Kirsten Green

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has returned as the title sponsor of the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) said in a Friday release. The title is awarded to the horse selected by a panel of judges as having the highest level of training at the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, which takes place Oct. 9-12 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. "The continued impact of the Retired Racehorse Project is dependent on racing institutions such as Churchill Downs Incorporated and...

Thoroughbred Charities of America will return as the title sponsor for the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium the organization announced Tuesday. The Thoroughbred Makeover showcases recently-retired ex-racehorses, transitioned to new careers by trainers across North America to culminate in a four-day competition at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington annually in October. The Makeover offers 10 equestrian disciplines with over $100,000 in prize money offered; a division of competition for recently-retired broodmares returns for the second year. "The Thoroughbred Makeover has made a measurable impact on Thoroughbred...

Nominations for the reimagined Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award for 2024 are now open, the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) said Monday. Any Thoroughbred Makeover graduate, regardless of whether the registered horse actually competed, is eligible for the award, regardless of its current owner. Nominations will be submitted via an online form at TheRRP.org, which includes fields to describe the horse's post-Makeover competitive career, achievements and general updates. "The RRP has identified tracking and recognizing the accomplishments of Thoroughbred sport horses in a comprehensive way as being crucial to furthering our mission...

A day of clinics and guided schooling opportunities has been added to the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, according to the organization Wednesday. The additional day, which will be offered Friday, Oct. 11, will feature participants in the disciplines of dressage, show hunter, show jumper and ranch work that did not qualify for the Finale Championships. The symposium runs Oct. 9-12. Clinics will follow a format of a small group working with the clinician, who will be a judge from preliminary competition, while guided schooling will be short individual sessions...

A pair of winners, After the Races and the Retired Racehorse Project, opted to split the winnings of the Resolute Racing's Poker For Ponies Tournament held in the lead up to the GI Kentucky Derby earlier this month. Hosted by the Louisville Thoroughbred Society May 1, the tournament invited players to pledge winnings to one of 20 pre-selected Thoroughbred aftercare organizations. Jimmy Gladwell and Gavin O'Connor each tied for the win and earned $32,500 apiece for their two respective organizations. "Support from the racing industry has played a vital role...

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...

After eight years in print, the Retired Racehorse Project will no longer produce its award-winning quarterly publication, Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine. The forthcoming winter issue will be the last. "It has been a true honor and pleasure to work with the RRP team to give shape to the concept of a magazine featuring these exceptional horses, and it's been a delightful experience working on all 33 editions," said Stephanie Church, Editorial Director at The Horse. "We look forward to continuing to work with the RRP to publish the annual Thoroughbred Makeover...

The Retired Racehorse Project has elected new officers and created an advisory council, a body of non-governing individuals representing an array of backgrounds and professional experience chosen to help enhance the RRP's execution of its charitable mission the organization announced Friday. Existing board member Neil Agate was confirmed as board chair earlier this Spring when personal obligations required previous chair, Richard Lamb, to step back from the officer position. Lamb is still completing his second term serving on the board of directors. "I have enjoyed being part of the RRP...

The Retired Racehorse Project has launched a new version of its Horse Listings, the only listing service dedicated exclusively to Thoroughbreds at all stages of second careers, from horses just retiring from racing to finished horses in all disciplines with show records, as well as from all backgrounds including both non-profit adoption organizations and private sellers. On the backend, horse listing information will be linked to a profile for that horse in the RRP's database, and will be linked to any past or future Makeover registry for that individual horse,...

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...

Following a record-setting turnout in Lexington this past July, the 63 entered riders that have taken part in the Real Rider Cup have raised better than $160,000 this year, a number that rises to $173,000 when corporate sponsors are factored in. That amount more than triple any previous annual total for the event and brings the total raised since the inception of the Real Rider Cup to $410,000 raised for Thoroughbred aftercare. "It's been an honor to have been a beneficiary of the Real Rider Cup since the beginning," said...

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) announced today that Erin O'Keefe has been hired for the new position of development director. O'Keefe brings a decade of experience in many facets of the Thoroughbred industry from breeding to sales to racing. As development director, O'Keefe will be responsible for creating and implementing a comprehensive development plan, activating opportunities for racing outreach, and supporting the executive director to maximize opportunities for speaking engagements and media representation. "Erin's diverse background in the racing industry coupled with her hands-on experience in aftercare gives her a...