by Charlene Sharpe, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Lutherville-Timonium, MD — Standardbreds from throughout the Mid-Atlantic area attended the first-ever Standardbred Horse Show at the Maryland State Fair on Monday (Aug. 25).

The show, one of several breed-specific shows that will take place at this year’s Maryland State Fair, included in-hand, English, Western and driving classes for registered Standardbreds. The event, which was coordinated by Teresa Willabus, was made possible through support of the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association and the Maryland Standardbred Breeders Association.

Charlene Sharpe photo

Susie Rohrbach and Eyes The Prize after placing first in an English pleasure class.

“I am very impressed with all the horsemen and women who drove long distances and took time out of their busy schedules to make our first Maryland Standardbred Show at the state fair a success,” said Clarissa Coughlin of the Friends Of Maryland Standardbreds group. “The horses and riders did an amazing job showcasing the Standardbred.”

Horses shown included several currently racing Standardbreds, including notable trotters Sand Top Gun (ridden by Leigh Raymer) and Master Builder (ridden by Kylee Stolzfus), as well as pacer Wynnfield Spirit (ridden by Cate Nellans).

Trotter Rose Run Flash 1:55.1f ($471,885), who last raced in June, illustrated the breed’s versatility by bringing home ribbons in halter and under saddle for Kandace Moore, in driving for Charlie Roebuck, and in leadline with their 2-year-old daughter Kami.

Retired Standardbred Quantum Natasha, ridden by 8-year-old Grace Robinson in the youth division and Julia Jesu in the adult division, showed off her show skills by taking home 11 ribbons.

From New Jersey, Helene Gregory and Stephanie Jacobs took home more than a dozen ribbons with Shades Of Cara and Jambalayabar Man.

Other participating riders included Susie Rohrbach, Charlene Sharpe, Destiny Sheard and Shyanne Sheard.

Coughlin thanks all of the volunteers who made the event possible, including Cheri Collison and Gina Maybee, as well as judge Tom Smith and announcer Bob Shipley. The event is expected to return to the Maryland State Fair next year.