Retired Racehorse Project

As we approach this year's season of giving thanks, I am especially grateful for those in the veterinary profession, the dedicated racing connections who stand by their horses for life, and the amazing Thoroughbreds who teach us what really matters. My mare, Sadie's Magic (Street Magician), has taken me on many adventures and taught me a tremendous amount as a rider. What I did not expect were the lessons that she would teach me out of the saddle: lessons in resilience, perseverance, and the perspective on life that would follow...

The Retired Racehorse Project's 2024 year-end giving campaign will include a total goal of $100,000, including a $38,700 match pledge that will double contributions from donors who support the organization's charitable mission to increase demand for Thoroughbreds beyond racing. The campaign comes on the eve of the RRP's 15-year anniversary in 2025. The match pledge is generously donated by Valerie Callcott-Stevens; Copper Beech Stables; The Happy Dog Fund; Hinkle Farms; Dr. Carolyn Karlson; Jen Roytz and Dr. Stuart Brown; and additional Makeover Champions. "The RRP's work spans multiple equine industry...

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be on-site as a sponsor this year for The Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY October 9-12. The event is the largest retraining competition for recently retired Thoroughbred racehorses and showcases the versatility and adaptability of these athletes as they transition into new careers while highlighting the importance of aftercare in ensuring successful second careers for Thoroughbreds. Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will have a booth located in the Covered Arena during the Thoroughbred Makeover. Riders...

The Fair Hill leg of the Real Rider Cup welcomed 36 horse and rider combinations along with hundreds of spectators to Fair Hill Thoroughbred Horse Show Sept. 13th. The charity show jumping competition brought together personalities from across the breeding and racing industry to increase awareness and raise funds for Thoroughbred aftercare, with each rider pledging to raise at least $1,000. Riders, mounted on off-track Thoroughbreds and wearing the silks of their employers, colleagues, and clients, contended a course of fences with the fastest clear rounds taking home top honors....

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) announced format changes to its flagship event, the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, beginning with the 2025 competition year. Beginning in 2025, which also marks the 10th anniversary of the Thoroughbred Makeover's move to Kentucky, the Finale Championship event will be replaced by individual discipline championships, welcoming back the top 10 highest-placed horses after preliminary competition. Discipline championships will take place in the same locations as preliminary rounds, and will call back twice as many horses to participate as the current Finale format; horses will...

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...

Sibelius (Not This Time--Fiery Pulpit, by Pulpit), winner of the 2023 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, has been retired from racing after suffering a tendon injury, trainer Jerry O'Dwyer confirmed the news first reported by Blood-Horse Tuesday. "He is a 6-year-old and he tore a tendon in a regular, routine gallop," O'Dwyer said. "He can come back 100% from it, but that will be a seven or eight month or a year process. He has done so much for us already, we are not going to take a chance of him...

From 447 registered horses, 353 have made final entry into the Retired Racehorses Project's 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The RRP released statistics related to this year's group of registered horses Monday. According to the release: The average spent by trainers to acquire their Makeover candidates was $3,067. This includes direct purchase as well as adoption. A total of 109 horses, representing 24% of the registered class, were acquired in what the organization considers a non-cash transaction representing a nominal fee or non-cash...

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) is rolling out the Makeover Champions program by inviting members of the Thoroughbred industry to demonstrate public support for former connected horses who are headed to the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, the RRP said in a press release on Thursday. Former connections, including breeders, owners, trainers, and stallion farms are eligible to participate in the program. Makeover Champions will share updates about their former connected horses throughout the event. Additional participation options include volunteering at the Thoroughbred Makeover, attending to cheer on their...

Patrick Cummings and Sarah Williams have been elected to the board of directors of the Retired Racehorse Project. Cummings is the executive director of the National Thoroughbred Alliance, a consultative organization founded by owner Mike Repole. Prior to launching the NTA, Cummings led the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation during its five-year operation. In previous roles, Cummings managed the Hong Kong Jockey Club's racing public affairs team, served former race-tracking and data firm Trakus, and covered international racing for a variety of publications. He has also operated his own consulting practice, Global...

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) is now accepting donations for its 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Silent Auction, the non-profit said in a Thursday release. Hosted online, the silent auction runs during Thoroughbred Makeover week, Oct. 4-12, and items are on display starting Oct. 8. Past contributions have included unique experiences such as polo lessons or fox hunting, racing memorabilia such stallion halters and shoes, and one-of-a-kind equestrian or racing artwork. Items to be shipped to the Maryland office for processing must be sent by Sept. 16. In-person donations can be dropped...

Claiborne Farm and Lane's End Farm have committed to a co-sponsorship of the Former Broodmare division at the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) announced Tuesday. First run as a pilot program in 2023, the Former Broodmare division is now an official competition avenue at the Thoroughbred Makeover, welcoming recently-retired broodmares to compete alongside the traditional retiring racehorse division in all 10 offered disciplines. Broodmares will be pinned and recognized separately, and compete for a separate pot of $10,000...