The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) recently announced that more than 850 horse shows in 43 states and Canadian provinces will feature TIP-approved awards and classes during 2016. A full calendar of events is available online.

2016 will be the fifth year that The Jockey Club has offered TIP awards. Of the 150 horse shows that offered awards in 2011, more than 100 will be offering awards for a fifth year in 2016.

“In four years, we have offered awards at 1,700 horse shows in 44 states and provinces,” said Kristin Werner Leshney, legal associate for The Jockey Club and coordinator of TIP “To date, owners and riders of second career Thoroughbreds have provided proof of eligibility at those shows more than 17,000 times.”

The TIP Thoroughbred High-Point Awards recognize top-performing Thoroughbreds in a variety of different english and western disciplines including eventing, dressage, Western and English pleasure, hunter/jumper, Western performance, games, polo and polocrosse. Thoroughbred-only classes are also available at some events, as well as awards for Thoroughbreds within their first two years of showing or for Thoroughbreds within two years of their last start.

TIP has also renewed the prestigious Thoroughbred of the Year Award and the Young Rider of the Year Award. Applications for these non-competition awards will be available online in April, with a deadline of June 30, 2016.

Only Thoroughbreds that have been registered with The Jockey Club or a foreign Thoroughbred stud book recognized by The Jockey Club are eligible to participate in TIP classes and compete for awards. All participating Thoroughbreds should have a TIP number, which can be obtained at the TIP website.