Thoroughbred Makeover

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...

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...

An anonymous donor has pledged a matching $4,500 contribution to the Retired Racehorse Project's summer Fund-a-Need campaign. "We're exceedingly grateful for the donation match that has been pledged to our Fund-a-Need campaign this year," said RRP development manager Megan Garlich. "The Makeover is much more than a horse show. It's a movement of people committed to showcasing the versatility, athleticism and trainability of Thoroughbred ex-racehorses and securing their place in non-racing careers. Fund-a-Need allows us to continue to provide the necessary resources to produce the event and foster meaningful community...

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...

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...