McKenzie Scroggins and Wild ChaCha Dancer. Photo provided by McKenzie Scroggins.
The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program is an excellent nod to the versatility of the off-track Thoroughbred, one of the most common breeds you can find in eventing. The Jockey Club has released the 2015 Performance Awards winners for the horses who participated in the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) last year, and the list includes many eventers.
“The growth T.I.P. has shown in the last four years confirms the dedication our owners and riders have about retired Thoroughbreds,” Kristin Leshney, senior counsel for The Jockey Club and the administrator of T.I.P, said in a press release. “We are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Performance Awards and look forward to another successful T.I.P. show season in 2016.”
For the Eventing and Combined Training division, Wild ChaCha Dancer (Wild Gold – Mel’s Dancer, by Raja’s Best Boy) is the overall winner. Wild ChaCha Dancer, who now competes as “Cha Cha”, is owned by Area IV’s McKenzie Scroggins at the age of 10. McKenzie and ChaCha were the Junior Beginner Novice winners at AECs last year and are now successfully campaigning at the Novice level.
Eventers were also honored by division, beginning with Pre-Beginner Novice and going up through Intermediate and FEI levels.
Beth Zollicoffer and Confiado. Photo provided by Beth Zollicoffer.
The Pre-Beginner Novice winner is Confiado, owned and ridden by Beth Zollicoffer. Wild ChaCha Dancer is the Beginner Novice winner thanks to his top placings at the level with McKenzie Scroggins.
First in the Novice division is Dynamic Lisa (Dynaformer – Ashley Lindsey, by Turkoman), owned and ridden by Tracey Woods. The Training winners are Biker Chef (Polish Navy – A Golden Rose, by Strike the Gold), owned and ridden by Jocelyn Hawe. Biker Chef now shows as “Carry On” and has multiple top placings at Training level and has also competed at Prelim.
Alex Reed and King Katz (On Broadway). Photo provided by Alex Reed.
King Katz (Mass Market – Catz (IRE), by Catrail), owned and ridden by Alex Reed, is the Preliminary winner and are currently competing at the Prelim and CIC1* level.
Hillary Irwin and Bit Of Irish. Photo courtesy of Brant Gamma.
Drop of the Irish, owned by Hillary Irwin, is the Intermediate top horse for the 2015 season. Now showing as “Bit of Irish”, Hillary and this 2007 mare have busily been climbing the levels and chipping away at their chance at the top levels.
Hillary Irwin and Kilbeggan. Photo courtesy of Brant Gamma.
Hillary also has the top CIC/CCI horse in Kilbeggan ( Concerto – Miss Tullamore Dew, by Mecke), who capped off 2015 with a win in the CCI1* at Hagyard Midsouth.
You can view the full press release and list of winners here. Congratulations to all Thoroughbreds on successful 2015 seasons! If you haven’t registered your OTTB for a Thoroughbred Incentive Program number, you can do so by clicking here.
