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My love of Thoroughbreds began the way many of ours did — when it came time for my first horse, it was simply what my father could afford. However, I don’t think anyone could have predicted then how much that gangly 3-year-old, just two weeks off the track, would foster my love for the breed, and ultimately shape my future career. Sure, I’ve tried a few “grown-up” jobs here and there, but I always came back to the horses.

The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which encourages the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of careers in racing or breeding, today announced the winners and other placings from its 2024 performance awards program.

Thoroughbreds have been a cornerstone of my life since my first off-track Thoroughbred (OTTB) came into my life when I was 12. Skip’s racing days were long before my time with him and he was already a seasoned show horse when he came into my life, but that was all it took to spark a love affair with racing and Thoroughbreds.

Gabrielle Pearce developed a passion for horses at a young age, starting with ponies. As her confidence in the saddle grew, she transitioned to off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs). One of her earliest experiences with an ex-racehorse was riding Mr. Martini, an older Thoroughbred known for his calm and level-headed demeanor. He became the perfect bridge between ponies and larger horses, helping Gabrielle build the confidence and skills necessary to become a successful rider.

My 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover story starts like most of my stories do — with questionable decision-making skills. I sat in my house scrolling on social media one frigid January evening, a barn full of personal and client horses just a couple hundred yards away. As I took in the dozens of horse-related posts that fill my newsfeed, one made me stop and backtrack. A cute chestnut with four white socks and a blaze caught my eye.

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