Prize money will reach $3,000 for the Thoroughbred Horse Show Association's Fall Show on October 6-7 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Entries are being accepted for the show, TBHS's second event following its successful inaugural Spring Show on April 14 in which more than 100 Thoroughbreds of all ages competed in 39 classes using their registered names with The Jockey Club.

TBHS was founded in 2011 by a group of Central Kentuckians interested in creating opportunities to showcase the talent and competitive spirit of off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Its shows are affiliated with The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP), which encourages the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon the completion of their careers in racing or breeding.

TBHS' Fall Show builds on the success of the Spring Show in April and will be a fundraiser for Boys & Girls Haven in Louisville (boyshaven.org). The nonprofit organization works to teach young people to become productive and healthy members of the community. Its equine program enables young people to work with Thoroughbreds.

“We are really excited about supporting Boys & Girls Haven,” said TBHS Executive Director Jan Roehl. “They have a very successful equine program, and our show will give the kids job training and a chance to work with horses while they help us with the many tasks required to conduct the show."

The Fall Show will offer enhanced prize money, thanks to The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP). Classes include a Hunter Classic and a Jumper Classic, both of which will award $500 to the winner. TBHS also is hosting a $1,000 Dressage Challenge and a $500 Gamblers Choice, and is encouraging people and organizations to become sponsors of these events.

“In the Gamblers Choice class, jumps have a point value based on difficulty and riders have a time limit in which to complete the course,” Roehl said. “Riders choose which jumps to attempt and the order in which to take them. The rider with the highest number of points wins. Spectators will find the class fun to watch.”

Information about the Fall Show, including an entry form, is available on TBHS website, tbhorseshow.com.

For more information, contact executive director Jan Roehl at (859) 559-1409 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

PHOTO: Participating in the Thoroughbred Horse Shows Association's “War Horse” in-hand class during the April 14 show at the Kentucky Horse Park were (from left) Red Zipper, a 9-year-old stakes-winning gelding by City Zip who earned $303,935, with Michelle Parish; Prayer Service, a 10-year-old winning gelding by Stephen Got Even who earned $162,961, with Morgan Adams; and Train Robbery, the 25-year-old, Grade 3-winning dam of Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Cat Thief, with Martha Murdock.  Photo (c) Debbie Savage

The Thoroughbred Horse Show Association was created to develop horse shows exclusively for Thoroughbreds that are registered with The Jockey Club. These shows are designed to showcase the many talents and competitive spirit of Thoroughbreds in their second careers.

Shows are geared for Thoroughbreds just starting their show careers with entry-level divisions in multiple disciplines, including dressage, combined training, hunter/jumper, suitability for hunting and competitive trail riding. Theye provide an affordable opportunity to give your Thoroughbred valuable show experience while helping rescue organizations place Thoroughbreds in new homes.

Lexington, KY – (February 22, 2012) – Entries are being taken for the inaugural show for off-the-track Thoroughbreds conducted by the Thoroughbred Horse Show Association (TBHS) on April 14-15 at the Kentucky Horse Park. The TBHS Spring Show is geared for Thoroughbreds just starting their show careers with entry-level divisions in multiple disciplines, including dressage, combined training, hunter/jumper and competitive trail riding. TBHS will hold a second show at the Horse Park on October 6-7, and is working with rescue organizations and others to hold additional events.

“I've received phone calls from people who are interested in the show from West Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C., in addition to Kentucky,” TBHS Executive Director Jan Roehl said. “One woman from West Virginia said she wanted to bring her ex-racehorses just so she could ride them at the Kentucky Horse Park. Some people want to come a day or two early to enjoy Lexington.”

TBHS (tbhorseshow.org) was founded in 2011 by a group of Central Kentuckians interested in creating opportunities to showcase the talent and competitive spirit of off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Horses must be entered in the TBHS shows using their registered names with The Jockey Club.

Horses competing in the TBHS Spring Show will be eligible for The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) High Point Awards. The Jockey Club will award ribbons, prizes and $100 to the winner with the highest number of points in the following divisions: Starter Hunter, Hunter, Jumper, Beginner Novice Combined Test, Training Level Dressage, and First Level Dressage.

Officials of the Spring Show include Dressage Judge Susan Posner, Hunter Judge Shelley Mann, Showmanship Judge Samantha Kline and Technical Delegate Joe Carr. John Prather is the Show Manager, and Tina Desjordy is the Show Secretary. The opening reception for participants on April 13 will include a talk with Posner about how to get the most from a Thoroughbred in the dressage ring. Posner is a noted dressage trainer who has ridden and trained ex-racehorses. The show also will include a seminar titled “Ins and Outs of Feeding Your OTTB” with Kristen Janicki from Buckeye Feeds; tips from Mann on show ring etiquette and what to do if things don't go as planned in the show ring; and a presentation about success in showmanship by Samantha Kline. Former jockey P.J. Cooksey, director of public relations for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, will emcee the opening reception and present awards on Saturday.

To date, the Spring Show has received generous support from the following patrons: Adena Springs, Akindale Farm, Bantry Farms, Buckeye Nutrition, Darley, Ellen Frost, John and Devi Hall, Juddmonte Farms, Kris S. Bloodstock LLC (Kris Stuebs), New Vocations, Pauls Mill, Siena Farm, Taylor Made Farm and WindRiver Fence. Information about the event, including a schedule and class list, class descriptions, rules and information and entry form, is available at tbhorseshow.org.

The TBHS offers an annual membership of $25 and to date has members from 17 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario. Benefits include a monthly electronic newsletter; assistance in promoting and encouraging Thoroughbred adoptions; email notification about horses entered in TBHS and affiliated shows by their registered name with The Jockey Club; and networking social events with like-minded people and organizations. Members of the TBHS also become members of the Kentucky Horse Council at no charge and are able to receive a discount on insurance premiums and weekly e-News with links to articles pertaining to everything in the equine world in Kentucky.

For more information, contact Jan Roehl at (859) 559-1409 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Photo by Gayle Strickroot.

Thoroughbred Horse Show Association Created to Provide Opportunities for Thoroughbreds beginning Show Careers

Lexington, KY –  A group of Central Kentuckians interested in creating opportunities to showcase the talent and competitive spirit of Thoroughbreds off the racetrack has created the Thoroughbred Horse Show Association. The association is working to develop shows exclusively for Thoroughbreds to give them valuable show experience while helping rescue organizations place Thoroughbreds in new homes. THSA members will be able to follow these horses in the shows because the horses must be entered using their registered names with The Jockey Club. 

“Adopting Thoroughbreds after they race is a significant issue and will become even more important if race-day medication is ended and additional racehorses need to find second careers,” said THSA founder Jan Roehl of Lexington. “Our logo of a horse jumping out of a paddock symbolizes these horses are not ready to retire.”

Shows are geared for Thoroughbreds just starting their show careers with entry-level divisions in multiple disciplines, including dressage, combined training, hunter/jumper, suitability for hunting and competitive trail riding. THSA already has scheduled shows in 2012 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington for April 14-15 and October 6-7, and is working with rescue organizations and others to hold additional shows next year.

“Thoroughbreds off the track make very talented show horses, but they first need experience to develop their abilities and be seen by trainers who can take them to the next level,” said Roehl, who has spent much of her life working with Thoroughbreds in the show ring and on the racetrack.

Because Thoroughbreds that compete in THSA or affiliated shows must be entered using their registered name with The Jockey Club, THSA members will be able to follow the second careers of horses they admired at the racetrack.

“This is a great feature of THSA membership,” Roehl said. “Many of us would like to keep up with horses after their racing careers end and they become show horses. More often than not, Thoroughbreds off the track don't show under their registered names, so there hasn't been an easy way to follow them.”

Roehl said THSA is a membership-driven community designed to connect Thoroughbred owners to a large group of like-minded people who care about the future of these horses. The association's annual membership of $300 will finance shows and promote Thoroughbred adoption. THSA has launched a website at http://tbhorseshow.org where people may learn more and join the association.

Joining Roehl in THSA is John Prather, a veteran event coordinator and manager. Prather is a board member for Equestrian Events Inc., the governing body of the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, and is on the board of Blue Grass Farms Charities. He was the main stadium manager at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park.

For more information, contact Jan Roehl at (859) 421-8710 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Note:  Photo above of Party Leader, a retired Thoroughbred in retraining for a second career at the Maker's Mark Secretariat Center at the Kentucky Horse Park.