Awards are presented to the owner of the HOTY Grand National Champions, National Champions, and National Reserve Champions. One free ticket will be provided to the horse owner. Please visit usef.org/annual-meeting/registration to claim your complimentary ticket. Additional tickets can be purchased for $125 until January 17. Tickets purchased on-site will be $150. Please note that owners of multiple horses will only receive one free ticket.

The 2024 SmartPak/USEF Horse of the Year Awards will take place on Saturday, January 25th, 2024 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington, KY.

430 West Vine Street

Lexington, KY 40507

A discounted room block is offered at the Hilton Lexington/Downtown, but there is limited availability. The cutoff date to receive this discounted rate is December 24. Make Your Reservation

No. Annual Meeting registration is only required for those who would like to attend the various meetings throughout the week. If you plan to attend just the SmartPak/USEF HOTY Awards Dinner, you only need to ensure you have a ticket for the evening’s awards program.

Yes. It is extremely important that you check in for the evening’s awards program. This is the only way we will know who to include in the awards presentation. The check-in desk will be open Saturday, January 25, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and is located on the at the USEF Annual Meeting Registration Desk in the Central Bank Center. 

Most attending the evening’s program wear cocktail party attire. Some individuals enjoy the opportunity to dress more formally and wear tuxedos and gowns. The evening will begin with a reception from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. in the Ballroom foyer. At 7 p.m. everyone will be welcomed into the Ballroom to begin the evening’s seated dinner and awards presentations. 

A photographer will take photos and capture the memories of the evening. The weeks following the SmartPak/USEF Horse of the Year Awards, the photos will be available on usef.org. All of the photos are high-resolution and free to download.

The ballroom will be open during the reception before the awards dinner begins. You are welcome to go in and take photos on stage with all of the Horse of the Year trophies. When you are called up to accept your award, our photographer will be there to get a picture. The trophies will be cleared off the stage as they are awarded thus we encourage everyone to get photos early.

While the award is presented to the owner of the horse, we would be happy to allow the rider or trainer to accept on your behalf if they are attending the dinner. Please be sure to let the awards check-in staff know when picking up tickets/confirming awards being accepted.

While we do ask that friends and family do not join onstage for the award presentation, they are welcome to join immediately following for additional photos and celebration at our side-stage photo area with images taken by the professional photographer.

If the horse owner is not in attendance, we would be happy to let your friend or trainer bring home your ribbon(s) if they are going to be at the dinner. We will have a table toward the back of the room where they can pick up your ribbon to bring home.

Awards will be in groups by breed/discipline, presented in alphabetical order by horse name. Screens will display what breed or discipline is being acknowledged throughout the evening’s program.  When we are announcing the awards for your division, please be sure to listen so you do not miss your chance to come on stage.

At the SmartPak/USEF Horse of the Year Awards, we will present ribbons for the Grand National, National and Reserve Champion honors. National ribbons for third through sixth place, along with regional/zone awards, will be mailed to the horse’s owner in the weeks following the awards dinner. After accepting your award on stage, if you would like us to mail your ribbon to you so you do not need to travel with it, please see the US Equestrian representatives at the back of the ballroom.

Unlike last year's Smartpak/USEF Horse of the Year Dinner, this year's event will have assigned seating. Seats will be assigned, unless an entire table is purchased.

Please feel free to email [email protected] with any questions.