By Kim J. Harmon

The Kentucky Derby and the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show are the two biggest horse and dog events to take place during a given year and – as fate would have it – local residents were involved in some manner in both of those events.

Two Newtown Kennel Club members see their horse (in which they are part owners) win the Belmont Stakes and Preakness while making an historic run at the Triple Crown and a Newtown resident is named as a judge at the 127th annual Westminster Show.

That’s pretty good.

Here are most of the highlights of 2003:

wHelene Neitsch, a long-time bullmastiff breeder and AKC judge, is featured along with Theresa Hundt, a professional dog handler who served or the first time as a judge at the 127th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

wHeather Heyburn, Paul Castellano, Robert Cornell and Tony Gregoire are newly promoted at the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard by Major Commandant Janis Arena.

wMark Davis, a Greenwich firefighter, and Elvis, an advanced certified canine, give a search and rescue demonstration at the Cassio Kennels. The pair were part of the search and rescue mission at the World Trade Centers following 9/11.

wThe Kerry Blue Terrier Ch. Torums Scarf Michael wins the prestigious Best In Show Award at the 127th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. More than 2,600 dogs representing 159 breeds compete. A number of local owners – like Patti Clark of Newtown – enjoy successful competitions.

wThe Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard hosts the Brookfield Girl Scouts, taking the girls on a tour of the barns. The girls also help feed and care for the 34 horses in the stables.

wThe Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard graduates another promising class. In a military graduation ceremony held at the Fairfield Hills facilities, 11 new members join the guard.

wFrank Weller of the Premarin® Foal Rescue Caravan speaks to the Newtown Bridle Lands Association (NBLA). Premarin® is a drug used in hormone replacement therapy and is produced with the aid of pregnant mares.

wTim Malone of Newtown earns $3,000 with his performance in the $10,000 Adult Owner Jumper Classic in the Cosequin© Finale of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Malone rode his Dutch warmblood, Juventa.

wRachel Martino of Newtown decided to use her birthday as an opportunity to provide goodies for all the dogs at the Newtown Pound. Instead of gifts, she had all her guests at her birthday party to bring rawhide chew bones, leashes, tug toys, tennis balls, biscuits, and bags and bags of kibble.

wThe Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard hosts its annual Judged Pleasure Ride on its grounds at Fairfield Hills.

wCanine Advocates of Newtown holds its annual Tag Sale at the office of Dr. Evans on Mount Pleasant Road. Canine Advocates is a non-profit organization that helps with the adoption process of dogs at the Newtown Pound.

wIt is a spectacular spring for Newtown Kennel Club members Nadine and David Mahan, part owners in Funny Cide. The horse wins the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before falling short in the Belmont Stakes in a historic run for the Triple Crown.

wRiders plod through the mud and have fun at the annual Spring Into Summer hunter pace sponsored by the Newtown Bridle Lands Association (NBLA). The teams of Grace and Abigail Lee, Lucy Prybylski and Rosemary Bieger, Alyssa and Ned Schankman, and Erin and Caitlin Donaldson were winners in their respective divisions.

wJenn Spanedda of Sandy Hook is crowned champion of the Short Stirrup Division at the Brushy Hill Horse Show.

wA warm, sunny day greets participants and spectators at the annual Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard horse show. The annual show is a fundraising effort for the Second Company.

wMonica Arienzo and Jill Medinger of Newtown, students at the Wooster School, are invited to compete with high school students from around the country at the College Bound Invitational at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Both girls win ribbons.

wDr Rakesh Vali is the new veterinarian and reproduction specialist at Mount Pleasant Hospital for Animals.

wThe Newtown Bridle Lands Association got together to sell ice cream and pony rides at the Cyrenius Booth Library’s Labor Day book sale.

wJillian Somoskovec discovers her new horse, Ocean Star Sea Breeze, is featured on a calendar and in a book, Teager: Life On Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, featuring photos by Kevin N. Moore.

wSecond Company Governor’s Horse Guard trooper Cindy Joyce earned a promotion to sergeant.

wFunny Cide and his part owners, Dave and Nadine Mahan, and Chief Charles J. Sowles are honored by the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard at a special awards night.

wThe annual Frost on the Pumpkin Hunter Pace concludes the popular Associated Bridle Trails pace series. Anthony Zumpano and Lawrence Mignone are the overall point champions of the series (with a record 51 points). Shelby and Kendall McChord are the Western Division champions for the second year in a row.

wLaurel Speed of Newtown and her horse, Cheese Nips, capture the Junior Champion award at the Fairfield Bridle Trails Association Hunter Trials held in Southport.

wThe Fairfield County 4-H names the winners of its year-end awards: Kentucky Hunter Classic – The Earl of Warwick, ridden by Carly Curran; Walk/Trot Division – Zoe Walter of Sunnybrook Farm; Open Beginner Hunter – Lynn Giuliani of Newtown; Pleasure Division – Cookies ‘N’ Cream, ridden by Courtney Claypool of Sunnybrook Farm in Newtown; Adult High Point Champion – Mary Simpson of Spot Hollow Farm; Junior Western Walk/Jog Division – Brittany Moore; Junior Western Division – Randi Santiso; Color Horse Division – Mary Simpson. And during the Fall Nutmeg Show, Kathy Lasko of Bit of Tack in Newtown was recognized for her support of Fairfield County 4H.