Thoroughbred Makeover Tickets Now for Sale

Tickets go on sale June 28 for the Retired Racehorse Project's $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium Presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA).

The event features 500 Thoroughbred ex-racehorses performing in 10 equestrian disciplines who have each received less than a year's training in a second career. Top professional and amateur trainers from throughout North America compete for $100,000 in prize money and crowd support to be crowned "America's Most Wanted Thoroughbred." 

The action takes place Oct. 27-30, 2016 at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington.

Competition in show hunters, field hunters, barrel racing, eventing, polo, dressage, competitive trails, and freestyle takes place Oct. 27 and 28 as each horse performs for top judges in their chosen discipline. On Oct. 29, the top three competitors from each discipline compete in the finale in the TCA covered arena where the crowd selects "America's Most Wanted Thoroughbred."

On Oct. 30, demonstrations and workshops are presented by top trainers in each discipline. They will share their secrets to selecting, caring for, retraining, and selling Thoroughbreds off the track, while racing industry celebrities will demonstrate how Thoroughbreds are trained and ridden for their first careers. Attendees can also shop, browse, and talk with industry experts in the sponsor fair throughout the four days.

"This event is for people who want to become better horsemen," said RRP president Steuart Pittman. "It's the perfect blend of horse show, expo, conference, and sale. You can caucus with interest groups of your peers, watch the horses and trainers that inspire you, see a demo on training ex-racehorses in your discipline, and shop for your own horse-of-a-lifetime. And if that's not enough, you can catch the end of the race meet at Keeneland or tour the world's greatest Thoroughbred farms."

Approximately half of the horses will be offered for sale, each will undergo an arrival exam by a veterinarian from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and their veterinarians will be available to conduct pre-purchase exams. All sale horses will be catalogued online in advance and buyers may test-ride horses at sellers' discretion.

Tickets are $10 per day or $25 for the event, and include access to seminars, competition, demonstrations, and the finale. Members of Retired Racehorse Project get free admission but should register online. RRP membership costs $45 and includes a subscription to Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine, a copy of the Retired Racehorse Resource Directory, and valuable discounts and benefits. Tickets are available here.