Aylesbury Lodge Performance Horses

The orgin of the current Standardbred stems from the bloodlines of Hambletonian (born 1849), a thrice in-bred great grandson of Messenger. Not blessed with looks Hambletonian was sold to William Rysdyk for $125 and went on to great success, making William a very wealthy man. Almost 99% of todays Standardbreds can be traced back to Hambletonian.

(Hambletonian)

Prior to Hambletonian horses which could run a Standard mile in under 2 minutes and 30 seconds were allowed to race. And ultimately it was only those horses which were used in the breeding process in a breed which became known as the Standardbred.

Bionic Woman - 1974 bay mare (Addio Byrd x Bonbon Lobell) - A full-blooded trotter, she was rank at the track and was traded for a farrier bill. Regularly ridden by Susie Hutchinson, Bionic Woman jumped as high as 6'9", and made it to the Nation's Cup. In addition to being an international show jumping star, she had six foals (mostly from warmblood stallions), each of which enjoyed success in the show ring.

(Bionic Woman @ Santa Anita)

High Hopes - This trotter, owned by Jimmy Williams, was the Pacific Coast Jumper Champion in 1961, '64, '65, and '66. A half-Thoroughbred offspring named Here's Hoping was also successful in the show jumping ring.

Primrose - Registered as Primrose Express, this Standardbred was a show jumping champion of the late 60's and early 70's. He jumped 6'9" on two occasions, and his half-sister crossed with Thoroughbred-type stallions and produced several successful foals.

Non-Stop - 1968 Standardbred - After a saddleseat trainer purchased him from the track for $350, this horse eventually became a 4-time World's Grand Champion Roadster [as of 1990], and offers for him were made -- and declined -- for as high as $200,000.

Sight Unseen - Registered as JoPa's Tycoon, this "alumni" of the US Standardbred Retirement Foundation is currently showing successfully in dressage at the Prix St. Georges level.

Shyster - This bay trotter, also adopted from the SRF, performs with his owner in Civil War reenactments, and has appeared in many movies and TV programs. His resume includes the BCC documentary "Rebels and Redcoats," where he played the General's horse.

Sergeant York - A former racehorse, Sergeant York played a small but significant role in the Washington D.C., funeral procession of President Ronald Regan in June 2004. The black Standardbred gelding served as the riderless horse, the age-old symbol of a fallen warrior.