The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) announced on January 3 that applications for the 2023 National Symposium and Thoroughbred Makeup, presented by Purebred Charity of America , is currently open for submission. Registration ends at 5 p.m. ET on January 20, 2023.
Accepted trainers will be announced no later than February 15, 2023. The Purebred Change Rules of 2023 outline all rules and information regarding the competition, with changes for 2022 is highlighted in red and clarifications highlighted in blue. Interested candidates can start the application process now by logging in TheRRP.org.
Entering its ninth year at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Thoroughbred Makeover competes in 10 disciplines for recently retired Thoroughbreds in their first year of post-race career retraining. Horses and their trainers can compete in one or two disciplines of their choice, including Barrel Racing, Competitive Track, Costume, Events, Field Hunter, Polo, Work Ranch, Show Hunter, Show Jump and Freestyle (a freestyle sport that showcases the skills of the trainer’s chosen horse). New for 2023, Thoroughbred Improvements will also include the former broodstock division, presented by Claiborne Farms, serving as a pilot program for recently retired mares leave the seed industry.
Horses and trainers will compete for a total prize pool of more than $110,000, plus the coveted title of Thoroughbred Makeup Champion, at Kentucky Horse Park on October 11-14, 2023. The National Symposium and Thoroughbred Makeup includes not only a competition but also an educational seminar, a vendor fair, a Makeover Marketplace, etc. The Thoroughbred Makeover Finale will feature five ponies. The top horses in each discipline in the Retirement Racehorse division are based on preliminary competition and will be streamed live to viewers at home.
Purebred makeup for professionals, amateurs, teens (ages 12 and up) and teams. Candidates are required to provide information about their riding and competitive background as well as references, including references from veterinarians and videos demonstrating their riding abilities. Competitors are not required to have their horses at the time of registration, although they must register their horses no later than 28 July 2023.
Accepted trainers may obtain qualified Thoroughbreds through any source of their choice or may follow a contract from the owner.
Eligible horses in the Retired Racer division must have raced or had work published on or after July 1, 2021, and must not begin training again for a second career before January 1. December 2022 in addition to the maximum of 15 allowed rides, scheduled to allow test rides. Eligible horses in the Old Broodmare division must have raced or published work during their lifetime and must have produced a foal or been bred in the 2021 breeding season or later as reported by The Jockey Club; they may not have shown or competed before. Full eligibility requirements can be found in the rule book at TheRRP.org.
2022 Purebred Makeup Quick Facts:
516 horses have been registered for the competition
Prominent 2022 contenders include Breeders’ Cup Sprint 2020 winner and Eclipse Award champion Male sprinter Whitmore and former Breeders’ Cup participants Almanaar (GB) and Fast Boat. A total of 35 registered horses were classified as stakes or stakes or winners.
Over $34 million has been invested in the future of Makeover horses since its inception in 2013, including healthcare, training, etc.
A total of 2,990 unique coaches have been accepted since 2013, representing 46 states and four Canadian provinces. Many trainers attend every year with many horses.
A total of 4,159 have been directly affected by Makeover since 2013.
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