Thoroughbred Makeover

The Retired Racehorse Project will launch two fundraising initiatives supporting the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, Presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, the non-profit said in a Thursday release. The Make the Makeover campaign is a trainer-driven fundraiser, allowing supporters to make a donation to the RRP pledged in the name of a participating Makeover trainer. All trainers who raise $1,000 or more will have their entry fees refunded (or applied to a 2025 application). The Fund-a-Need campaign is a renewal of the RRP's annual Makeover fundraiser and works...

396 trainers have been accepted to the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. Announced in a release from the Retired Racehorse Project, the event, a retraining competition for recently-retired racehorses and broodmares, will be held Oct. 9-12 in Lexington, KY with over $100,000 in available prize money across 10 disciplines. "We sincerely appreciate the time and dedication it takes to transition Thoroughbreds into their next careers," said Executive Director of TCA Erin Halliwell. "We're looking forward to October where we'll see hundreds of Thoroughbreds...

Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, according to a Tuesday release from the Retired Racehorse Project. The application can be accessed at theRRP.org and must be completed by 5 p.m. EST Jan. 19. Accepted trainers will be announced no later than Feb. 15. Entering its 10th year at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, the Thoroughbred Makeover features competition in 10 disciplines for recently retired Thoroughbreds in their first year of retraining for a career after racing....

The rulebook for the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, is now available for review on the organization's website, the Retired Racehorse Project said in a release early Friday morning. Revisions to the rules are indicated in red, while clarifications are in blue. A free webinar presentation about the application process will take place for any interested individuals via the Retired Racehorse Project's Facebook page on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7:00 p.m. ET.

GISW Arklow (Arch), one of the most accomplished horses competing at the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park this week, is adding another achievement to his resume as he advanced in the Field Hunter preliminary round under amateur rider Gina Gans, the Retired Racehorse Project said in a release late Thursday night. The former Brad Cox trainee, who earned over $3 million during his racing career, turned in three relaxed rides over two days of competition and has made it to the weekend. The 9-year-old will have the...

The Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) has returned as the title sponsor of the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) announced on Monday. The TCA has been a supporter of the RRP since 2012. The Thoroughbred Makeover features trainers from across North America who have worked throughout the year to prepare recently retired Thoroughbred ex-racehorses to compete for more than $100,000 in ten equestrian sports. This year, the competition scope expanded to include recently retired broodmares exiting the breeding industry. "The Thoroughbred Makeover has really moved...

Edited Press Release Some 512 trainers have been accepted to the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, officials with the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) have announced. The event takes place Oct. 11-14, 2023, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and offers prize money in excess of $100,000. "On behalf of TCA, we congratulate all of the trainers accepted into the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover," said Erin Halliwell, executive director of TCA. "We appreciate the time and resources trainers dedicate to transitioning Thoroughbreds into their...

More than 6,700 awards and classes at more than 1,400 shows in 43 states and six Canadian provinces will be offered for off-track Thoroughbreds in 2023, The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P) announced on Tuesday. Awards are available for multiple disciplines, including eventing, dressage, Western and English pleasure, ranch riding, hunter/jumper, endurance, barrel racing, polo, and polocrosse. T.I.P. Championships in hunters, jumpers, combined test, dressage, English pleasure, and English in-hand will return this year to Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, from Oct. 5 through Oct. 8. T.I.P. Western...

Applications for the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, are now open for submission, the Retired Racehorse Project announced Tuesday. The application period closes at 5:00 p.m. EST on Jan. 20. Accepted trainers will be announced no later than Feb. 15. Interested applicants can start the application process now by logging on to Retired Racehorse Project website. Entering its ninth year at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, horses and trainers will compete for more than $110,000 in total prize money, plus the coveted...

Prince of New York, piloted by professional trainer Chris Bennings, won the People's Choice Award, sponsored by Achieve Equine, at the 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover. The achievement comes not only with the recognition of a job well done, but the liberty to choose an equine-related 501(c)3 nonprofit to receive a $2,500 donation sponsored by Achieve Equine. For Bennings--who's first introduction to retraining off-track Thoroughbreds was with Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)-accredited Florida TRAC--choosing the TAA as the beneficiary of the People's Choice Award was a no-brainer. "My wife Celia and I knew...

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) will include a pilot program for broodmares to compete in the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. Recently retired broodmares will compete alongside traditional entrants in all ten offered disciplines, but will be recognized separately and have a separate $10,000 in prize money. "As the Thoroughbred Makeover has made a proven impact on the population of horses retiring from racing, we've gotten an increasing call in recent years for a channel for Thoroughbred broodmares who are ready for their...

Edited Press Release The Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit, a joint effort of the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP), Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), and Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA), returns to the Thoroughbred Makeover Oct. 11, 2022 at the Kentucky Horse Park. The summit will be held from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the TCA Covered Arena Lounge, one day prior to the start of preliminary competition at the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The 2022...