Retired Racehorse Project

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,...

Registration is now open for the 2023 Real Rider Cup, a charity show jumping event featuring members of the racing industry competing on off-track Thoroughbreds. Proceeds from the event will once again benefit the Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, and the Retired Racehorse Project. The Real Rider Cup offers two legs of competition, the first leg at Mereworth Farm in Lexington, KY, on Jul. 8 and the second durin the Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show in Elkton, MD, on Sep. 15. Riders will compete both individually and...

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation (TERF) has awarded the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) $5,000 to be used for educational purposes. RRP's mission is to facilitate placement of Thoroughbred ex-racehorses in second careers by increasing demand for them in the equestrian marketplace and educating equestrians to provide the training that secures their future. The driving force behind everything RRP does is educating the public--especially equestrians and equine enthusiasts--about the potential and versatility of off-track Thoroughbreds as riding and competition horses via their popular Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium. In 2018,...

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...

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) announced today its First Footing Silent Auction, sponsored by OCD Pellets, is open for bidding starting at 9:00 a.m. (EST) on Dec. 30 and runs through January 6, 2023 at 11 p.m. (EST). Named for a Scottish tradition, the First-Foot is the first person to enter the home of a household on New Year's Day and is seen as a harbinger of good fortune for the coming year. This year's auction features horse shoes worn by some of racing's most elite stars, including Justify, Monomoy...

Richard Lamb has been elected the new board chair of the Retired Racehorse Project and Jodie Vella-Gregory has been elected the organization's new vice chair. The RRP also added new board members Dr. Shannon Reed and Sissy Wickes. Lamb, the former vice chair, has stepped into the leadership role to take the place of outgoing chair, Sue Smith. Lamb begins his service as chair at the beginning of his second term on the RRP board, having joined in January of 2020 after several years officiating at the Thoroughbred Makeover. "Having...

Claiborne Farm will be the title sponsor of the Former Broodmare division in its first year at the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, the Retired Racehorse Project announced Tuesday. First announced in November of this year, the Former Broodmare division will welcome recently retired broodmares to compete alongside traditional retiring racehorses in all 10 offered disciplines, with broodmares pinned and recognized separately and competing for a separate pot of $10,000 in prize money. "Claiborne is pleased to be the title sponsor of the...

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...

She's a Bold One (Midshipman), trained by junior Jenna Denver of Imlay City, Michigan, was crowned the 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion Saturday following three days of competition at the Kentucky Horse Park. The unraced She's A Bold One recorded her last timed work Jan. 12, 2021. The 4-year-old filly finished fifth in the preliminary eventing round, netting Top Junior honors as well. The pair also finished fourth in Dressage and took home the Top Junior prize in that discipline as well. Entering Saturday's finale on a blank slate, She's A...

In this new TDN column, Christie DeBernardis will tell the stories of accomplished and/or popular former racehorses who are now enjoying second careers as show horses, track ponies, etc. Champion sprinter Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) and Laura Moquett's relationship goes back to when he was just a 2-year-old who refused to go around the racetrack without some coaxing. Fast forward seven years and that cantankerous juvenile is now an Eclipse winner and Breeders' Cup winner and has been retired from racing as Moquett's personal riding horse. On Thursday, less than 13...