The Upperville Colt & Horse Show in Upperville, Virginia, will introduce a new $25,000 Thoroughbred Hunter Derby this June, replacing the previous Upperville Thoroughbred Hunter Classic. Scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Parker Ring beneath Upperville’s iconic oak trees, the event will be followed by a reception in the Friends of Upperville tent near the grandstand.
This new Derby represents a wider industry push to create more opportunities for Thoroughbreds at prestigious horse shows. In recent years, trainers, horse owners, and Thoroughbred advocates have worked to boost the profile and competitiveness of Thoroughbreds in hunter and jumper disciplines.
TAKE2, founded by the late Bruce Duchossois and Rick Violette Jr. of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., has played a leading role in this movement. The program partners with USEF-rated shows to offer Hunter and Jumper divisions exclusively for Thoroughbreds registered with the Jockey Club. More recently, Thoroughbred enthusiast Carey Brogden, known in racing circles, shared with Camden, South Carolina trainer Ron Danta the racing industry’s interest in promoting a high-prize money Thoroughbred-only derby series.
Simultaneously, Middleburg trainer Sue Lyman, a USHJA member and chair of the Horse and Jockey Advocacy Committee, and Dale Eldridge, founder of Second Wind Thoroughbred Aftercare, revived the dormant USHJA Thoroughbred Task Force, with Ron Danta linking them to Brogden’s efforts.
Inspired by the national success of an outstanding Thoroughbred named “Whiskey,” who excelled in both the Thoroughbred Hunter division and the much-competitive Green Hunter division, finishing well in the USHJA Green Incentive Program finals, these efforts gained momentum. Whiskey’s achievements at Upperville in June 2025, especially winning both the TAKE2 division and the Thoroughbred Hunter Classic, prompted USHJA President Britt McCormick to officially reinstate the Thoroughbred Task Force, with Eldridge as chair and Lyman as a member. Their initial goal was to bring Brogden’s vision of a high-stakes Thoroughbred derby to fruition.
The task force agreed that a standalone successful event was essential before developing a series, and Upperville was the obvious venue.
“At Upperville, we know how to run the Derby, and Thoroughbreds already have a strong presence here,” Lyman stated.
UCHS Trustee Tom Brennan proposed the 2026 Derby to the show committee, which responded positively. Brennan estimated the need for at least $20,000 in prize money and $10,000 for contestant reception costs to attract top-tier participants and support.
Lyman quickly rallied supporters with an interest in Thoroughbreds, sparking fundraising for the derby’s purse and reception. Early donors included Ann Hormel, a long-time Thoroughbred supporter and former client of Lyman. Other supporters, including Jacqueline Mars and Tisbury Stud, contributed, with TAKE2 and Aspire Equine, LLC helping boost the purse to $25,000 alongside reception sponsorship.
Hormel expressed, “I love Thoroughbreds and dislike seeing them sidelined if racing isn’t an option for them. I hope this Derby encourages their return to hunter and jumper rings.”
With strong backing from the industry, generous prize money, and Upperville’s historic setting, the inaugural Thoroughbred Hunter Derby is set to be a landmark event for Thoroughbreds in sport horse competitions.
Tom Brennan added, “By launching this new $25,000 Thoroughbred Derby, Upperville is raising the bar. This event underscores our commitment to honoring tradition while creating significant new opportunities for Thoroughbreds, owners, and riders.”
For more information, click here.
Fan Take: This exciting development is a significant win for Thoroughbred enthusiasts, bridging the gap between racing and sport horse worlds. It not only showcases the versatility and talent of Thoroughbreds beyond the racetrack but also offers fresh opportunities for their careers, benefiting the entire horse racing community.
