Briarwood Derby Day Raises $15,000 in Donations for Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center
Katie Benson’s love for horses and Hunterdon County have always been two things that have remained constant in her life. Through these passions Katie met the love of her life, the owner of Briarwood Farm in Oldwick, NJ, John W. “Jack” Benson, and they married in May of 1991. In 2009, the Bensons were approached by a nationally recognized horse show management group and asked to host a new elite, specialty class at one of their horse shows. While they were honored and very excited about this new venture, they were not prepared for what was coming next – Jack’s diagnosis of stage four, inoperable lung cancer. A few short months later, Jack lost his battle with cancer in February 2010, after receiving exceptional care and support from Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center.
Instead of canceling the event, Katie and her team made the decision to move forward with the horse show with a few changes and additions. They would now do the show to benefit Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center to honor the legacy of Jack Benson and to raise funds to support exceptional, quality cancer care close to home to the people of Hunterdon County.
Briarwood Farm hosted the 13th Annual Derby Day on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at Duncraven Equestrian Club of New Jersey in Titusville, New Jersey. The use of the farm was donated by the Stout Family which owns and operates Duncraven. The all-day equestrian event was again held to benefit patient care at Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center. This year $15,000 was raised through donations and sponsorships. The very busy horse show day was filled with traditional performance classes and also had several special events designed to raise both awareness and funds. One of the special events was based on pledges made by family and friends for riders who attempted to jump over the most fences in sixty seconds. Several special awards were given to participants in five categories: The Most Jumps Jumped, The Most Money Raised, The Rider Style Award, The Horse with the Best Sense of Humor, and The Best Costume. Rose Ganz of Raritan, NJ won both the Most Jumps Jumped Award as well as the Style Award. She rode Brookside Stables’ horse, Honey Badger. The rider raising the most money was Lauren Nitahara of Somerset, NJ riding her horse appropriately named, One Jump Ahead. The horse with the Best Sense of Humor was Air Bud, owned by Briarwood Farm and ridden by Sophia Heinold of Flemington, NJ as she decorated him as a mermaid! The Best Costume Award was won by Grace Cafferty of Newtown, PA riding Briar Fox owned by Briarwood Farm as she was a rainbow on a unicorn!
Donations towards Briarwood Derby Day are still being accepted on the Foundation website, earmarked for Briarwood Derby Day. Katie Benson and her team of incredible volunteers and sponsors are already planning for 2024! For further information regarding Derby Day please visit www.derbyday.me, or contact Katie Benson at jackkate@aol.com
Pictured from left to right: Jill Pelonero, BA, R.T. (R)(T), Director of Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center, Rose Ganz, Katie Plum Benson, Phil Beekman, Senior Vice President, Hunterdon Health Foundation, Dena Stout, Harry Stout III, Tim Stout, and Pam Neiderer, stable manager.