Cowboy Swagger (Grindstone), trained and ridden by Fallon Taylor, is the 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion. A consistent performance over the two-day contest held at the Kentucky Horse Park earned the pair the victory in the Barrel Racing discipline at the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, Saturday. After clinching the championship in Barrel Racing, Taylor's fan base rallied behind her to vote her to the overall title.
“I think the coolest thing about these Thoroughbreds is their demeanor,” Taylor said. “This is a special, unique horse. I'm just sitting here with no bridle on, people all around, all these cameras pointed at him, and he's completely unaffected. The Thoroughbreds want to please. And these guys are made to run–they're made for this job. It's our job to be kind, be patient and help these horses learn the pattern and learn their new job. We need to go out and get these horses and scoop them up!”
Taylor acquired Cowboy Swagger thanks to the advice of a friend who knew the horse on the track and loved his personality. He was bred in Oregon by Dr. and Mrs. Jack B. Root Jr., and as of his last start Jan. 8, 2019 at Portland Meadows, he was trained by Sam Dronen. Cowboy Swagger made 16 career starts with three wins and total earnings of $20,299.
For full results from the Thoroughbred Makeover, please visit www.tbmakeover.org.
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