The Jockey Club today (Oct. 14) announced the launch of the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP), which will recognize and reward the versatility of the Thoroughbred through sponsorship of Thoroughbred classes and high point awards at locally, nationally, or internationally sanctioned horse shows. The Jockey Club has committed $100,000 to the TIP for a pilot program in 2012.

"The Thoroughbred Incentive Program is a natural extension of our ongoing efforts in Thoroughbred aftercare," said James L. Gagliano, The Jockey Club’s president and chief operating officer. "We encourage other groups to join us as we assist with the transition of Thoroughbreds into second careers."

"Thoroughbreds are versatile athletes, which makes them ideally suited for any number of disciplines beyond the racetrack," said Dell Hancock, a steward of The Jockey Club, a longtime Thoroughbred owner/breeder and a former horse show competitor. "The Thoroughbred Incentive Program will help showcase and reward the breed’s many talents at all levels of competition and will encourage the retraining of Thoroughbreds once they have finished their racing or breeding career."

"Although a Thoroughbred named Kim’s Song never beat a horse on the race track, she went on to be a national hunter champion and put me on the map as a young rider in the 1970s, so I have a deep-rooted appreciation for Thoroughbreds competing in the show world," said R. Bruce Duchossois, a horse owner and breeder and championship competitor in multiple equestrian disciplines. "I commend The Jockey Club for developing an incentive program for Thoroughbred sport horses and I strongly encourage show organizers to participate by offering TIP-sponsored Thoroughbred classes and awards in 2012