When Vera Tune set out to find her next horse, she was focused on finding a partner for Dressage — one with a good brain, safe in and out of tack, one who moved well, and one she could depend on.
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.
