The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) has announced the recipients of its two non-competition awards, the T.I.P. Thoroughbred of the Year Award and the T.I.P. Young Rider of the Year Award, for 2022.
The Thoroughbred of the Year Award recognizes a Thoroughbred that has excelled in a non-competitive career, such as equine-assisted therapy or police work, and includes a $5,000 grant to the non-profit organization associated with the horse or, if no organization is associated with the horse, to a horse-related charity chosen by The Jockey Club.
The 2022 Thoroughbred of the Year is River. Registered with The Jockey Club as Teen Dancer, River is a 21-year-old mare that works as a therapy horse at CORRAL, a nonprofit that equips adolescent girls in high-risk situations through a long-term, holistic program of equine therapy and education. River's main responsibility is helping young women learn to trust her and to stay emotionally regulated throughout the ups and downs of a close relationship. River raced seven times with two wins, one second, and one third, winning $7,500.
“Like so many of our youth, River was rejected time and time again from her foster homes. It wasn't until she came to CORRAL that she found her forever home,” said Joy Currey, founder and executive director of CORRAL Riding Academy. “Now she helps young women find a place they can call their 'home-away-from-home' where they can access their bright, bright futures. River's intense spirit matches well with our rigorous college-preparatory environment and teaches our girls that they are capable of so much more than the world expects of them.”
The young rider award, which recognizes riders 18 or younger (as of January 1, 2022) who own or lease a Thoroughbred for use in 4-H, Pony Club, or other activities, has been awarded to Ashlynn Riley, Andie Sue Roth, and Erika Williams.
Riley, who turned 18 in April, owns and events George, registered name Mr Pappagiorgio, a 2009 Thoroughbred gelding that retired from the track in 2012 after four starts. Riley is a T.I.P. ambassador, and she will use her award to help with tuition for her online veterinary technician program at Penn Foster University and for training with George.
“I am extremely honored to be awarded the T.I.P Young Rider of the Year Award. I was just one of many talented candidates and I am so grateful that my dedication to thoroughbreds was recognized,” said Riley. “I want to acknowledge my biggest supporter, my mother. I also want to sincerely thank my trainers; without them I wouldn't be the horsewoman I am today. My hope is that I can continue to advocate for OTTB's as talented partners in any discipline.”
Roth is 17 and rides dressage on her Thoroughbred Blue, aka Cape Royal, an 11-year-old gelding that ran 24 times. A Paralympic hopeful, Roth plans to use her award to continue training with Lisa Hellmer, the U.S. Para Equestrian Development Coach, in Ocala.
“I am super excited to be recognized as Young Rider of the Year with my OTTB 'Blue,'” Roth said. “It has been very rewarding working with him because he is very talented and has such a big personality. Figuring him out while bringing him up the levels takes every tool in my toolbox of ideas and that is what I love. He continues to work his hardest for me and I am grateful to him for being my partner. We have so much fun together and I am excited to see how far we can go!”
Williams, 18 as of January, owns and rides Troy (House of Troy), a 10-year-old with five starts. Williams plans to use her award to ship Troy from California to her college in Kentucky.
“I am so grateful and absolutely delighted to be awarded this scholarship from T.I.P. It'll make a big difference in my life — it'll enable me to bring my horse Troy with me to college, and spend more time with him and less time working to earn enough to keep him,” said Williams.
Created and announced in October 2011, The Jockey Club 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.
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