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Three days of competition
What runs when
New for 2026
A restructured New Jersey Bred Division
Pictured: the 2025 New Jersey Bred Champion
Jersey Bred classes now run concurrently with their parent classes instead of standing alone, so eligible horses compete at their own level and earn points toward the division championship across every eligible class.
One breed, all heart
Moments from the show
Creek Dreams Photography
Official photographer of the National Standardbred Horse Show presented by Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program · images by Renee Casavant · All rights reserved
Show begins Friday, September 18
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8:00 AM start each day
Official Show Schedule
Classes run in the order listed and will not be held for absent exhibitors. Class numbers show the day and the running order: the first digit is the day (1 Friday, 2 Saturday, 3 Sunday) and the last two digits are the order the class runs that day, arena by arena.
New Jersey Bred eligible
★ Double judged
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Divisions & Classes
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New Jersey Bred eligible
★ Double judged
AWARD COOLER Class winner receives an award cooler
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Entries close Saturday, September 12
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Entries, Fees & Stabling
All horses must be pre-entered by {{ m.deadlineLabel }}. Entries received after this date will incur a late fee per class.
Rules & Eligibility
Every exhibitor is responsible for knowing these rules. Three are new for 2026 — gait declaration, gymkhana cross-entry, and combined classes.
Show Rules
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Eligibility Clarification
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New Jersey Bred Division
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Code of Conduct
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Vendors
Shop these vendors on the grounds all three days of the show.
Vendor list coming soon — check back closer to the show.
Vendors are invited to participate in the 2026 National Standardbred Horse Show at no charge. Proof of insurance is required.
Email info@sphonj.org to reserve your spot and provide your proof of insurance.
Adoptable Horses
The National Show will have in hand and 2 gait adoptable horse classes on Sunday. All adoptable horses will be stabled together in a prominent location to maximize visibility to potential adopters. Come watch the adoptable classes on Sunday or stop by the adoptable horse stabling anytime!
To list your adoptable horse, please email info@sphonj.org.
No horses listed for adoption right now — check back soon.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
This show runs on the generosity of the Standardbred community. Every division, class and championship below is supported by someone who believes in these horses.
Presenting Sponsor
A 501(c)(3) organization created to ensure that retired Standardbred horses find a second career — based on a 105-acre farm in Oxford, New York, and accredited by the Standardbred Transition Alliance.
Premier Division Sponsors
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Sponsorships are still available
Divisions, classes, championship coolers and program ads — every level supports the horses and the exhibitors who love them.
In Loving Memory
Remembering our friends
EMMA & CHRIS YOUNG
Emma 1948–2025 · Chris 1944–2026
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Gifts made in memory
Laura Young · Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey · Christine Cone · Amy Butewicz · Fair Winds Farm · Sigrid Johnson
BOB FERGUSON
1938–2025
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GARY GREGORY
1944–2025
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Gifts made in memory
George Brennan · Joe Faraldo · Dominick Rosato · Carrie Horton · Marie Lauer
WILLIAM “KENNY” WOOD
1943–2026
William “Kenny” Wood, pictured with J L Cruze, is remembered by the Standardbred community with gratitude and affection. His friends and family have made gifts in his memory to the 2026 National Standardbred Horse Show.
Gifts made in memory
Brenton Reality Group · Dolly Callahan · Julie Darling · Kimberly Deiter · Eric Ell Stable · Marie Freeman · Lori Frisbie · Theresa Hudson · Jayne Lister · PaceAway Lane Farm — Tom & Betsy Leager · Jennifer Tietbohl
GINA GHENT
1968–2026
Gifts made in memory
Dreamland Farms
INDEPENDENT ACT — “INDY”
2001–2025 · Beloved partner to Suzanne D’Ambrose
I did not expect to adopt Indy since I had another Standardbred at the time. During his racing days, Leah Posner rode him under saddle. His racing career ended at age 6. When he was 7, I rode him around the Posnerosa and knew I wanted him. My current Standardbred was a senior 25-year-old.
Indy’s sire is Conway Hall, a trotter known to have kind and brave foals. Indy had that trait. Nothing phased him. Nothing. We both loved trotting fast and did so through the trails and hunter paces. Most of our showing was at open horse shows with my Quarter Horse friends: Halter, Western Showmanship, and Trail/Obstacle classes. At the National Standardbred Shows, we excelled in the trot-only speed classes. We did meet our goal of Grand Champion one year in that division. Sawyer Baker, who is now 16, showed Indy for a few years as a youngster in Leadline and even walked under-saddle in the speed classes. They did the patterns perfectly.
At our horse farm, where I boarded him, a few 4-H girls rode him on the trails for fun. Indy taught the 4-H club how to line drive, braid a mane, and how to massage a horse. They were all highlighted in an issue of Youth Beats in 2025.
Parades were our favorite, and at most we were honorary color guard. We were color guard at every Open Space Pace parade in Freehold. Indy and his best friend “Ozzy” we also at a Breeders Crown with marshaling duties.
We earned many SPHONJ awards each year. One year we earned the highest award: Overall High Point Standardbred. We were not totally into showing….. it was trail riding, hunter paces, and demos as our favorite. At 22, he was slowing down. Arthritis was giving him joint pain. I retired him then, and we spent time walking around taking in nature. I miss my boy and one day we will be together again. — Suzanne D’Ambrose
In his honor
Suzanne D’Ambrose is sponsoring gift bags for all entrants in Class 331 — Leadline Walk Only.
DON DINERO
Beloved partner to Jenny & Lily
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Gifts made in memory
Lily Kirin
About the Show
The National Standardbred Horse Show presented by Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program is organized by the {{ m.organizer }} — a volunteer organization dedicated to proving that a Standardbred can do anything.
Held each September at the Horse Park of New Jersey, the show brings together Standardbreds and their people from across the region for three days of dressage, driving, hunters, jumpers, western, gymkhana, in-hand and trail competition — from first-year Rookie horses to seasoned campaigners, from leadline riders to open champions.
Whether your horse just came off the track or has been showing for years, there is a division here built for exactly where you are.
About SPHO-NJ
The Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey (SPHO-NJ) was founded to promote the Standardbred in pleasure and competitive riding and driving by exposing the public to their performances through competition and expo events. Our mission is to educate the equine community on the versatility and suitability of Standardbreds for careers after racing.
The SPHO-NJ hosts the National Standardbred Horse Show presented by Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program, held annually in the fall at the Horse Park of New Jersey.
A member-based organization, the SPHO-NJ offers annual memberships for individuals, families, and businesses. Members may nominate for the year-end awards program. Celebrating our members and their horses who have worked to promote the breed in sport and recreation, each season’s hard work culminates in an awards banquet hosted in February.
Visit SPHONJ.org
Judges
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Show Staff
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SPHO-NJ Board of Directors
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