Trainer Applications Now Open for 2019 $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover

By on Dec 17, 2018 8:00 am -

If you’ve ever considered competing in the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover, 2019 is your year! Trainer applications opened over the weekend, with an entry deadline of Jan. 15, 2019. All accepted trainers will be announced February 1.

Now in its fifth year, the Makeover, which is presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, has ponied up $100,000 in prize money, in addition to the incredible opportunity to introduce an ex-racehorse into his new career. Next year’s Makeover will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park on October 2-5, 2019.

The competition gets bigger and bigger each year. This is its fifth annual edition of the current format and will include educational seminars, a sponsor fair, the Makeover Marketplace horse sale, the Makeover Master Class featuring demonstrations and insight from leading trainers, and live streaming of the top competitions from each division.

Detailed information is available at the website but here’s a fast and dirty eventer’s guide:

How do I apply to be a Makeover trainer?

The Makeover is open to all members of RPP so if you aren’t already you’ll need to join. Membership is $45 a year and has several perks including a one-year subscription to Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine, a copy of Retired Racehorse Resource Directory, free or discounted admission to RPP events including the Thoroughbred Makeover, discounts from sponsors and other benefits.

The next step is filling out an online trainer application, which asks for competition highlights, references, and videos of your riding skills. The application window is open through Jan. 15, 2019.

There’s a $300 entry fee; if not accepted the fee will be returned minus a $25 processing fee.

What is the Team entry? 

Introduced in 2019 with success, RRP now offers a team entry in all disciplines. Teams are treated as a trainer status, just as professional or amateur would be. The team entry is a great option for groups of riders who have shared in the process of preparing a horse for the Makeover.

Teams will compete in the same divisions as individual entries and will be eligible for the same prize money allocation. Teams must be made of at least three individuals.

Is my OTTB eligible?

The Makeover is open to Jockey Club registered horses (lip tattoo or JC microchip required) that raced or had a published work after July 1, 2017. They must not have begun training for a second career before Dec. 1, 2018 other than a maximum of 15 allowable rides or training sessions that introduce skills specific to non-racing careers. Some trainers will already have horses identified and others will begin a search after they are approved. Trainers can contract with owners or acquire the horse themselves.

What does it cost? 

There’s a $300 entry fee for one discipline; if not accepted the fee will be returned minus a $25 processing fee. Other expenses, such as multi-discipline cross entries and stabling at the competition, are outlined here.

What does the Makeover competition for eventing entail? 

Format for dressage: All horses will perform USEF 2018 Novice Test B in a small arena (20m x 40m).

Format for Show Jumping: All horses will be judged over a course set at dimensions for United States Eventing Association (USEA) Beginner Novice (2’7” maximum), Novice (2’11” maximum), or Training (3’3” maximum). Trainers will select their level with their final entry form in August.

Format for Cross Country: All horses will be judged over a cross country course of approximately 12 obstacles. Each obstacle will have at least two options, one at Beginner Novice dimensions (2’7”) and the other at Novice (2’11”). Optional fences may be offered for riders to demonstrate a higher level of training as well. Riders should jump the obstacle choice that best demonstrates the quality and level of their horse’s training. They need not jump all fences at the same level.

Team Format: Team horses must be presented by at least two and up to three Trainers, one for each phase. One Trainer will present the horse in the Finale.

Finale: The top three scoring horses will compete for additional points in the finale, demonstrating basic work on the flat and jumping a course that includes show jumps and cross country portables in the covered arena.

Overall scores will be the sum of the scores from each of the three phases. Ties will be broken by the cross-country score, then show jumping, then dressage.

Final placing for the top five finishers will be based on the sum of their three scores plus a fourth score awarded during the Finale. The fourth score will be comprised of scores of 0 to 10 on each jumping effort and Overall Impression scores. The Finale will be judged by the show jumping and cross-country judges and their scores will be averaged for the final score. Placings 6th and below will be based on the sum of their scores in the three phases of competition.

Attire and equipment should be in accordance with USEF Eventing Division Rules Subchapter EV-1. Note that horses will complete their cross-country test immediately following show jumping. Show jumping in cross-country attire and equipment is encouraged. Trainers must wear their number displayed in a pinny holder for cross-country.

What happens after the Makeover is over?

Owners can choose to keep their horses at the end of the process or offer them for sale. The Makeover Horse Sale is not an auction but an opportunity for buyers and sellers to do business in a setting that allows trial rides, pre-purchase exams and observation of horses in competition.

For much more information, visit the RRP website’s 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover page.

Thoroughbred Makeover Links:

Go OTTBs. Go Eventing.