BY THE JOCKEY CLUB PRESS OFFICE (Edited)

LEXINGTON, KY—The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program today announced the recipients 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 2025. 

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 2025 Thoroughbred of the Year is McDreamy. Registered with The Jockey Club as Deb’s Expense Acc, McDreamy is a 19-year-old gelding that retired from the racetrack in 2011 to begin training as a hunter/jumper.

In 2017, McDreamy began his journey with We Can Ride, Minnesota’s oldest and largest therapeutic riding center, which provides a variety of equine-assisted services for individuals with physical, cognitive, behavioral or emotional disabilities. McDreamy has thrived in his new role, becoming a dependable mount for even the most nervous participants. 

“McDreamy embodies the best of the Thoroughbred breed. In addition to his intelligence, athleticism, and sweet personality, our handsome grey boy has a huge heart for humans of all kinds—making him the perfect therapeutic equine professional,” We Can Ride certified therapeutic riding instructor Kristy Abbott said. “It is a rare horse who has such depth of emotional intelligence. As a former racehorse, he seems to draw upon the positive experiences he had with each person he met during his first career. Today, he brings that same intuition and kindness to each client, staff member, volunteer and visitor.

“McDreamy is the quintessential Thoroughbred success story. He thrilled crowds with his competitive spirit on the track and continues to make a transformative impact on the people he serves. He is simply the perfect example of how a Thoroughbred can do great things, long after his days in the starting gate are over.”

McDreamy recently suffered an injury during a paddock accident, resulting in his losing his left eye. Although he had to recover from surgery and handle retraining, McDreamy bounced back and continues to serve as We Can Ride’s Good Will Ambassador. Deb’s Expense Acc, by Expense Account out of Desperate Lady, by Roy, was bred in Oklahoma by Greg Frye and raced 25 times with two wins, five seconds and five thirds, winning $51,043. 

The young rider award, which recognizes riders 18 or younger (as of Jan. 1, 2025) who own or lease a Thoroughbred for use in 4-H, Pony Club or other activities, has been awarded to Abigail Bennett and Lilah Rasche. 

 

Bennett, who turns 16 in September, owns Trey, registered name Ravin’s Treasure (Treasure Beach (GB) – Fast Punch N Judy), a 9-year-old Thoroughbred bred in Illinois by Larry Rivelli and Richard Ravin that ran unplaced in five starts before retiring in 2019. Bennett dreams of competing in her very first CCI1* horse trial with Trey, wanting to honor the bond she has built with her Thoroughbred.

Bennett and Trey have been an unstoppable team since 2022, starting their eventing journey together and advancing from Beginner Novice to Novice and then to Training level. Unfortunately, Trey was diagnosed with EPM, but after months of rest and good vet care, Trey recovered. After a full year off, they competed at Ocala Summer H.T. and placed second in Training level. 

“I’m so honored to be chosen as a T.I.P. Young Rider of the Year. I love all of my Thoroughbreds, but this support is especially meaningful for my horse Trey, who has overcome EPM,” Bennett said. “With this award, Trey will be able to compete in his very first Modified and I’m so excited to see how far we can go together in eventing. I’m so grateful to the T.I.P. program for believing in young riders and the amazing things Thoroughbreds can achieve.”

Rasche is 16 and owns Ava, registered name Race Day Diva (Race Day – Survived), a 7-year-old mare bred in Iowa by Haroldson Thoroughbreds LLC that retired in 2021 after four starts with one second, earning $4,458. Rasche plans to use the award to show at the Illinois State 4-H Fair, working to win the Versatility title and at the Iowa State Cowgirl Queen Contest. Rasche would also like to use the funding to show in the WEC Hunter/Jumper series, a dream since she was little. 

Within their three years together, Rasche and Ava have been competing in hunter/jumper and English pleasure shows, winning multiple champion titles. They began training in Western pleasure and will be competing in the Iowa State Junior Cowgirl Queen Contest. Ava thrives in dressage, and together the pair won high point at the Youth Charity Horse Show. They have also won best horseman two years in a row at Rock Island County Fair. 

“I am honored and thankful to be recognized as one of the 2025 T.I.P. Riders of the Year,” Rasche said. “With this achievement, my goal is to promote and demonstrate the versatility of the Thoroughbred. After watching my first Kentucky Derby as a little girl, my dream was to own a Thoroughbred. That dream came true at age 13 when I purchased a Thoroughbred mare who had floated from auction to auction, owner to owner, and needed someone to take a chance on her. From the day I got her, to today, Race Day Diva (Ava) has made so many of my dreams come true. Ava proved to be extremely versatile and competitive in everything from hunter/jumper, dressage, ranch, English, and Western pleasure. She has taken me to the State Cowgirl Queen Contest and learned to carry a flag for drill team. Above all she taught me patience, how to trust in myself and her, how to be a true horseman, and while doing so became my best friend.”

Return to the August 26 issue of Wire to Wire