Columbus, OH — Ohio Standardbreds and Friends, in conjunction with New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, will once again exhibit the versatility of the Standardbred at Equine Affaire, participating in demonstrations and clinics at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, April 11-13.
This year the lineup will consist of 15 pacers and trotters, many of them warhorses, with 1,500 combined racing starts in the US and Canada, more than 200 wins and $3.3 million in earnings.
Luminosity, known as “Lumie,” raced for 10 years, the latter part of his career with the Burke Racing Stable, and was gifted to his owner/rider, Gracie Bush, by Ron Burke after his retirement. The 15-year-old son of Cash Hall accumulated $889,372 in 225 starts during his racing career, often competing against — and beating — the best trotters in the industry. Since their partnership began, Gracie and Luminosity have represented the Standardbred at major events and have consistently won ribbons at open shows in English pleasure, equitation, dressage, and others, impressing judges with his calm demeanor and willingness to try new things. Lumie was also the winner of the 2023 Standardbred Incentive Program for “Fresh Off the Track.”
Smothastenesewisky, known as “Snips,” is currently racing on the Ohio circuit for the Haynes Racing Stable. A 7-year-old mare by Nob Hill High, she has 161 starts, with 41 wins, earning more than $650,000, including wins in multiple Ohio Sire Stakes and top finishes in prestigious races like the Jugette in Delaware, Ohio. She is a “once in a lifetime” mare with a charismatic personality — and wild ways. Snips will be shown by her owners, Brian and Mackenzie Haynes, in her racing harness to a jog cart.
In his racing days, Framed Art was a force on the New York Sire Stakes circuit with 117 starts and earnings of $533,128. Now, the 15-year-old Artiscape stallion known as “Artie,” enjoys the show ring, demonstrating his skill in hunt seat and dressage. Artie has competed in many shows with his rider, Makenzie Gulick, winning the war horse class at the National Standardbred show and attaining numerous placings in other shows, including all breed opens shows, in halter, English pleasure and equitation. Outside of the ring, he loves to trail ride and has even been used as an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) mount in dressage. Artie and Makenzie will showcase classical dressage.
Speaking Out, a 13-year-old gelding by Bettor’s Delight, is recently retired after a 10-year racing career, in which he won close to $275,000 in 278 starts. “Ace” will represent the breed in his racing harness hitched to a race bike, by his owner/trainer and oftentimes driver, Amy Wengerd, who drove Speaking Out in the Ohio Ladies Driving Series.
Ardeen, better known as “Ardi,” will demonstrate trail. Ardeen is an 11-year-old gelding by Art Major with earnings of $152,464 who retired from racing in 2023. He just started his show career last fall with placings in walk/trot flat classes and cross rails. He and his owner/rider, Jamie Rae Krew, love to trail ride and have logged more than 200 miles in Ohio and surrounding states in the past year.
Im Drinkin Doubles is a 14-year-old Shadow Play gelding, who raced in the US and Canada, making $100,557 in 79 starts.
Dreaming Dragon, who last raced in August 2024, is a 9-year-old son of Dragon Again. Although he earned $128,419 in 181 starts, Dreaming Dragon is eager to begin his new show career after his recent adoption from New Vocations. He will be shown in English by rider Kenzie Hatfield.
Nyquist is an 11-year-old gelding by Dejarmbro who raced for five years in Ohio with earnings of more than $100,000. Nyquist and his rider/owner, Sierra Wise, have competed in several shows and will display English. Nyquist is a barn favorite, often called the “class clown,” who brings laughter and good vibes everywhere he goes.
Fire And Smoke, known as “Bic,” is a 15-year-old Western Ideal gelding. Bic’s versatility and presence make him a standout both in and out of the arena. At 16.3 hands, with a warmblood-like build, he turns heads with his elegant movement and powerful frame. His natural talent shines in multiple disciplines, from dressage to western events, and his adaptability makes him an exceptional all-around horse. Despite being pacing-bred, Bic has developed a balanced and expressive trot that garners attention in the show ring. His willingness to learn and work through challenges — whether refining lateral movements, adjusting to contact, or mastering canter transitions — demonstrates his athleticism and trainability. His calm, confident demeanor also makes him an ideal ambassador for the Standardbred breed, excelling in high-energy environments like Equine Affaire. Alyna Jordan, Bic’s owner, will show him in ranch.
Squirrely Dan is an 8-year-old son of Custard The Dragon who made 55 starts in Canada, earning him $22,572. After losing his long-time mount in 2024, owner Chris Glover began a search for a new riding partner. That search involved looking at almost 100 horses before finding Squirrely Dan, who quickly became The Marshall. In their first season showing, they won the Gaited Horse Division (even after missing the first show in the series) and took home the title of Open Halter Reserve Champion. They are looking forward to defending their championship this year and to spending hours on the trail. Chris and The Marshall will showcase the gaited Standardbred.
Beware Of R Party was lightly raced but has proven that he was destined for a very successful showing career instead, with 10 World Championship titles and three National Championships, multiple high point and year-end awards, and hundreds of blue ribbons. Although “Party” excels in dressage, he and his rider, Haleigh Kruse, have also shown saddle seat, Western, halter, and showmanship and have participated in many 4-H events on both a local and state level. Party will be ridden in English and will lead each Ohio Standardbreds and Friends demonstration proudly carrying the American flag.
Allamerican Legacy is the patriarch of the group and owned by Debbie Schiff, the founder of Ohio Standardbreds and Friends. Although “Al,” a 21-year-old son of Dragon Again never raced, he has amassed numerous awards in the show ring in Ohio, Kentucky, New Jersey and Canada, winning many National and World Championships, including National Halter Championship in New Jersey, five-time World Champion in halter and most recently Halter Champion in 2024 in a six-show series. Al has also competed — and won — in many disciplines, including Western dressage, classical dressage, Western and English, and driving. Al will be shown in classical dressage with his rider Addison Stevens.
Ryter’s Bang, also unraced, is a son of Warm Breeze and is the epitome of the breed’s versatility. Bang has been shown successfully in Western, hunt seat, trail (both in-hand and ridden), costume, side saddle, lead line (often to children were had never ridden a horse) and pleasure driving. He and his rider/driver, Teresa Cantrell, have participated in multiple parades, including the Lebanon Horse Drawn Carriage Parade in Lebanon, Ohio. Bang will be shown side saddle.
Little Harbor is a 13-year-old daughter of Andover Hall. Although she never made it to the starting gate, “Rina” has proven that Standardbreds can do anything — competing in trail, hunt seat, driven dressage, contesting, and pleasure driving — even winning a high-point gaited horse award in her 4-H showing days. Rina will demonstrate pleasure driving in a jog cart by her owner/driver, Paige Kopiec.
Timmy is a 9-year-old son of Art Official. The unraced gelding and his rider, Kelsi Lohr, have been working together for two years and showing successfully the past year in English pleasure, Western pleasure, halter and showmanship. Timmy and Kelsi will demonstrate Western.
Ohio Standardbreds and Friends breed demonstrations will be held throughout the weekend in various locations:
Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Rod’s Arena
Saturday at 2:15 p.m. in the Voinovich Arena
Sunday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Coliseum
Sunday at 12:45 p.m. in the Voinovich Arena
Sunday at 2:45 p.m. in Rod’s Arena
Ohio Standardbreds and Friends, whose mission is to promote the breed during and after their racing careers, is excited for this opportunity to once again exhibit the versatility and attitude of the Standardbred and their willingness to do whatever is asked of them, whether it be show, pleasure, trail riding, or any other discipline.
For more information about upcoming events, including a show series this summer at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds in Lancaster, Ohio and additional breed demonstrations at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., visit the Ohio Standardbreds and Friends Facebook page or stop by the group’s booth in the Voinovich Breed Pavilion each day of Equine Affaire.