Make a Difference This Season for Thoroughbreds Beyond Racing

November 20, 2023

Education, Service & Inspiration.

The Retired Racehorse Project understands the critical need to increase demand for Thoroughbreds beyond racing and empowers equestrians with the support and resources they need to be successful with the breed.

While adoption organizations, listing agents, resellers and in-house racing programs all play a vital role in the modern aftercare industry, these programs will all struggle without demand from the equestrian industry. That’s where the Retired Racehorse Project comes in.

You can continue to make a difference to the causes that mean the most to you. If everyone reading this article gives $10, we can raise over $200,000 for the future of Thoroughbred aftercare. Your donation is tax-deductible and will help us reach our year-end goal of $100,000 to help us launch our programming for 2024. Make your donation now!

Double your donation: watch our social media channels over the next few weeks for match pledge opportunities thanks to the generosity of major donors.

Your support in 2023 enabled us to:

  • Facilitate the transition to next careers for over 570 horses via the Thoroughbred Makeover, including a new pilot program for former broodmares
  • Relaunch free Horse Listings on our website, exclusively for Thoroughbreds
  • Continue to produce high quality content for our digital Education Library
  • Present programming at the Kentucky 3-Day Event, Preakness meet, Saratoga meet, Churchill Downs Aftercare Day, the University of Arizona, and more
  • Establish an advisory council to increase awareness of our work and better serve our community

There’s more we’d love to achieve in 2024, and your support will help us on our way!

Additional ways you can support the RRP in 2024:

In Other News

November 26, 2024

To Pass or To Fail: That Used to Be the Question

Whether a horse “passes” or “fails” a pre-purchase exam (PPE) is an outdated interpretation: how can a PPE help a buyer?…
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November 25, 2024

RRP Announces $38,700 Match for 2024 Year-End Giving Campaign

The RRP announces the launch of its 2024 year-end giving campaign with 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…
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October 28, 2024

Feeding the Racing Thoroughbred

Understanding the diet of the racing Thoroughbred can help inform a smoother transition to a career beyond racing.…
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October 15, 2024

Retired Racehorse Project’s 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Showcases the Breed Beyond Racing

The 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover was the ninth edition of the event in Kentucky.…
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October 14, 2024

Picking Prospects Fall 2024

Makeover trainers evaluate sport horse potential based on conformation shots.…
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October 12, 2024

Big Fame Is Named 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, Sponsored by Churchill Downs Inc.

The top title went to Big Fame, trained by Angela Carmitchel.…
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October 10, 2024

Preliminary Competition Concludes at the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover

That’s a wrap on preliminary days at North America’s largest retraining competition for Thoroughbreds!…
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October 9, 2024

First Day of Competition Is In the Books at the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover

The first day of preliminary competition has wrapped!…
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October 3, 2024

Final Trainer Newsletter: Ride Times, Stall Assignments, The Works

This email is EVERYTHING. Please read it in its entirety. We know you will be tempted to get to your ride times and stall assignments and skip the rest, but don’t. Read it all. This email is your key to…
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October 3, 2024

2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Event Survey

No excerpt…
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October 2, 2024

Follow Along with the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover

The banner event of the Retired Racehorse Project is coming October 9-12! Here’s how to follow all the action.…
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October 1, 2024

Retired Racehorse Project Announces 2024 Makeover Champions Participants

The RRP announced today the list of former breeders, owners, trainers, stallion farms and other connections participating in Makeover Champions, the RRP’s new initiative to encourage more public support of Thoroughbreds in careers beyond racing via the Thoroughbred Makeover.…
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September 30, 2024

Connections Corner Signup Form

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September 27, 2024

Real Rider Cup Fair Hill Raises $80,000 for Thoroughbred Aftercare, Announces Plans To Go West

As of this writing, the event has raised over $600,000 for Thoroughbred aftercare and Motion has a vision to expand the event model to benefit more aftercare entities.…
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September 24, 2024

RRP Announces Format Changes for 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover

Beginning in 2025, the Finale Championship event will be replaced by individual discipline championships, welcoming back the top ten highest-placed horses after preliminary competition.…
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September 23, 2024

Tieback Surgery 101: Possible Complications & Long-Term Care

Done correctly, tieback surgery helps a Thoroughbred both on the racetrack and in his second career.…
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September 17, 2024

2024 Bill Kraatz Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award: Talk Show Man

Talk Show Man, a 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover graduate, is the first recipient of the reimagined Ambassador Award.…
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September 13, 2024

Churchill Downs Incorporated Returns as Title Sponsor of Thoroughbred Makeover Champion

This 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.…
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September 11, 2024

September Trainer Newsletter: Special Awards, Clinics, Party Tickets, and more.

26 days stand between all of us and the start of the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover. This email contains vital information to get you through those 26 days. Do not skip it. Special Award Nominations are posted and inquiries are open…
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September 10, 2024

Trainer Newsletter: 2024 Makeover Clinics Now Open! (Plus Final Entry Edits & Fun Stuff)

Happy September, class of 2024! We’re pleased to announce that the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Clinics, sponsored by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, are now open for sign-ups! Please log in to the Trainer Portal at theRRP.org and tap New Clinic Registration…
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September 10, 2024

Thoroughbred Charities of America Returns as Title Sponsor of Thoroughbred Makeover & National Symposium

TCA provides exceptional commitment to improving the lives and welfare of Thoroughbred racehorses both on and off the track, which has guided its support of the RRP since 2012.…
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September 6, 2024

Webinar: Diagnose Before You Treat

Sponsored by Bluegrass Equine Surgery; featuring Dr. Heath Manning of Bluegrass Equine Surgery. Recorded August 2024.…
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August 26, 2024

Meet the Thoroughbred Makeover Class of 2024

It’s time for our annual deep dive into the data we collected on this year’s Makeover class!…
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August 19, 2024

Joint Care for Racehorses & Its Impact on Post-Race Careers

Many options exist to help Thoroughbreds stay sound and comfortable at the racetrack and after racing.…
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