Bethany P Photography

The Retired Racehorse Project’s banner event, the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, takes place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington on October 11-14. Known as the largest and most lucrative Thoroughbred retraining competition in the world, the Thoroughbred Makeover draws competitors and spectators from all over North America to celebrate the versatility and trainability of the breed. Here’s how you can follow along both in person and from home.

Free to Attend:

Preliminary competition, October 11-12

Hundreds of recently-retired Thoroughbreds (both retired racehorses and retired broodmares) will compete in one or two of ten offered disciplines all over the Kentucky Horse Park, showcasing the incredible athleticism of the ex-racehorse as they transition to new careers.

Seminar series, October 11-12

Expand your knowledge base through hands-on seminars with live horses taking place at 3:30 both days in the Murphy Pavilion, presented by veterinarians from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. Wednesday’s seminar is Neurological Exam Demo & Discussion, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Equine Health and featuring Dr. Steve Reed of Rood & Riddle and Dr. Sarah Reuss of Boehringer Ingelheim. Thursday’s seminar is Body Condition Scoring Hands-On Demo, sponsored by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and featuring Dr. David Alexander of Rood & Riddle. Refreshments are provided courtesy of Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

ASPCA Makeover Marketplace & Right Horse Adoption Barn, October 11-14

Over 100 Thoroughbred Makeover graduates are available for sale or adoption via the ASPCA Makeover Marketplace, so you can watch horses perform, take trial rides in a designated arena, and vet prospects on-site – look for the green bridle stickers to indicate a sales horse. Plus, visit the Right Horse Adoption Barn in Barn 5 to find adoptable Thoroughbreds at all stages of life.

Finale Championship, October 14

No longer ticketed, the Finale Championship on Saturday is free for all to attend in the TCA Covered Arena! Watch the top five after rounds in each discipline contend for championship honors, then await the crowning of the overall Thoroughbred Makeover Champion. Spectators can also vote for their favorite discipline champion to take home the People’s Choice Award.

Numerous other free activities and events taking place during Makeover week can be found at TheRRP.org/general-event-information/.

Ticketed Events:

Thoroughbred Makeover Awards Party, October 13

Join competitors for an evening of celebration with local food trucks and live music. The party includes an awards ceremony recognizing all special award winners as well as preliminary discipline winners and first place juniors, amateurs and teams. Click here to purchase tickets; ticket sales close on October 11 or when sold out.

Thoroughbred Makeover Finale VIP Viewing, October 14

Take a whole new look at the Thoroughbred Makeover Finale from the VIP Lounge! The lounge overlooks the TCA Covered Arena, affording you a bird’s-eye view of the action, and tickets include a continental breakfast, buffet lunch and drink ticket. Click here to purchase tickets.

Watch From Home:

Finale Championship, October 14

Can’t make it to Kentucky but still want to enjoy the Makeover? The Finale Championship is live-streamed for free! Bookmark therrp.org/livestream to tune in: the action starts at 8 AM EST on October 14. Stick around for the crowning of the Thoroughbred Makeover Champion and the People’s Choice Award – vote from home via text!