from the SPHO-NJ

East Windsor, NJ — The Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey held their annual awards banquet on Sunday (Feb. 20) in the Windsor Ballroom at the Holiday Inn of East Windsor, N.J. More than 170 guests joined to celebrate the year end award winning Standardbreds and their handlers from 2010. The night was filled with numerous awards handed out to people from many states.

To mention a few:

Jeff Gregory presented the High Point New Jersey Exhibitor award to Marie-Eve Menosky and Luckyisasluckydoes.

High Point NJ Exhibitor Award: Marie-Eve Menosky and the war horse Luckyisasluckydoes ($910,845 earned on the racetrack); Reserve Champions — Suzanne D’Ambrose and her trotter Independent Act.

Outstanding Sportsmanship awards, sponsored by Mr. William B. Weaver: Jenny Melander and Bailey Horrigan.

High Point SRF Adoptee: Lisa Geer and Flight Deck Lex

Jersey Jubilee presented to Taylor Ferguson and her two grey geldings, Star Lantern and Styled N Misty.

The 2010 Ambassador Standardbred was too close to call for the judges that had voted on the submitted nominations, and it was a tie between Kelly Marshall and Treacherous Cat and Meme Higgins and King Of The West.

The National SPHO High Point Standardbred went to a mother/daughter team from Maine, Catherine Flaherty and Royas Romeo- Grand Champion and BJ’s Moons Shine and Jill Flaherty-Reserve Champion.

The SPHO-NJ is a non-profit organization that works to promote the Standardbred horse as a pleasure and show/sport horse and in its quest to do so, every year the club holds a National Standardbred Horse Show (for USTA registered horses only) at the Horsepark of N.J. Over 50 classes in various equestrian disciplines are showcased and exhibitors come from all over the US to show. The show offers prize money for top 4 and top 6 placings in every class, along with ribbons, prizes, treats and Championships in every division.

The 2010 show had around 60 Standardbreds showing, one of the largest specialty breed shows on the East Coast!

Vicki Wright photos

Drivers that attended were (left to right) Steve Smith, Yannick Gingras, Daniel Dube, George Brennan, Patrick Lachance, Stephane Bouchard, Jeff Gregory, Jacquie Ingrassia, Jim Marshall III and Eric Abbatiello.

One of the biggest missions of the SPHO-NJ is to give back to its members, thus the prize money at the National show as well as sponsoring other venues that offer Standardbred only divisions. This would not be possible without the outpouring of support from the harness racing industry. Horse showing is a pricey hobby and we want to encourage Standardbred owners to keep working with the re-training and make the Standardbred look as good in the show ring as any other equine breed.

The night was filled with amazing food, great company, a tremendous atmosphere, fabulous dancing, but most of all very generous support from the New Jersey racing community. The fundraising Chinese auction was loaded with gifts from the equine industry with veterinarian gift certificates, lessons, grooming buckets, exclusive perfumes, fine wine and cheeses etc., and all proceeds from the auction goes directly to the SPHO-NJ.

A few live auctions drew a lot of attention as a $500 gift Certificate from New Jersey equine veterinarian Barrey Danvers was bid lively on and sold to New Jersey trainer Bill Mackenzie for $700. Dr. Patty Hogan offered another $500 service credit to her own clinic and as she was watching from her seat, saw it sell for $2,500 to trainer Lou Pena.

A printed custom framed photo from professional photographer Vicky Wright was also auctioned out and while driver Yannick Gingras gave his best, the winning bidder was Dr. Patty Hogan with a $1,000 bid.

After all the auction items were auctioned out, the spirit of giving was still in the air and numerous verbal donations were echoing thoughout the ballroom. Standardbred owner and breeder Mr. Weaver, Yannick Gingras, George Brennan, Ed Lohmeyer, Tony Alagna, Lou Pena and Brian Folden all contributed with very generous donations.

The SPHO-NJ cannot express their gratitude enough to everyone that attended and supported their cause.