Graduate Classes at the Thoroughbred Makeover

Horse Eligibility: Any horse whose registration was accepted for any previous Thoroughbred Makeover, regardless of whether they ultimately completed the competition in their original year or who the current owner is, is considered a graduate. I.e.; the horse can still compete even if it is under new care/ownership from the original registration. A short nomination form will be required for each horse entering graduate classes.

Rider Eligibility: Considering that Graduate horses are more likely to be well-established in their post-racing careers, riders do not have to complete a trainer application to participate in Graduate classes.

Trainer Cross-Entering: Already-accepted trainers or team members with horses competing in the Retiring Racehorse or Former Broodmare divisions may also participate in Graduate classes. No rider/trainer/team member may be involved with competing more than a total of three horses across any combination of divisions/classes. For the pilot year, only individual entries will be accepted for Graduate classes i.e.; no team entries.

Dates: Nominations and entries for Graduate classes will be open from 10 AM EST July 6^th to 5 PM EST July 17^th, 2026, in advance of the normal Final Entry period.

Fees: each Graduate horse entered is subject to a $50 non-refundable nomination fee. Other fees match the existing 2026 Makeover Final Entry fee structure:

• First Discipline: $150/ horse
• Second Discipline: $100/horse
• Stalls (for horses or tack, flat rate for the week): $255/stall
• Ship-ins (no stall): $60
• Non-compete horse fee: $50/horse

Graduate class entry fees are fully refundable minus the $50 nomination fee until September 4^th. Scratches received after the 4^th are subject to the same refund schedule as the other divisions. Visit page 12 of the 2026 Rulebook for the full refund policy.

Riders will only be able to complete nominations entries for horses that are associated to them in the Retired Racehorse Project database, whether as the current owner of the horse or as an agent of the horse. This means that transfers of ownership or agent affiliations must be filed prior to gaining access to a Graduate Class entry form for that horse. These functions can be accessed at any time via the My Horses section of user accounts on the RRP website. See the tutorial linked here for guidance on using these horse management functions.

In the 2026 pilot year, the following disciplines will have a Graduate class offered: Barrel Racing, Eventing, Freestyle, Show Hunter, and Show Jumping. Tests/patterns/formats will be as outlined in the 2026 Thoroughbred Makeover Rulebook.

Complete discipline offering and elevated levels of competition will be considered for future years based on response to the pilot year.

All horses competing in the Thoroughbred Makeover, including those entered in the Graduate Classes, will be subject to the arrival exam. Note that the arrival exam includes identification by microchip, so all horses must be chipped with a Jockey Club-registered microchip. This can be recorded with the RRP via the My Horses section of user accounts on the RRP website. All horses on the grounds must supply proof of negative coggins, proof of EHV-1 vaccination within the six months prior to arrival at the Kentucky Horse Park, and a health certificate. See page 38 of the 2026 Thoroughbred Makeover Rulebook for complete details on arrival exam standards and accepted forms of documentation.

Graduate horses will be scheduled alongside Retiring Racehorse and Former Broodmare entries but will have their scores and results separated. Graduate entries will have access to the same schooling schedule as Retiring Racehorse and Former Broodmare entries.

Ribbons will be offered for 1^st - 10^th place in each discipline with additional prize gifts possible. At this time, Graduates will not participate in Championships or be eligible for special or top-placed awards. Prize money is not being offered in this pilot year.

Riders in the Graduate Classes are held to the same code of conduct, horse welfare, equipment, and other event policies as established in the 2026 Thoroughbred Makeover Rulebook.