Kate Brown, age 14, shares her story of the benefits of being involved with the Thoroughbred Incentive Program as a Youth Ambassador and OTTB owner. Best of luck with Sport, Kate!
Kate Brown and Sports Revenge. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.
My name is Kate Brown and I am a 2018 Thoroughbred Incentive Program Youth Ambassador. I own a 14-year-old Thoroughbred named Sports Revenge, also known as Sport. The Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) was created to help encourage the retraining of off-the-track Thoroughbreds into careers outside of racing or breeding. The Thoroughbred Incentive Program offers accolades for competition horses, young riders, recreational horses, and Thoroughbreds in non-competitive careers, as well as an annual champion horse show is offered.
I’ve had lots of success of retraining my Thoroughbred, Sport, in dressage and evening. I received Sport as a birthday present on my 11th birthday in 2015. Sport was a surprise gift for me, as he was originally a sale horse in at my farm. In our time together, Sport and I have accomplished many achievements, including qualifying for the USDF Region 9 Dressage Championships at Training Level and, in 2017, being named reserve champions at Training Level for the central United States in the Thoroughbred Incentive Program. In July of 2018 we competed in our first recognized event at Chattahoochee Hills at Beginner Novice.
Kate Brown and Sports Revenge. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.
The Thoroughbred Incentive Program offers several ways for one to become involved with their Thoroughbred, both competitively and noncompetitively. At participating local shows, TIP offers high point awards and divisions specifically for Thoroughbreds. This aims to increase Thoroughbred involvement within the sport. In order to be eligible for these awards and divisions, a Thoroughbred must have a registered TIP number and a membership with the Jockey Club. This number and membership also allows a TIP member access to recreational riding on their Thoroughbred within the program. For more information on how to register, visit the Thoroughbred Incentive Program’s website, www.tjctip.com.
