The third Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) Championship Horse Show was held Saturday, September 7, and Sunday, September 8, 2019, at the Kentucky Horse Park in conjunction with the New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Show.

During the championships, 248 Thoroughbreds competed in a total of 26 divisions comprising English Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Dressage, Western Dressage, Hunters, and Jumpers. More than $30,000 in cash and prizes was awarded.

Due to an increase in entries, the Hunter, Jumper and Pleasure divisions of the T.I.P. Championships were split over two days and held in rings in addition to Rolex Stadium for the first time.

Additionally, the United States Eventing Association hosted the American Eventing Championships from August 27 through September 1, also at the Kentucky Horse Park. Of the 949 starters, 218 were Thoroughbreds, making up 23% of the competition.

The New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Show was held Friday, September 6, through Sunday, September 8. All proceeds from the New Vocations show will support Thoroughbred aftercare. Between the two shows, a total of 450 Thoroughbreds from 26 states competed.

“I am thrilled with the growth of the T.I.P. Championships since its inception in 2017 and the enthusiasm of all participants toward showcasing off-the-track Thoroughbreds,” said Kristin Werner, senior counsel for The Jockey Club and the administrator of T.I.P. “This weekend showcases the versatility of Thoroughbreds in a wide range of disciplines, and we hope that Thoroughbred-centric competitions will encourage horse owners to consider riding and competing with former racehorses.”

“We are proud to work with T.I.P. to organize a weekend of horse shows that display the ability of Thoroughbreds to excel in careers beyond the racetrack,” said Sarah Coleman, director of Public & Community Relations, New Vocations. “We at New Vocations believe that Thoroughbreds have unlimited potential and love seeing this potential turn into results in the show ring.”

The winners and reserve champions for the T.I.P. Championships are as follows:

The T.I.P. champions and reserve champions at the American Eventing Championships are below:

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) also sponsored high-point awards during the T.I.P. Championship Horse Show in four categories for Thoroughbreds adopted from TAA-accredited aftercare organizations. The winning rider will receive a TAA gift bag and the adopting organization will receive $250. The winners of those awards are:

• Pleasure: Midnight Bleu (Registered Name: Name Frank’s Gift) and Victoria Kupets (New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program)
• Hunter: Danny (Registered Name: Big City Dancer) and Sue Sylvester (Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center)
• Jumper: Kool Cat (Registered Name: Kulik Lodge), owned by Taylor Wienold and ridden by Brooke Schafer (New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program)
• Dressage: Little Latin Lulu and Kara Hertz (Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center)

To qualify for the championships, a T.I.P.-eligible Thoroughbred must participate in a show offering T.I.P. high point awards, classes, or divisions in the applicable discipline beginning August 1 of the prior year through July 31 of the championships year or participate in the T.I.P. Performance Awards in the applicable discipline. Horses shown at a horse trial or combined test can also qualify for the championships through the show jumping phase.

To be eligible for T.I.P. shows, a Thoroughbred is defined as any horse that has been registered with The Jockey Club or a foreign Thoroughbred stud book recognized by The Jockey Club.

Created and announced by The Jockey Club in October 2011, T.I.P. recognizes and rewards the versatility of the Thoroughbred through sponsorship of Thoroughbred classes and high point awards at sanctioned horse shows, year-end performance awards, a recreational riding program, and non-competition awards. Additional information about T.I.P. is available at tjctip.com and on the T.I.P. Facebook page at facebook.com/tjctip.

Founded in 1992, New Vocations has grown into the largest racehorse adoption charity in the country. Its mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired racehorses has led to the placement of over 7,000 individuals, with nearly 500 retirees served by the program each year. With facilities in Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, New Vocations serves over 40 racetracks, working directly with owners and trainers in need of equine aftercare options. www.newvocations.org.