Columbus, OH – Equine Affaire, the nation’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering, opens this Thursday (April 9) at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus and runs through Sunday (April 12). Over 20 Standardbreds will be on hand at the event, participating in various demonstrations, clinics and the Breed Bonanza show.
New for 2026 at Equine Affaire is the “Bred for Speed” area in the breed pavilion (Voinovich building). The USTA, Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, Ohio Standardbreds & Friends (OSAF), New Vocations Racehorse Adoption and the International Speed Horse Association will all have booths set up to meet and interact with Standardbred aficionados and those new to the breed as well. There will be a “Bred for Speed” demo ring adjacent to the booths, where speakers from various breed and organization groups will discuss speed topics. Standardbred related presentations include:
Harness Racing 101: Thursday @11am (Jessica Schroeder/USTA)
Transitioning Racehorses to a Second Career: Friday @12pm (Bridget Hollern/New Vocations)
Get Involved in Harness Racing: Friday @2pm (Jessica Schroeder/USTA & Rachel Leonard/Harness Horse Youth Foundation)
Breeding to Retirement: Full Circle Care of Standardbreds: Saturday @12pm (Jessica Schroeder/USTA & Bridget Hollern/New Vocations)The Eldorado Scioto Downs starting gate will also be in the breed pavilion so attendees can see the starting gate up close and sit inside it.
Sixteen Standardbred demonstrations will be held throughout the weekend, both in-hand and in various arenas, including:
Time Location Group
Thursday
12:45 Celeste (in-hand) OSAF
2:45 Voinovich New Vocations
2:45 Celeste OHHAFriday
10:45 Covered Arena OSAF
12:45 Celeste (in-hand) HHYF
4:30 Covered Arena USTA
4:45 Celeste (in-hand) New VocationsSaturday
11:00 Covered Arena OHHA
12:15 Covered Arena OSAF
2:45 Voinovich Cherokee Stables All-Standardbred Drill Team
4:30 Voinovich New VocationsSunday
10:45 Voinovich New Vocations
12:45 Voinovich Cherokee Stables All-Standardbred Drill Team
2:45 Voinovich OSAF
2:45 Coliseum Cherokee Stables All-Standardbred Drill TeamTwo Standardbreds will also be participating in the Breed Bonanza, an under-saddle rail class showcasing all three-gaits, on Sunday at 11:30am in the Coliseum. Emma Thornsberry will ride Golden Receiver, who is now 21-years-old and earned $2.2-million on the track. Twelve-year-old Brooklyn Malanowski will also compete with 13-year-old trotter Fantasy League, an earner of over $105,000 on the track.
The USTA booth will have two petting stalls this year, showcasing the followin,g horses:
Name, Year of Foal, Sire, Earnings, Lifetime Mark
Ardeen, 2014, Art Major, $152,464, 1:52.3
Champagne Shower, 2011, Santanna Blue Chip, $368,137, 1:52.1
Dapper Baron Two, 2009, Memphis Flash, $18,251, 1:57.6
Fantasy League, 2013, And Away We Go, $105,973, 1:54.2
Fire And Smoke, 2010, Western Ideal, $34,395, 1:56.4
Golden Receiver, 2005, Village Jove, $2,215,011, 1:48
Hadrian Rock, 2016, Pet Rock, $1,408, 1:59.4
I Want Another, 2012, Soaring Gold, Trottingbred
I’m Drinkin Doubles, 2011, Shadow Play, $100,557, 1:52
Just Like Lloyd, 2008, Like A Prayer, $,, 1:53.1
Little Harbor, 2012, Andover Hall, unraced
Milan Blu, 2018, Mr Wiggles, $55,450, 1:55.4
Moonlight-Fantasy, 2007, Nuclear Siren, unraced,
Nu Day For Mac, 2000, Armbro Mackintosh, $77,351, 1:54
Nyquist, 2014, Dejarmbro, $100,484, 1:56.2
Squirrely Dan, 2017, Custard The Dragon, $22,572, 1:55.1
Train Station, 2020, Roll With Joe, $137,560, 1:53
Warning Zone, 2005, Jate Lobell, $725,228, 1:48.3
To attend Equine Affaire, tickets can be purchased online or purchased at the gate; kids 6 & under are admitted for free. Parking at the Ohio Expo Center is $10. More information can be found online at www.EquineAffaire.com.