December 5, 2016
By Fred Hudson
It was an exciting day
for the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, as it represented the harness
racing industry, in the 33rd
annual Christmas in Middleburg parade on Saturday, Dec 3rd. The SRF was among 76
parade participants that stretched out for over two miles and consisted of over
a thousand people that marched before an estimated 18,000 spectators.
The day was cold and
windy, yet, that didn't prevent Maryland/Virginia driver Mark Gray from bringing
his pacer, Art Simpson. During the parade Mark's horse identified the SRF
banner as the starting gate and followed it through the parade.
The spectators applauded
and cheered the SRF members as we marched past them passing out the gifts that were
provided by the Hambletonian Society and the USTA.
After the parade Gray
was quoted “When you come around the corner to enter the parade, it is like a
wow moment. You never expect to see that many people. It is just unbelievable”.
We were originally going
to march with two banners, but due to the wind we felt that it would be unsafe
to use the eight foot banner and instead we went with only the one smaller
“adopt a horse” banner.
Joining the SRF, Gray
and myself this year were outriders Garnett Gray (Jagger), Michelle Graham
(Southern Rosa), Rachel Rhodes (Seadog Man), Kayleigh Hirsh (Celtic Girl),
Maryland/Virginia racing official Cheri Collison, Horse Welfare Legislative
Liaisons Stephanie McKaughan, Susan Arrington, & Megan Caulfield, SRF Supporters
Janice Atwell, and Kaleigh and Micah Boyd.
Some of the other
participants in the parade included Congress Woman Barbara Comstock, Senator
Jill Vogel, The Washington Redskin Cheerleaders, Shelia Johnson’s Salamander
Resort, Ayrshire Farms, Miss Virginia, car clubs, marching bands, wineries,
horse riding clubs, floats, canine groups, schools, alpacas and bagpipe
marchers including the Kena Shrine Highlanders who marched directly in front of
the SRF and acted as our escort.
