The Queensland Off-The-Track (QOTT) Program is setting a new benchmark for how retired racehorses are celebrated in their second careers. Through premium event partnerships with the Royal Queensland Show and Magic Millions, QOTT is creating exciting competitive opportunities with significant prizemoney that attract riders from grassroots to elite levels.
When Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds step into major equestrian arenas, they are no longer seen only as horses from the track. They become versatile athletes whose adaptability, work ethic and heart are on full display. These partnerships are helping to bridge the gap between the racing industry and the wider equestrian community, while fostering a sense of pride and responsibility around post-racing careers.
The impact reaches across the sport. Beyond the high-profile partnerships, the QOTT Event Sponsorship Program supports more than 100 grassroots events every year, funding everything from pony club competitions to agricultural show classes. Together, these initiatives create a pathway for riders and horses to develop at every stage of their journey.
There has also been a growing diversity among competitors. It is no longer just professionals taking part, but passionate amateurs, juniors and adults returning to riding. The everyday rider’s story is being celebrated as much as the elite competitor’s.
Across the breeds, Standardbreds are increasingly gaining recognition alongside Thoroughbreds. Their quiet intelligence and willingness to work are winning over riders who might once have overlooked them. Every time a rider succeeds with an OTT horse, it strengthens the message that these horses truly belong — not just in the paddock, but in the arena.
At the Royal Queensland Show this year, the QOTT Showjumping Showcase offered $50,000 in the 1.20m class and $25,000 in the 1.05m class. The Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day on August 11 featured more than $25,000 in prizemoney across 18 led and under-saddle classes. The annual QOTT Cup Final, held at the Magic Millions Polo and Showjumping Day in January, has a $100,000 prizemoney pool and draws competitors from qualifying rounds around the country.
The level of prestige and reward is helping shift perceptions. While elite competition often favours purpose-bred performance horses, there has been a renewed interest in OTT Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds. Riders are no longer choosing them simply because they are affordable. Many value their heart, work ethic and the satisfaction of giving a horse a meaningful second career.
Each success story adds to the momentum, planting new seeds of appreciation within the equestrian community and beyond.
Rider Spotlight: Jamie Hewitt-Toms and Woody
For Queensland rider Jamie Hewitt-Toms, her off-the-track Thoroughbred Woody is more than a partner in sport — he’s a reminder of how far these horses can go with the right opportunity.
Woody never made it to the races but has since found his stride in the showjumping arena. Before Jamie took the reins two years ago, he had already competed at five-star level under rider Rob Palm. “I was really lucky to get the ride on him,” Jamie says. “He’s so easygoing. I don’t do anything special with him — he just knows his job.”
Jamie grew up in Far North Queensland, riding through pony clubs and local shows before focusing on showjumping. Horses have always been part of her life; her mum, Christine Hewitt, was a jockey who rode both in Australia and overseas. Now in her early twenties and completing a Law and Criminology degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Jamie balances study with training and competition.
At this year’s QOTT Program Showjumping Showcase, the pair delivered two clear rounds to take the win, following a strong third place the year before. “I didn’t expect to win,” she admits. “I just trusted him. He always tries his heart out.”
Looking ahead, Jamie hopes to step into more Mini Prix and Grand Prix classes before the end of the year. “It’s about believing in them,” she says. “He’s proof that off-the-track horses can do anything.”
“Through stories like Jamie’s and the growing network of riders supported by QOTT, the message is clear: a horse’s racing career is only the beginning. With the right guidance and opportunity, their second careers can be every bit as successful — and every bit as meaningful.”
