L-R: Cathy Shircliff of Churchill Downs; Forthegreatergood and Laura Sloan; Erin Crady, TCA Executive Director; Jen Roytz, RRP Executive Director

Ten discipline winners from what was hailed as one of the strongest Thoroughbred Makeover competition years yet awaited results in a picture-perfect lineup at the Kentucky Horse Park this evening at the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America — but there was only one 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, sponsored by Churchill Downs, and that was Forthegreatergood, trained by Laura Sloan.

Forthegreatergood (Scipion – No Peeking, by Langfuhr) is a 2015 16.1 hand gray/roan gelding who was bred in Maryland by Donna Lockard. Lockard also trained and raced the horse herself for his 22-race career, hitting the board five times at Maryland tracks for total career earnings of $46,734. 

Forthegreatergood and Laura Sloan. Photo by CanterClix

Sloan, a professional hailing from Southern Pines, North Carolina, teamed up with Forthegreatergood for owner Donna Verrilli, who wanted to produce a horse for the Makeover in honor of her late husband Richard who passed away in December of 2020 of pancreatic cancer. A Master of Foxhounds, Richard had been Sloan’s employer.

“I’m so glad that I can do this for [Donna],” Sloan stated. “The Thoroughbred is just such a great breed. It’s amazing how you can have ten of these horses in the same race, and they can go into ten different disciplines. The versatility of this breed — they could have all raced together, and then one’s a barrel racer, and one’s a fox hunter, and one’s a dressage horse. It’s pretty cool.”

Sloan and Forthegreatergood achieved top marks in the Field Hunter discipline all week long, leading the pack first in the under saddle phase, then the individual test. Receiving high scores in the mock hunt on Thursday morning gave the pair a comfortable lead going into Sunday’s 2021 Finale, and their beautiful final test in the TCA Covered Arena sealed their victory for the discipline. Their performance also impressed the judges from the other ten Makeover disciplines, who scored all discipline winners throughout the day to crown the Thoroughbred Makeover Champion.

The People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Achieve Equine, was given to Icarius, the winner of the Show Hunter discipline, trained by Alexandra Beckstett.

Icarius and Alexandra Beckstett, with Michelle Chiapetta of Achieve Equine. Photo by CanterClix

2021 Thoroughbred Makeover Discipline Winners (in order of go):

• Eventing, sponsored by Tipperary Equestrian: Fleet Stepper, trained by Hillary Irwin
• Show Jumper, sponsored by Excel Equine: Raise Em Up, trained by Kristina Aaron
• Show Hunter, sponsored by Beyond the Wire: Icarius, trained by Alexandra Beckstett
• Field Hunter, sponsored by Masters of Foxhounds Association: Forthegreatergood, trained by Laura Sloan
• Dressage, sponsored by PTHA’s Turning For Home: Kubo Cat, trained by Alison O’Dwyer
• Polo, sponsored by United States Polo Association: Ramses, trained by Benjamin Lynch
• Freestyle, sponsored by New Start: Papa Al, trained by Jody Busch
• Barrel Racing, sponsored by SmartPak: Tip Top Diva, trained by Dakotah Rowel
• Competitive Trail, sponsored by Godolphin: Super Terrific, trained by Abbey Blair
• Ranch Work, sponsored by MidAtlantic Horse Rescue: War Candy, trained by Muri Triantafilo

A full list of results and awards can be found at TBMakeover.org.