This season, The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) will unveil Graduate Classes during its Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The Graduate Classes will provide an opportunity for Thoroughbred Makeover alumni to return to the Kentucky Horse Park and compete once again as part of the Thoroughbred Makeover experience.
The Graduate Classes are open exclusively to any horse that was registered for the Thoroughbred Makeover in previous years, including those that are under new ownership or were withdrawn prior to the competition. This program provides an opportunity for those who wish to revisit the Makeover's competition structure or even experience it for the first time.
“Our trainer community has been asking us for graduate classes for years,” said RRP executive director Kirsten Green. “We were always reluctant, encouraging participation in other programs like The Jockey Club T.I.P. and TAKE2, and ultimately open competition as a development pathway for their horses beyond their first year off-track. However, as we worked through our strategic planning process last year, we were able to look at the graduate classes through a different lens: our trainer community was asking us for a way to stay engaged with the RRP and to experience the Makeover specifically. We're excited to see some returning faces and look forward to feedback following this pilot year.”
Graduate Classes will debut in five of the 10 disciplines currently offered at the Thoroughbred Makeover and will follow the existing preliminary competition format. Graduate Classes will run concurrently with the traditional Thoroughbred Makeover divisions but will have separate results and placings.
To view complete details regarding Graduate Class eligibility, discipline offerings, entry procedures, fees, scheduling, prizes, and event policies, click here.
The 2026 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium will take place Oct. 7-10 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.
For more information about the Thoroughbred Makeover and the Retired Racehorse Project, click here.
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