The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.)  announced Oct. 14 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 2024.

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 2024 Thoroughbred of the Year is Rockaway. Registered with The Jockey Club as Rockaway Park. Rockaway is a 14-year-old gelding that retired from the racetrack in 2014 and was initially used as a lesson horse. In 2019, Rockaway began his career as a police horse for Coral Gables Police Department where he has become a loyal partner to Officer Ashley Sheran. They have served together as the Coral Gables Mounted Unit for going on 10 years and are also members of the Honor Guard. Rockaway is a devoted and loved member of the Coral Gables community, even being pictured on the cover of the city’s magazine! Rockaway has participated in services such as the Fallen Officer Memorial Service, which he has been a part of for the last 5 years, as well as attending special events such as the presentation of colors for the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in 2021. Rockaway has also been known to carry the American flag for opening ceremonies at the Davie Pro Rodeo multiple times a year. Rockaway Park (Rockport Harbor—Really Fast) was bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall and raced 10 times, placing in third once and winning $3,496.

“We are honored that Rockaway has been chosen for this recognition in his post racing career. In reinstating the presence of a police horse for our department after almost a century, he has been become an extraordinary community policing asset,” said Ofc. Ashley Sheran. “When patrolling, Rockaway offers the department a vantage point for subject recognition, and a strong visible presence that serves as a deterrence to criminal activity. Rockaway and his Coral Gables Police Department family, thank you!”

The young rider award, which recognizes riders 18 or younger (as of January 1, 2024) who own or lease a Thoroughbred for use in 4-H, Pony Club, or other activities, has been awarded to Madison Hightower and Ashlyn Tate.

Hightower is 14 and owns Happy Go Lucky, registered name Class Happening (Hap—Class Promise), a 17-year-old gelding bred in Virginia by Mede Cahaba Stable & Stud LLC that ran unplaced in three starts at both Laurel Park and Colonial Downs. Hightower aspires to one day compete in the Olympics, so her plans are to allocate the award towards lessons with Julio Mendoza, a 2024 Olympic dressage rider and trainer.

One thing Hightower would like to accomplish this year is competing in FEI Children’s at the National Championships at Lamplight in Chicago. “This has been a dream of mine from the moment I started training with Happy,” said Madison. Hightower is fully devoted to her equine partner! She says, “Just as Happy previously evented and then searched for his new purpose, I found my purpose in my partnership with him. I will continue to dedicate my life to caring for him and growing with him both in and out of the ring. It is my hope that other young riders who see our story will consider a Thoroughbred for their equestrian journey.”

Tate, who turns 16 in October, owns Pansy (Silver Train—Aquatint), a 2014 mare bred in Pennsylvania by Elizabeth R. Houghton that retired from the track in 2020 after 48 starts with 5 wins, 5 seconds, and 12 thirds, earning $180,464. Tate plans on using the award to attend events and educational opportunities to further her involvement with horses.

Tate and Pansy are unstoppable! They qualified for both National Junior High Finals Rodeo as well as National High School Finals Rodeo and have held the state championship for heading in team roping for two years in a row. “The reason for my success is Pansy, she may not be the typical rodeo mount, but still to this day, she proves herself against finished barrel and pole horses every day!” Tate says, “Each day, I push myself to stay consistent with my goals in order to live life to the fullest. The T.I.P. Young Rider of the Year Award will support my ambitions in every way possible because of the extraordinary opportunities it will bring!”

Created and announced 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.

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