OTTBs and their Thoroughbred-cross cousins’ shine in the first annual North East Thoroughbred Sporthorse Association, (NETSA), horse show held October 7, 2012 on the grounds of Saddle Rowe in Medway, MA and the only show of its kind in all of the North East for 2012. Affiliated with the Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program, (JC TIP), which offers year end high score and cash awards, prizes and ribbons for sanctioned classes for OTTBs, in this the inaugural JC TIP year. Offering a unique blend of Hunter, Equitation, Pleasure, and Dressage classes, the show proved to be a great venue to showcase the multiple talents of the off-track thoroughbred horse.

Without exception exhibitors praised the show, judges, management, the outstanding prizes and all vowed to return October 13, 2013 for next year’s show.  General consensus is the show was a huge success and brought together Thoroughbred enthusiasts from as far away as Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The classes were well attended and offered great prizes, cash awards, coolers from Dover andOTTB designs, digital subscriptions from Chronicle of the Horse, beautiful ribbons, plus trophies for the dressage classes. Over 60 horses and riders competed in New England’s first ever all Thoroughbred and Thoroughbred-cross horse show.

New England Stallion Station of Fitchburg, MA donated a lovely dark bay, 4 year old gelding that was given a new home by a drawing held at the horse show and interested persons were invited to submit an application.  “Konohashair” went home with 13 yr. old Maddie Szurley of Lincoln, RI saying “Kono will be boarded in RI with plenty of grass turnout & large stalls. Her mother, Marcie added, “I am the Mom of a dedicated horse rider and very involved in her horse career”.

 A four member panel at the NETSA show, after review of the applications submitted made the final decision. 

First class of the morning was the Jockey Club TIP Thoroughbred Hunter In-Hand with 14 beautifully turned out Thoroughbred competitors. Hunter Judge Fred Hunt did an excellent job of sorting them out and congratulations go to the winner Irish Town, and owner/rider Jill Weinstein who said he was sired by “Cryptoclearance” out of ” Pleasant Sue “ and won about 50k .

The pair then went on to produce a clean sweep of the JC TIP Beginner Thoroughbred Hunter division winning all three classes and the division championship, receiving a beautiful OTTB logo cooler sponsored by Kingsbury Hill Farm of Francestown, NH!

Reserve in the division went to Tango and Jessica Mahoney who also won Champion of the Open Registered and Half Thoroughbred Hunter Division.

Another pair, “Noted” owned by Patricia Nesto and ridden by Alexa  Riccio won Champion of both the JC TIP Low Hunter and the Open Pleasure Horse Divisions and Reserve Champion of the Open Hunter Division. “Noted”s owner said “Her JC name is Haunting Memory and she had over 30 starts, including several wins at Suffolk Downs! It was so nice to have a place to show what great horses these TB’s really are.”

Champion of the JC TIP pleasure Hunter division was awarded to Alfonse and Nora Hall and reserve to News Affair and Frederick von Bachelle.

Suffolk Downs Racetrack of East Boston was the title sponsor for the two-round, $500 Suffolk Downs Grand Hunter Classic. Congratulations again go to Noted, ridden by FiFi Schmidt winning the $200 cash prize, beautiful cooler sponsored by Dover Saddlery, and a Jockey Club TIP saddle pad.
 Reserve in the class was awarded to Cowboy Casanova and Carly Fisher.

Champion of the ½ Thoroughbred Hunter Pleasure Division was awarded to AA Diamond Statement with Becca GT and Reserve to Well Decorated and Pamela Bolek.

US Olympian Dottie Morkis judged the dressage classes, USDF Intro Level Test A and USEF Training Level 1, offered for both JC TIP OTTBs and ½ Tbds.  

Besting a field of 13 Thoroughbreds to win Test A, congratulations goes to Sleepy Hollow and Kendra Hillier and winner of Training Level Test 1 was Matachine and Sacha Hoffman.

Winning the Test A for ½ Thoroughbreds, congratulations to Major Distraction and Anne Ross-Raymond and the blue ribbon for Training Level 1 went Well Decorated and Pamela Bolek.  A beautiful bronze trophy, donated by Paramount Industries and Amy Fletcher, was awarded to the winner of each class.

Visit www.NorthEastThoroughbred.com and follow NETSA on Facebook for all the results!