The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program Award to be Presented at 2015 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championships

The last time America's oldest collegiate equestrian national championships came to western Massachusetts was in 2007.

The award includes a trophy, with engraving plates on the base for each year's winner, plus a ribbon for the winning horse, and a halter or cooler.

"We're so proud to recognize Thoroughbreds that found new careers with college equestrian teams," said Kristin Werner Leshney, legal associate for The Jockey Club and the administrator of T.I.P. in Lexington, KY. "It proves once again what good partners these horses can be, including for college riders."

The inaugural equine recipient of The Jockey Club T.I.P. Award at the IHSA National Championships was Noah, a Thoroughbred gelding on coach Cindy Ford's 2013 Collegiate Cup co-champion hunter seat team for Skidmore College (aptly named the Thoroughbreds), in Saratoga Springs, NY, home of America's oldest sporting venue, Saratoga Race Course.

The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club, directly or through subsidiaries, provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans and farms. To encourage the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of their careers in racing or breeding, The Jockey Club created the Thoroughbred Incentive Program. T.I.P. offers sponsorship for Thoroughbred-only classes and divisions, high point Thoroughbred awards at open horse shows and competitions, year-end Performance Awards, a Thoroughbred of the Year Award and a Young Rider of the Year Award. Learn more at tjctip.com.

In addition to four days of hunter seat, western and reining title competition for the USEF Cacchione Cup, Collegiate Cup, NRHA Open and AQHA High Point titles, Saturday will spotlight a Salute to Seniors graduating during the show and feature a Parade of Teams. The 2015 IHSA National Finals offers a platform for the Northeast horse industry to showcase sale and lease horses under student riders during competition, or participate as sponsors or vendors at a popular venue (site of Equine Affaire). Contact coach Fogg, Dfogg@jwu.edu, (508) 252-5700 or coach Luckhardt, richard.luckhardt@comcast.net, (860) 464-7934.