Giuditta Crisci enjoys seeing a rise in standardbreds entering retraining in retirement, but she is keen for more support to help keep up with the growing demand.
Crisci was crowned the QOTT Acknowledged Standardbred Retrainer of the Year at the 2025 Queensland Harness Awards earlier this month.
It was her second consecutive year winning the award, and third overall after taking home the inaugural prize in 2022.
The 30-year-old was accompanied at the Victoria Park ceremony by her mother Jenny who she paid tribute to for encouraging her to pursue her passion as a child.
“It’s an honour - when I started this out 14 years ago, I never really thought it would be the big monster that it is for me at the moment, but very much in a good way,” Crisci said with a laugh.
“I want to thank my folks - when I was younger, they probably never really saw this is where my path would take me with horses and it was a bit of a hobby back then.
“I really pushed to be doing the equine science degree once I finished school, and I'll always remember when my Mum realised that I was taking this seriously, and that this was going to be a career for me.
“There was a day where I needed to go down to the horses and I was meant to be at school, and she said ‘You know what? I'm just going to tell them that this is what you're going to do with your life, and it's got to take priority.’
“So obviously, if I didn't have that support, I wouldn't be where I am.
“A big thank you as well to Queensland Off-The-Track for the recognition, and taking me on in the very first year of the program.
“My fiancé Jonny is always there helping with the horses, he's very experienced too so it is a big support, having someone knowledgeable with me.”
Crisci has been there right from the start of the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainers Program which was launched in January 2022.
The Churchable-based retrainer has successfully retrained and rehomed over 40 standardbreds from the industry into a range of rewarding and varied post-racing career pathways through the QOTT Program.
Crisci said early signs were pointing to her adding significantly to her retraining tally in 2026.
“We have started off this year pretty strongly, and it’s looking like I'll do a higher number again with the current supply and demand,” Crisci said.
“We really got on a roll when we went on board with QOTT and we just keep getting the calls and keep taking the horses.
“I think it's a sign of how far the standardbred breed has come in the last five to ten years.
“I am starting to compete myself again in open fields with other breeds of horses, and am actually getting recognition amongst a lot of those other breeds and I’m seeing lots of standardbreds out there.
“A good friend of mine has been competing in horse showing quite competitively recently, and she's won a couple of Supremes of Show against some really quality horses, so it's really amazing to see standardbreds going out there and just kicking goals like that.”
Crisci and Jennifer Davy are currently the only two QOTT Acknowledged Retrainers specialising solely in standardbreds.
A further six QOTT Acknowledged Retrainers retrain both standardbreds and thoroughbreds.
As the popularity of retraining standardbreds continues to grow, Crisci has issued a “call to arms” to the rest of the industry to help bolster the retraining ranks.
“I think we definitely need more standardbred retrainers in the QOTT Program - while the application process might seem a little bit daunting when you first see what you have to do, once you get started, you get on a roll,” Crisci said
“It's really not that big a hurdle, and it's definitely worth it for the support you get once you’re accepted into the program.
“It'd be really great to see more people get on board and get the waiting list down a little bit for us and others that are retraining standardbreds.
“There's a big team of retrainers, but very few of us that are retraining standardbreds – so there’s a real opportunity for more to get involved.
“I love the variety of horses you get in but standardbreds particularly, they're really hardy.
“They're generally really sound, really quiet, and you only have to change their diet slightly to what they are used to and they seem to cope really well with that.
“They cope with having their race plates removed and they let down really smoothly, and I just find they transition to ridden life pretty seamlessly.”
RQ Senior Animal Care Manager Kim Duffy said Crisci was a deserved winner of the award.
“Ditta’s recognition as the QOTT Acknowledged Standardbred Retrainer of the Year for a third time is a remarkable achievement and a testament to her consistency, dedication, and horsemanship,” Ms Duffy said.
“She continues to set a benchmark for excellence in the retraining and rehoming of standardbreds, and we’re incredibly grateful to have her as part of the program.
“A passionate advocate for the standardbred breed, her work highlights the important role retrainers play in supporting horses beyond racing.
“We’re proud to recognise her ongoing contribution to standardbred aftercare and her genuine commitment to positive welfare outcomes.”
Click here for more information on the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainers Program.
