The road horses were 'going for the doctor' in record numbers during the 2012 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
In the OHHA Green Roadster Classic held on Saturday, November 3, Storm Trooper, owned by Lloyd Nugent and driven by daughter Carolyn Nugent of Napanee, Ont. received top honours by winning this prestigious class for the second year in a row.
S Js Stormtrooper a stylish eight-year-old S Js Photo gelding has found a second career. He obtained a mark of 1:56.4 as a six-year-old at Georgian Downs for trainer Robert MacKenzie before becoming a show horse.
The OHHA Green Roadster Classic is open to registered Standardbred trotters under the age of 5 or in their first or second year of showing. Since its inception 12 years ago, this class at the RAWF has greatly increased the class sizes and exhibitor participation both at the Royal and at the fall fairs in Ontario and Quebec as exhibitors work to prepare their horses for the Royal. It has also given many trotters that are either not fast enough to race or that are retired from racing, another career. The Canadian Road Horse Association would like to acknowledge the continued generosity of the Ontario Harness Horse Association for providing sponsorship support for this class since 2001.
S Js Storm Trooper also went on to win two other classes during The Royal against other more experienced horses with a win in the Road Horse to bike 15.2 and under class as well as being awarded the tri-colour for his win in the Speed and Action Road Horse to Bike Canadian Championship Stake sponsored by James McClocklin and Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA).
Yet another seasoned and successful former race horse took the top award in three classes during the Royal. Armbro Beau received top honours in the Road Horse to Wagon over 15.2 hands, the Road Horse to Bike over 15.2 hands as well as in the Single Road Horse to a Wagon Canadian Championship. Armbro Beau, owned and driven by Steve McLean of Guelph, Ontario is an 11-year-old Balanced Image gelding that has a race mark of 1:56. This championship class was generously sponsored by David Hamilton, SCA Tissue North America LLC.
(CRHA)