One Breed. All Heart.
Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey
The Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey (SPHO-NJ) is a non-profit organization 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 educate the equine community on the versatility and suitability of Standardbreds for careers after racing.
The SPHO-NJ hosts the National Standardbred Horse Show 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 is hosted in February.
Upcoming Events
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National Standardbred Horse Show
September 19-21, 2025
The Horse Park of New Jersey
Allentown, NJ -
SPHO-NJ Year-End Awards Banquet
February 15, 2026
Crystal Ballroom - The Radisson
Freehold, NJ
info@sphonj.org
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Board of Directors
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Destiny Sheard
President
732 570 2580
SheardDestiny@gmail.com -
Colleen Nolan-Tran
Vice President
410 913 2956
cnolan12393@gmail.comColleen became involved with Standardbreds after adopting her first horse, Determine This (“Cricket”), a 191-start racehorse who has gone on to excel in the dressage ring. Together, they’ve demonstrated the breed’s athleticism and versatility in sport horse disciplines.
With a focus on making Standardbred education accessible to all, Colleen has created a Standardbred retraining YouTube series, hosted dressage clinics, and promoted life after racing at major events like the Horse World Expo and Equine Affaire. She actively competes in dressage and is committed to providing resources and support for those seeking to understand and work with this often misunderstood breed.
Outside the horse world, Colleen works in the technology sector and brings her professional skill set to her role as Vice President on the SPHO-NJ Board of Directors.
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Taylor Benson
Marketing and Communications
732 407 5546
TaylorCFBenson@gmail.comTaylor has been a dedicated SPHO-NJ member since 2007, when she began showing her first Standardbred, Star Lantern—a seasoned war horse with 327 starts who became a standout in the show ring. In 2010, she was honored as New Jersey Equestrienne of the Year after representing SPHO-NJ.
Taylor now competes with her current Standardbred, Sparky, in all-around events. Originally from East Brunswick, NJ and now living in Lexington, KY, she has served on the SPHO-NJ Board of Directors since 2020. As Marketing and Communications Director, she combines her professional expertise with a deep passion for the breed to promote responsible aftercare and celebrate the versatility of off-track Standardbreds.
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Kelly Conn
Membership & Points
732 547 0954
Kelly.Marshall13@gmail.com'Kelly was born into the world of Standardbreds, with deep family roots in the sport on both sides. Her personal journey began in 2000 with her first horse, Treacherous Cat (TC), and her membership in the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey (SPHO-NJ), where she began actively promoting the breed beyond the track.
Since 2018, Kelly has served as SPHO-NJ’s Membership and Points Secretary, dedicating her time to supporting Standardbred versatility. TC, a longtime ambassador for the breed, now enjoys a well-earned retirement.
Kelly now competes with her unraced 2013 trotting-bred Standardbred, Xing the Delaware (“George”), and shares her passion for the breed with her daughter Lucy in Vermont. Whether in the ring or the community, she remains a committed advocate for the Standardbred and its future.
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Debra McCluskey
Secretary/Treasurer
609 203 6142
debralmccluskey@yahoo.comDebra is a lifelong Standardbred enthusiast with over 40 years of experience in the industry. She has raced across multiple states and in Canada, and has shown Standardbreds periodically—often in between her roles managing horse shows.
Today, Debra lives on a farm where she cares for a variety of animals, including her current Standardbred, Bill. Outside the barn, she handles finances for several organizations focused on agricultural education, combining her love of animals with her professional expertise.
Her deep knowledge of the breed and decades of hands-on experience make her a valued advocate for the versatility and aftercare of off-track Standardbreds.
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Helene Gregory
Sponsorship
609 439 7818
kickan@comcast.netHelene has been involved in harness racing her entire life. Born in Sweden to a family that owned trotters, she moved to the U.S. in 1997 and partnered with her husband Jeff, a driver/trainer, to run a successful stable focused on trotters.
Her involvement with SPHO-NJ began in 2003, when they retired a young trotter who wasn’t suited for racing. That horse sparked her passion for retraining and showing off-track Standardbreds. Since then, Helene has shown two OTT Standardbreds successfully, earning back-to-back Adequan/USDF All-Breed Awards with her now 23-year-old partner, JB.
A firm believer that Standardbreds are the best-kept secret in the equestrian world, Helene has competed in everything from dressage, driving, and jumpers to trail rides, fun shows, and hunter paces. Her favorite moments are quiet trail rides with JB and her two Rhodesian Ridgebacks.
Thank you to our sponsors:
The Ferguson Family, Hogan Equine Clinic, In Loving Memory of Tammy Carrow Munson, Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program, United States Trotting Association, Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey, American Harness Drivers Club, Lynn Pebole and Judith Weaver, The Meadowlands Racetrack, Arden Homestead Stable, Hunterton Farm Inc, Jarrett Kelley Hoofmaster, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption, Share A Horse, United States Harness drivers club, 7T Consulting LLC (Axcess Air), Brett Bittle, Brittany Farms, Cameo Hills Farm, Dreamland Farms, Dr. Jason Ginn, Gordon Freeman - Blairwood Farm, GRJ Partners LLC, Pacing for the Cure – The Gesek family, Joie De Vie Farm, Windsong Stable, Ray Schnittker, Regency Livestock, Stacy Chiodo, Standardbred Transition Alliance, Steve Finkelstein, Winbak Farm, Garden State Equine, Blairwood Farm, Colleen Nolan, Ed Lohmeyer, Eric Abbatiello, Fair Winds Farm, Gary Machiz, George Brennan, Gordon Summers, Green Bough Farm, The Hambletonian Society, Heather Wilder, Jacquie Ingrassia, Jeff Gregory Stable, Joe Faraldo, Julie & Andy Miller, Kelly Conn, Mario Zuanetti, Pat Lachance Stable, MMXX Standardbreds, Rapco Feed, SOA of NY, Stafford Racing, Tim Tetrick, Trond Smedshammer, Trot Trot Standardbreds, Amy and Calvin Hollar, Barbara Bongiorno, Chris Tully, Dan Dube, Ellen Spain, Elizabeth Caldwell, Golden Gro, Holly Sauter-Morgan, Jenny Melander, John Maieron, Kelvin Harrison, Kim Meyers, Mark Shullstrom, Michelle & Monte Gelrod, Nifty Norman, R D J Stable, Standardbred Retirement Foundation, Suzanne D'Ambrose, Tyler Buter, A&G Pharmaceuticals, Bill Bena, Lee V Brooks & Sally Flanagan, Carrie Perry, Katherine Hock Ricci, Shana Singleton
The SPHO-NJ is a partner of Big Dee's Bonus Bucks program. For every dollar you spend, the club earns 5% back, which is spent on member on prizes and awards from Big Dee’s. To associate your purchases with the SPHO Bonus Bucks account, either call or live-chat the Big Dee’s customer service team. You only have to do this once for all of your orders to count going forward.