and I think he is the best I ever sat behind. He’s the prettiest Standardbred I’ve seen in my life. He can really trot.”

The USTA Roadster Classic was inaugurated back in 1997, when Larry Jenkins, serving at the time as ARHPA president, contacted USTA officials for their support. The current ARHPA president is James Nichols.

“This class is not based on age because these horses come off the racetrack at all different ages,” said Jenkins.

Jenkins said the judges are looking at specific things in making their decisions, including speed — the horses go sometimes at maximum speed in both directions — and gait.

“The horse should be attractive in appearance, carry his head high with an arched neck, good motion in front and a clean way of going behind,” said Jenkins. “A roadster should be up close to the rail except when passing. Most importantly, he has to stay trotting through the turns with his head straight.

“When the judge calls to go at speed the horse needs to stay collected and trotting at all times. A horse going off stride is a major mistake and the judge will make note of it. It will help to pass another horse but not required as in racing. This is a horse show, not a race. However, showing more speed than your nearest competitor will help you in the judges’ opinion.”