Allentown, NJ — The 30th annual National Standardbred show was held Sept. 20-22 at The Horsepark of NJ in Allentown.
All previous records were broken as 132 Standardbreds gathered and showed in multiple divisions like Western and Classical Dressage, Jumpers, Hunters, Games, Driving, Ranch, Showmanship and In-Hand.
Some 173 exhibitions took the reins and/or lines and showed off their re-trained racehorses over the weekend and 1,265 entries were recorded.
This is an incredible number for a breed specific show, by far the biggest in the region, and none of it would be possible without the outpouring support from the SPHO-NJ’s generous sponsors.
The presenting sponsors this year were Dr. Patty Hogan, who also came to watch and to take in the beauty of her favorite breed together with her Hall of Fame husband Eddie Lohmeyer.
The Ferguson Family is a longtime supporter that started many years ago when their then teenage daughter Taylor was showing War horse Star Lantern.
Purple Haze Horse Adoption (Wanda Polisseni) also took out a presenting sponsorship this year and added an extra bonus to all the horses entered in the Adoptable Horse Division; they waived the entry and stall fees and also gave out gift baskets to the entries in that division and a cash prize to the division’s Grand Champion and Reserve.
Purple Haze brought three horses to the show and one got adopted out.
The SBOA-NJ has been a Presenting Sponsor for all of the 30 years this show has been held and they have seen us grow from a small one day show to the size it is today and it shows the commitment they have to help racehorses shine in events beyond the racetracks.
The USTA has been a key Presenting sponsor for many years as well and they also offer ads and media exposure and other helpful perks.
Last. but not least, a large group of Delaware horsemen and women held a fundraiser in Tammy Munson’s memory. She was an avid Standardbred lover who sadly passed away earlier this year. The fundraiser was put together by Nicky Ratledge and Tammy’s friends and family came to present the Grand Champion award. A beautiful tribute to Tammy!
The New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Wengryn, took time out of his busy agenda and visited the show on Saturday and he was kind enough to present Grand and Reserve Champions in the winner’s circle.
Jeff Gesek is also a sponsor of the show and every year a class is named for his charity Pacing For The Cure, a non-profit organization that was started by Mr. Gesek when his beloved father fell ill with MS.
The show book and full results from the show can be seen at www.sphonj.org/.
The Board of Directors of SPHO-NJ wants to thank everyone that contributed to this show being the biggest one ever — sponsors, office crew, volunteers, exhibitors, friends and family. A show of this magnitude is not possible without any of you so, thank you!