July 31, 2006

Tracey Weinberg – 30 Years of Fond Memories from the Washington International Horse Show

Washington, D.C. – From her first step into the arena at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) in 1974, Tracey Weinberg has been an exhibitor and fan of the prestigious indoor event. Weinberg started her career in the news business at a NBC news affiliate in Baltimore, Maryland. She is now the President of Weinberg, Harris & Associates, a marketing and advertising agency in Baltimore that she founded 15 years ago. She has been involved with horses since she was a young child, and her devotion to the sport motivated her to move to Lovettsville, Virginia, three years ago to be closer to her trainer, Olympian Joe Fargis. Weinberg now commutes three hours round trip from her office to her home and 45 minutes from her home to Fargis’ farm in Middleburg, Virginia, to ride. Along with a busy career and consuming hobbies, Weinberg takes the time to serve on the Board of Directors for WIHS.

Her fond memories and history as a competitor at the famous show compelled her to give back by helping to raise much needed funds to keep WIHS alive. She is a member of the Board, as well as a competitor, on her four High Amateur Owner Jumpers at this fall’s event.

Weinberg consistently places in the most competitive amateur divisions in the sport of show jumping, but her beginnings were not so auspicious. “The first year that I competed at Washington, I brought my ornery old pony named Zims Little Fellow,” Weinberg recalled. “The show was held at that time (1974) in the old Armory building right in the center of town. My father took Zim off of our trailer and proceeded to be dragged uncontrollably down the barricaded streets of Washington by him,” she laughed. “My poor embarrassed father was saved when Zim spotted a median with grass growing on it and stopped for a snack.”

The second year that Weinberg went to WIHS was equally dramatic. “I was so excited to show at Washington and had been preparing all year for my class,” she stated. “I entered the arena, and my pony took one look at the oscillating ceiling fans and spun in fear. Needless to say, I never even made it to the first jump.”

Determined to do better the third year, Weinberg gave it her best effort. She qualified all year to ride in the coveted Maryland Final (MHSA). Not only did she make it to the first jump, but she pinned third in the class. George Morris, now the U.S. Chef d’Equipe for Show Jumping, judged the MHSA that year and was so impressed with her performance, he suggested that she come to his famous farm Hunterdon for lessons. “My parents drove me four hours to Hunterdon (based in Pittstown, NJ) ,” she remembers fondly. “In my first lesson with George, he said ‘You look like a frog on a lily pad.’ Despite his humorous approach, I stuck with him, and he gave me my foundation for riding,” she said. “The third year competing at the Washington International Horse Show proved to be one of the most pivotal moments of my riding career.”

Her winning ways continued in the years to follow at WIHS. In her final year competing in the hunter division, she placed first on Escadrille. The year was memorable not because of the blue ribbon; it was memorable because she won the prize with a broken tail bone. “I fell in a terrible accident while turning a horse out in the paddock a week before the show,” she said. “I was not going to let the injury keep me from showing, even though I could barely walk. By the time I competed, I had acquired an infection, and it took two people to put me on the horse and take me off of him,” she grimaced. “I won the class, then rushed immediately to the hospital for treatment. Escadrille was a great horse, and I was not about to miss my favorite show,” she laughed. “Escadrille just passed away, at the ripe old age of 39!”

This year, Weinberg will be showing her four High Amateur Owner Jumpers, named Cromwell, Larone, Linda Z, and Naomi 174. Her parents, who still reside in Baltimore, will come to watch her and show their support. With any luck, there will be a calm celebration of blue ribbons, without her father being dragged down the streets of Washington.