Madison, WI – Seven hundred horses were on display at Madison, Wisc.’s Midwest Horse Fair this past weekend. Ten retired Standardbreds, representing a collective $2.5 million in purses, showcased the versatility of the breed to the nearly 65,000 attendees April 17-19 at the Badger State’s Alliant Energy Center.
Among the horses were 2004 Little Brown Jug winner Timesareachanging (P, 1:48.4, $1,516,563), 56-time winner Splitsville (T, 1:53.1, $372,418), Derek Bromac N (P, 1:51.2, $265,864), and Fox Valley Sparty (P, 1:54, $44,625). Other horses included Darren, Audition, Scarlet Lite, Chris P Bacon, Atlas, and Chiricahua.
The Standardbred versatility included an endurance trail horse, a former barrel racer, an endurance driving horse, trail horses, pleasure and therapy horses, and even an import from New Zealand. All horses participated in two breed demonstrations over the weekend. The Standardbred aisle was alive with questions about racing, life after racing, and adoption.
In addition to the breed demonstration, 26-year-old Derek Bromac N, formerly of New Zealand, proudly entered the arena for the Grand March, the fair’s most prestigious display of over 40 breeds of horses. A crowd favorite, and 13-year attendee, Derek Bromac N was driven by his owner and former driver, Amber Sawyer. Wearing his signature pink harness, he turned plenty of heads as a cheering crowd sent him out of the arena in style at a full out free-legged pace.
Trotter Splitsville flaunted the beauty of the breed as the only Standardbred to engage in the Liberty Run in the fair’s 45-year history. With his owner Paul Sawyer at hand, his bridle was removed and the 17-year-old gelding took off at a full gallop with music blaring and the crowd on its feet.
Madison’s Midwest Horse Fair is the largest three-day horse festival in the country, drawing almost 700 horses, 40 breeds, 400 vendors, and nearly 65,000 horse enthusiasts.