by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 10, 2020
The Monmouth County Hunt welcomed Standardbreds from three states for a special day of foxhunting this month.
Standardbreds primarily are used for harness racing and driving, but like thoroughbreds, they can go on to different careers when their days at the track are over.
Many of the participants were first-time foxhunters eager to try their Standardbreds in the hunt field.
Standardbred riders line up with Huntsman Meg Valnoski, MFH and the Monmouth County Hunt Hounds. (Photo by C.M. Cancelli)
All of the horses participating proved to be well suited for foxhunting, displaying both patience and manners in the hunt field.
One such horse was the 19-year-old “HugMe Christi,” owned by Dr. Karyn Malinowski of the Rutgers Equine Science Center and hunted by trainer Wendy Hale.
Hugme Christi, a war horse with 258 races on her record before she retired at age 12, won more than $120,000. She was a two-time Amateur Driver’s horse winner in the Amateur Final at the Meadowlands Racetrack with Karyn in the sulky.
Karyn Malinowski, who drove Hugme Christi to records, with rider Wendy Hale. (Photo by C.M. Cancelli)
Hugme Christi broke the American Harness Driving Club’s record when she produced a record time on June 2, 2005 in the amateur final. The record stood for more than a decade. She has fox hunted and hunter paced with the Monmouth County Hunt many times, and may enter a show or two soon.
Sam Landy of Congress Hill Farm in Monroe hunts his retired Standardbreds. He is a breeder and owner of Standardbreds, and is now a retired trainer and driver.
“As a breeder of New Jersey Standardbreds, I want to thank the masters of the Monmouth County Hunt for managing and maintaining a great club that provides an opportunity to ride Standardbreds. Standardbreds’ temperament and athleticism make them ideally suited for the hunt field when their racing careers are over. The Monmouth County Hunt provides a great venue to ride these horses for 10 or more years after their race career is over.
The Monmouth County Hunt in Upper Freehold Township is near many Standardbred breeding farms and training centers, as well as several racetracks. Over the years, the hunt has had several members riding retired Standardbred racehorses with great success. The current membership includes standardbred owners, drivers and trainers.
The Standardbred field met hounds and huntsman Meg Valnoski, MFH at the MCH kennels. Doug Raynor MFH led the first flight and Laura Scott led the hilltoppers at a slower pace.
Following the day’s hunting, a traditional hunt breakfast was hosted by hunt members. For more information on the Monmouth County Hunt go to www.monmouthcountyhunt.com
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 31, 2020
Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, an amateur rider who brings her young horses along to Grand Prix level, has been selected to participate in the Kundrun U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Dressage Development Program.
She is among 21 riders perceived to have the ability to make or contribute to podium-quality scores, who will receive strategic guidance and resources.
U.S. Dressage Development Coach Charlotte Bredahl oversees the program with the support of the U.S. Dressage Program coaching staff, including Technical Advisor Debbie McDonald, Dressage Youth Coach, George Williams and Young Horse Coach Christine Traurig.
The program is supported by Fritz and Claudine Kundrun. Their horse Rosevelt, ridden by Allison Brock, was part of the bronze medal team at the 2016 Olympics.
Alice, the only Jerseyan on the list, was selected with Candescent, her 10-year-old Hanoverian mare, and Harvest, her eight-year-old Dutch warmblood stallion. Just three other riders were chosen with two horses.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 30, 2020
Show jumper Jennifer Gates, daughter of Bill and Melinda Gates, is engaged to American-born Nayel Nassar, who rides for Egypt, the homeland of his parents. Both are Stanford University graduates.
“I’m feeling like the luckiest (and happiest) man in the world right about now,” Nayel, 28, wrote on social media.
“Jenn, you are everything I could have possibly imagined..and so much more. I can’t wait to keep growing together through this journey called life, and I simply can’t imagine mine without you anymore. Love you more than you can possibly imagine, and thank you for making every single day feel like a dream to me. Here’s to forever!”
For her part, his 23-year-old fiancee said on her social media, “Nayel Nassar, you are one of a kind. explaining, he, “absolutely swept me off my feet.. I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives learning, growing, laughing and loving together. Yes a million times over.”
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by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 30, 2020
The Longines Masters of Hong Kong show jumping tournament, set for Feb. 14-16, has been cancelled as a precaution following recent developments in the 2019-nCoV coronavirus outbreak.
“With more than 35,000 people expected from Hong Kong, Asia and around the world, the safety of our audience, athletes, visitors, exhibitors, service providers, internal teams, as well as that of the horses taking part in the events of the Longines Masters Series, is an absolute priority,” said Christophe Ameeuw, founder and president of EEM, which presents the show.
Riders involved will be contacted individually by EEM and ticket holders in will be reimbursed.
Meanwhile, German Olympic Sports Confederation President Alfons Hörmann has described the coronavirus as the “greatest threat” to the this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
Though the Games don’t start until July, it’s wreaking a bit of havoc at the moment, as itI has meant a number of sporting events had to be moved from China.
As Hörmann noted, “This is a serious problem because there is no other area in life that lives more from international exchange than sport.”
He mentioned, however, that there had been a similar situation before the Rio 2016 Games with the spread of zika, but that got solved.
The Japanese government this week confirmed the first case of coronavirus in that country, a bus driver who drove two groups of Chinese tourists from Wuhan last month. Now six more people in Japan have been affected.
Next month’s Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, scheduled for Hangzhou, has been moved out of China.
The International Basketball Association announced its Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Tokyo 2020 is to be moved from Foshan, China to Belgrade, Serbia, while the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020 Asian Qualifiers Final Round – Group B has been moved out of China to Sydney, Australia. Chinese ice hockey clubs from the Supreme Hockey League have been told to play their home games in Russia due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
The World Athletics Indoor Championships slated for Nanjing, China in March has been postponed to 2021..
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 29, 2020
The 123-acre Lana Lobell farm in Bedminster, once a nationally known standardbred breeding facility where four Hambeltonian winners were foaled, is going up for auction Jan. 11 in the freeholders’ meeting room at the Somerset County Administration Building in Somerville.
Although housing and a golf course were proposed for the property in the past, it cannot be developed, since it was preserved for agricultural use through a joint effort of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation on behalf of Bedminster Township, the state Agriculture Development Committee and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The previous owner filed for bankruptcy in 1997 and over the years, it was used as a boarding stable. Bank of America foreclosed on the property last year, precipitating the auction.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 27, 2020
The Tewksbury barn tour, held every other year, is coming back on July 26 under the sponsorship of the Tewksbury Trails Association and the Tewksbury Historical Society.
It’s always fun to get an inside look at interesting barns around the township. No details yet about what barns will be featured, but keep checking at www.tta-nj.org and www.tewksburyhistory.net.
