Jockey Club Names T.I.P. Non-Competition Award Winners

The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) today announced the recipients and honorees 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 2026. Thoroughbred of the Year 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 2026 Thoroughbred of the Year is Fury. Registered with The Jockey Club as Junglist, Fury is an 8-year-old gelding that retired from the racetrack in 2021 before being responsibly retired to Turning For Home, who matched him with Special Equestrians. The equine team at Special Equestrians spent the next two years training and desensitizing Fury until he was ready to become an active therapy horse, serving both mounted and unmounted participants. "We're grateful that Fury was named The Jockey Club T.I.P. Thoroughbred of the Year," said Janice Witt, executive director of Special Equestrians. "We're proud to include off-track Thoroughbreds in our therapeutic riding programming. Fury follows in the footsteps of Kat (Kat's Hope), who received the award in 2023 and is our top-performing therapy horse. "The responsiveness of retired racehorses is especially valuable for the people that we serve, especially individuals with autism and mental health conditions," Witt added. "OTTBs have phenomenal focus and work ethic when given the care, time and attention they deserve, making them great candidates for healing work." Young Rider of the Year The young rider award, which recognizes riders 18 or younger (as of January 1, 2026) who own or lease a Thoroughbred for use in 4-H, Pony Club, or other activities, has been awarded to Addyson Machese. Machese, who turns 16 in November, owns Feta, Mind Ya Bizness, registered name Russian Ekati (Tale of Ekati -- Russian Bride), an unraced 5-year-old Thoroughbred bred in Ohio by Raimonde Farms LTD. Machese inherited her mother's love for Thoroughbreds, adopting Maid the Journey ("Gouda") in November 2023. Gouda sadly passed in 2025 before the pair could compete at the 2025 T.I.P. Championships. Machese and Feta have been learning the ropes together since August 2025 and have started competing together in beginner cross-rail hunters after a winter filled with groundwork and training. Through hard work and dedication, Machese was able to take Feta to the 2026 T.I.P. Championships this year, honoring their teamwork as well as Gouda's memory. Machese and Feta finished third in the Open Crossrails Division, earning the Junior High Point Award for the division. Machese said, "Winning this means so much to me. Writing this essay gave me the opportunity to share Gouda's story and how much he impacted my life and my love for horses. He was such a special horse; so much of what he taught me has fostered my relationship with Feta. I'm so honored that my story resonated with others, and I hope this award can be a way to honor Gouda's memory and everything he meant to me." Honorees The Jockey Club also chose three Honorees for the T.I.P. Young Rider of the Year award -- Molly Gettings, Mia Martin, and Sophie Thom. Gettings is 15 and owns Oh Bene (Afleet Alex -- Smart Ashley), a 10-year-old horse bred in Kentucky by Oak Ridge Farm & Diane Curry. Oh Bene retired from the track in 2019 after nine starts, earning a total of $3,913 during his racing career. Gettings and Oh Bene have had many accomplishments in their two years together. They've been to camps, including the GMHA Young Riders Camp in Vermont; participated in T.I.P. classes at the SNHEA shows; traveled to New Jersey for the Thoroughbred Spectacular; and earned a D3 in eventing through Sleeping Giant Pony Club. "Thoroughbreds have a funny way of teaching you loads of things," said Gettings. "Bene taught me patience, but mostly he taught me partnership, and he's built my confidence back up bit by bit." Martin is 17 and owns Lincoln Park, aka "Frankie," registered name Swing True (Cowtown Cat-Hot Dice), an unraced 16-year-old gelding bred in Florida by North Star Equine. Martin and Frankie have been partners for the past five years, and although Frankie has tested Martin more than a few times, their hard work has paid off. While currently competing in the 2'6 - 2'9 hunters and equitation, Frankie has gotten them a 4-H Regional Title and multiple champion ribbons across Wellington. "I am incredibly grateful to have received the 2026 T.I.P Rider of the Year Honoree award," said Martin. "Thoroughbreds are such a special breed. They are hardworking, talented, and deserve the same recognition and opportunities as any other breed. This award means so much to me and Frankie, and the award will go directly toward helping with Frankie's arthritis treatment and supporting his retirement. I am so thankful for the recognition of my Thoroughbred. With this award, I want it to be known for the possibilities that Thoroughbreds have and for young riders to not give up on them." Thom is 16 and owns Morrison (The Factor -- Liza Lu), an 11-year-old gelding bred in New York by Golden Goose Enterprise. Morrison retired in 2019 with 20 starts -- three firsts, four seconds, and one third. During his time on the track, Morrison earned $230,764. After a lot of work, Thom and Morrison have moved up the levels from starter all the way to competing at training-level eventing, qualifying for the 2026 American Eventing Championships at novice level. "We have definitely had our fair share of setbacks and confidence knocks, but Morrison showed what a true passion for this sport is. We still have a lot to work on, but Morrison has become my best friend and the perfect eventing partner," said Thom. "He just has a way of making even my worst days better. I hope to own Morrison for the rest of his life because he has truly changed my life forever." Special Recognition While the Thoroughbred of the Year Award recognizes a Thoroughbred that has excelled in a non-competitive career, this year, The Jockey Club T.I.P. program feels it is important to highlight and recognize a Thoroughbred who, while still competing through the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), has influenced countless riders, coaches, and programs. The 2026 Thoroughbred of the Year Honoree award has been given to All That Jazz. Registered with The Jockey Club as Northern Jazz, this 18-year-old Thoroughbred was bred in Pennsylvania by Jeffrey L. Haller. Jazz was able to highlight the versatility of the Thoroughbred breed by competing in the hunter, jumper, and equitation rings with great success with his owner, the coach of the Alvernia University Equestrian Team, Eryn Ziegler. Jazz now works as an IHSA horse for the Alvernia University Equestrian Team and has quickly become a favorite draw for riders from many different schools. He has been voted IHSA Zone 3 Region 4 Horse of the Year for the last two years. "In the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, riders draw their mounts at random and compete with no warm up," said Ziegler. "Jazz is truly talented to adapt so well to every rider who gets on his back. He is a kind-hearted guy who tries his best to take care of every rider. He's the horse that comes around once in a lifetime, and we are so fortunate to have him with the Alvernia University team."