Stars of the New Jersey horse industry were celebrated Jan. 28 at the Equine Advisory Board Breeders’ Luncheon in Eastampton Township wherei Maggi Romano was named Horseperson of the Year.
Maggi is no stranger to well-deserved recognition; her contributions to the industry have been honored for years.
She served two years as president and one year as show manager of the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey and worked diligently as a board member of the New Jersey Horse Council, currently serving as its delegate to the American Horse Council. She was both vice chairman and chairman of the New Jersey Equine Advisory Board.
The Clarksburg resident is married to Anthony Romano, a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.
Other honors presented included Standardbred of the Year, Ariana G, owned by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, and Thoroughbred of the Year, Irish War Cry, owned by Isabelle de Tomaso. Fairwinds Farm was the Breeder of the Year.
Lather Rinse Repeat received the Standardbred Pleasure Award for superior achievement, and the pinto, A Classic Romance, got a superior title as well. Madeline Crisp is the Equestrian of the Year, while Chloe Baker received the Ernest Bell Scholarship Award and Brittany Smith took the Agricultural Achievement Award. Bridget Favjan received the Sara Dubnin Scholarship.Nancy Murray was recognized for the Horse Park of New Jersey Volunteer award.