Kentucky Oaks winning jockey Rosie Napravnik, pictured on her OTTB Sugar, is among the participants at Thoroughbreds for All next weekend. Photo by Lynn Towery Roberts
Building on last year’s blockbuster Thoroughbreds for All event at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day is a planned extravaganza expected to break previous attendance records. This year’s festivities include celebrity events, celebrations and Thoroughbred demonstrations.
An all-star lineup features Olympian Boyd Martin and Kentucky Oaks winning jockey Rosie Napravnik, as well as Olympic dressage judge Linda Zang and Pan American Games Eventing gold medalist Lynn Symansky. All will join the celebration of the American Thoroughbred in a series of events throughout Rolex weekend, April 25-27.
The Thoroughbreds for All event, which is cohosted by the Retired Racehorse Training Project and New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, aims to heighten awareness of the potential ex-racehorses have for new careers. And there is no better proving ground than the only North American four-star Event, where ex-racehorses will compete against world-class riders and horses, says Steuart Pittman.
“The most exciting thing about the Rolex Three Day Event for Thoroughbred lovers is that horses bred to race compete and win against horses bred for Eventing,” says Pittman, founder of the Retired Racehorse Training Project.
Acknowledging the industry’s ongoing support of Thoroughbreds in post-racing sport, Pittman notes that The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) will formally acknowledge riders who will pilot their ex-racehorses at Rolex. Riders will be feted for choosing a Thoroughbred for their advanced riding career.
“Bringing the riders of these horses together with their fans and The Jockey Club is a great way to recognize their achievements. We truly do have the stars lined up for this year’s event.”
Boyd Martin. Photo by Amber Heintzberger
Last year, more than 500 people from 15 states attended the event. This year could reach 600 attendees.
Kristin Leshney, legal associate for The Jockey Club and coordinator of TIP and Anna Ford, program director of New Vocations, agree that Thoroughbreds for All is a power-packed collaboration ultimately benefitting the Thoroughbred ex-racehorse.
“On Sunday, April 27, The Jockey Club (TIP) will be presenting an award to the highest placing Thoroughbred at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event,” Leshney says. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to recognize all of the riders who have chosen to represent the versatile Thoroughbred at the highest level of equestrian competition.”
Ford shares her excitement.
“New Vocations is thrilled to once again host this wonderful event, which not only showcases the Thoroughbreds in our program, but also promotes the retraining of these athletes in a variety of new careers,” she says.
AmWest Entertainment and Wild Aire Farm have sponsored Thoroughbreds for All events.
To purchase tickets, which are $35 each, please visit eventbrite.com.
It was a WONDERFUL event! I have a bunch of photos from it on my FB page. All are welcome to check them out here. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152348362599706.1073741835.28518419705&type=1
This event does so much to educate and enthuse owners and potential owners of sport horse OTTBs. I hope they break attendance records and continue to build on the momentum. There are 23 OTTBs competing at Rolex this year.Good luck to every one of them!