Columbus, OH — The final for the USTA Roadster Off-Track Series will be held Thursday evening (Oct. 3) at the Smoky Mountain Equine Fest held at the Walters State Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center in White Pine, Tenn. The show starts at 6 p.m. with the USTA Roadster Off-Track Series Final as class number 21 through the ring.
The 2024 show season was the inaugural year for the USTA Roadster Off-Track Series, which was created to encourage the Roadster discipline as a viable second career opportunity for Standardbreds bred for racing purposes.
There were multiple legs leading up to the final and leg winners include:
Registered Name (Show Name) — YOF — Earnings — Lifetime Mark
B Hopethree (Mr B) — 2016 — $2,700
Bubbles N Suds — 2017 — $19,570 — 1:58
Gabe The Bear Dean — 2012 — $304,590 — 1:56.1
Major Homer (Rollin’ Coal) — 2011 — $176,882 — 1:50
Overandovervictory — 2009 — $389,415 — 1:53.4
Ulf Hanover (HeDaresTheDevil) — 2013 — $191,746 — 1:54.4
All finalists in the Thursday night class will be given a leather halter; the winner will receive a trophy and Bowman BioThane Fine Show Harness from the USTA. Trotter-Standardbred Roadster Foundation, a 501(c)3 based in South Carolina, will present winner checks to the top five placings, paid out as follows:
1st – $2,500
2nd – $1,000
3rd – $750
4th – $500
5th – 250
The 2024 shows that wrote legs of the USTA Roadster Off-Track Series were:
UPHA Spring Premiere
Asheville Saddlebred Classic
Greater Boston Charity
American Road Horse & Pony Show
Brown County Charity Show
Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show
Bourbon County
Indy Charity
Syracuse International
All American Horse Show
NC State Championships
National Standardbred Show
ASHAV
Horses had to be nominated to be eligible to the series. Plans are already underway for the 2025 season and feedback from participants, and potential future participants, is appreciated and encouraged and can be directed to Jessica Schroeder at jessica.schroeder@ustrotting.com or 614.224.2291, ext. 3212.
More information about Standardbred Roadster classes sponsored by the USTA is available here.
More information about Trotter – Standardbred Roadster Foundation can be found on their website.
For more information about Roadsters, rules and regulations, visit the American Road Horse & Pony Association 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.