Columbus, OH – The World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Ky., is one of the most well-known Saddlebred shows in the world. Roadster classes are held during many Saddlebred shows, and while the Roadster division is open to all breeds, it has historically been a Standardbred preferred class. In addition to all the Roadster classes offered, the 2025 World’s Championship Horse Show held two high profile events just for Standardbreds this week – the USTA Roadster Classic and the Standardbred Roadster 100.
The Standardbred Roadster 100, sponsored by The Standardbred Journal, was held Tuesday (Aug. 19) with Seeyaahgottago and Debbie Foley taking first place in the $100,000 class. A 7-year-old gelding by Muscle Massive out of the Lear Jetta mare Abettajetta, Seeyaahgottago was unsuccessful at the racetrack, but has more than proven himself in the show ring. As a 3-year-old in 2021, he had three qualifiers and one start at Dover and Harrington. In 2023, he was purchased by Anthony Miller of Dundee, Ohio, and has been under the watchful tutelage of trainer/driver Debbie Foley, who is based in Louisville at her Silver Brook Stables.
Foley is no stranger to the Standardbred Roadster 100 class. The 2025 edition was just the fourth annual class, and she has won three of them. She took the inaugural class in 2022 with Happy Trails Sonny and has now back-to-back wins with Seeyaahgottago. For the first three years, the Standardbred Roadster 100 was held in November at the American Royal in Kansas City. The USTA was on hand for the first edition and coverage of the event can be found here on the USTrotting YouTube page.
The $50,000 USTA Roadster Classic Final was held Thursday (Aug. 21) with Kennebago (show name Stars and Stripes) taking the victory lap with driver Jon Walker. By E L Titan out of the Andover Hall mare First Class Act, Kennebago earned $149,951 while taking a lifetime mark of 1:56.3 as a 3-year-old before embarking on his Roadster show career. Owned by Doug Greenwood of Florida and trained out of the Jon Walker barn of North Carolina, Kennebago has been racking up points for the Standardbred Incentive Program while also winning events at the Blue Ridge Classic, Pro-Am Benefit Classic, Raleigh Spring Premier and the Asheville Saddlebred Classic this year.
Thursday evening was an exceptionally big night as Jon Walker was also inducted into the American Road Horse & Pony Association Hall of Fame for all his accomplishments in the industry.
Other notable Standardbred winners for the week at the World’s Championship Horse Show include:
Roadster to Bike Stallion/Gelding – Iron Throne (show name Deliverance), who won the USTA Roadster Classic in 2024
Devious Man – Myolin – Muscles Yankee
Driven by Larry Hodge
Roadster to Bike Mare – Full Of Dreams
Dream Rocker – Momster – Full Count
Amateur Gentlemen’s Roadster to Bike (elim 1) – Happy Trails Sonny
Son Of Grace – G G Dandy – Orbel G.G.
Driven/owned by (Charles) Ashley White/Twin Ash Equine
Amateur Gentlemen’s Roadster to Bike (elim 2) – Neely Trainer (show name Hawker 850)
Neely Dunn – Personal Trainer – Muscles Yankee
Driven/owned by Scott Hagan/Hagan Saddlebreds
Amateur Ladies Roadster to Bike (elim 1) – Marion Malibu (show name Rumpspringa)
SJ’s Caviar – Praktickle – Prakas
Driven by Tabitha Zimmerman
Ladies Roadster to Bike Lima Duke (Genesis)
Angus Hall – Divine Rhythm – Donerail
Driven/owned by Susan Swope
The World’s Championship Horse Show is a week-long event during August at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville. The show concludes on Saturday (Aug. 23), with many more classes that will have Standardbreds, including:
Ladies Championship – Friday morning
Amateur Ladies Championship – Friday night
Amateur Gentleman’s Championship – Friday night
Roadster to Wagon Championship – Saturday night
Roadster to Bike Championship – Saturday night
More information about the World’s Championship Horse Show can be found on its website.
For more information about getting involved with Roadsters as a discipline, visit the American Road Horse and Pony website.
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.