Millionaire pacers and trotters shine off the track

Allentown, N.J….Sept. 20, 2026…The National Standardbred Horse Show, conducted at the Horse Park in New Jersey, has attracted 124 entries this year with the versatility of the breed highlighted in some 1,400 classes.

Several standardbred “millionaires” were among the entrants and champions this semester, including former World Champion Homicide Hunter, J L Cruze, Sevruga, Mariner Seelster and Lettucerockthem A.

The gelding Homicide Hunter (Mr. Cantab), who established his world record of 1:48.4 in 2018 as a six-year-old, returned to the winners circle as a 14-year-old this year during this show and competed in several different classes, including English Pleasure, hunter under saddle, Western pleasure and War Horse in Hand.

In the aptly named latter event, Homicide Hunter was be in competition with J L Cruze (Crazed), a recent retiree from the wars of competitive racing at the end of last season with $2 million in bounty and the first horse to trot a sub-1:50 mile tab The Meadowlands. This “war horse” made 273 starts in his career, winning 75 times.

Sevruga (SJ’s Caviar) earned $1.2 million during a career in which he reached the winner’s circle 39 times and established himself as one of the most resilient horses of our time. In 2015, he claimed the world record for winning a 1 1/2 mile race in 3:00 over Freehold Raceway’s half mile oval as a seven-year-old in 2008.

Mariner Seelster (Camluck) is one of the pacing elite joining the. War Horse in Hand class on the strength of his 75 wins in 443 trips to the starting gate, just edging over the million dollar plateau in earnings as a 15-year-old competing in amateur events at The Meadowlands in 2024.

Lettucerockthem A (Art Major) spent the first half of his racing career in Australia before coming to the United States and vaulting over the $1 million earnings plateau on the strength of 49 wins. His versatility is unquestionable as the 16-year-old will compete in several classes.

The Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program is the headline sponsor for this years National Standardbred Horse Show while premier sponsors include Congress Hill Farm, the SBOANJ, Triple Crown, The Meadowlands, US Trotting Association, Acrisure, The Hambletonian Society and Hanover Shoe Farms.

Division Sponsors include the American Harness Drivers Club and the United States Harness Drivers Club.

In a recent interview, Director Helene Gregory lamented, “Our show began in 1994 as a one-day event and we had , maybe, 15 people and a handful of horses.

“It has grown immensely over the years as show that horses can have a second career in many ways.

“As show horses, they prove their versatility…and many are used as therapeutic horses helping children and adults of any age.

“They are just a superior breed and we are pleased to be able to showcase their many talents in this show!”

 

by John Berry for the National Standardbred Horse Show