Columbus, OH — The U.S. Trotting Association is excited to announce a new series of Roadster events for the 2024 show season. Created for horses that either raced or were bred for the intention to race, the series is to promote Roadster events as a suitable second career for Standardbreds.

Pretty Lolli and Robert Schrock. Winslow Photography.

“I think it is important to promote the second careers available for off-the-track Standardbreds,” explained Duncan Hyler, an amateur competitor and inaugural winner of the Roadster Division of the Standardbred Incentive Program, who came up with the idea for the series. “Many horses are now being bred specifically for the show ring, but off-track horses are just as suitable.”

For the series, the Eastern portion of the U.S. will be broken up into three regions, with each region having four shows. Points are accumulated from competing in the shows and the top three horses in each region will be invited to a final.

Northeast – New England states (VT, NH, MA, CT, RI), New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
Southeast – Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi
Midwest – Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Michigan, Wisconsin, West Virginia

A committee is being formed with representatives from each region, plus the USTA and the American Road Horse & Pony Association (ARHPA), to establish the shows in the series and will aim to have the schedule established by the end of January.

To be eligible for the series, there will be a nomination fee due. Horses must have had electronic eligibilities ordered (US or Canadian) or sold at a commercial yearling sale, including:

Buckeye Classic
Hoosier Classic
Forest City
Goshen Yearling Sale
Heartland Standardbred Sale
Illini Classic
Land of Lincoln
Lexington Selected
London Classic
Michiana Classic/Midwest Classic Mixed
Morrisville
Ohio Selected
Ontario Select
The Black Book (Harrisburg)
Winner’s Circle Speed Sale

More details on the Roadster series will be announced when available.

For more information about Roadsters and the American Road Horse & Pony Association, visit https://roadster.show/.

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.