A five-day training competition showcasing retired racehorses, the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover concluded this weekend with 20 champions – two in each of the 10 disciplines offered at the makeover. Nicknamed the “Mega-Makeover,” more than 500 horses from both the 2020 and 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover classes competed during three days of preliminary competition held around the Kentucky Horse Park. From there, the top five in each discipline advanced to the weekend’s finale with 2020 champions crowned on Saturday and 2021 on Sunday.
Tag: aftercare
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Named Official Aftercare Partner Of 2021 Breeders’ Cup
The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is the Official Aftercare Partner of the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar. The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is also an Official Charity of the Breeders' Cup, along with aftercare partner California Retirement Management Account (CARMA).
During the World Championships, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will present its Grade 2 namesake race, formerly the Marathon Stakes. In addition, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has partnered with TVG to be a part of the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), the feature race on Future Stars Friday Nov. 5.
“We are delighted that the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has joined with us again as our official aftercare partner of the World Championships, and by continuing their sponsorship of the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes,” said Dora Delgado, Breeders' Cup Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer. “As a foundation supporter, Breeders' Cup salutes the exemplary work of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in approving aftercare organizations in the retraining and rehoming of Thoroughbreds following their racing careers.”
“It's a privilege to have the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance partnered with the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile again,” said Andrew Moore, Vice President Racing TVG/FanDuel Group. “The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance does tremendous work and racehorse aftercare is a very important cause to the TVG team and all our viewers.”
The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will have a presence on-site at Del Mar alongside CARMA. CARMA works with all 11 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organizations in the state of California to safely transition horses from California racetracks into the next phase of their lives.
“Hosting the Breeders' Cup in Del Mar provides the perfect opportunity to highlight the strength of California Thoroughbred aftercare nonprofits,” said Lucinda Lovitt, Executive Director of CARMA. “CARMA is excited to partner with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at yet another Breeders' Cup World Championships.”
As a seed money donor, the Breeders' Cup has been a supporter of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance since inception.
“We are once again thrilled to be the Official Aftercare Partner of the Breeders' Cup, who was a founding member,” said Vice President Jeff Bloom. “The Breeders' Cup World Championships is our industry's premier showcase and an enormous opportunity for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance to highlight the importance of Thoroughbred aftercare and the financial support we provide to the more than 81 accredited organizations throughout the country.”
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Seven Things to Know About the 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover
Only miles from where this fall’s Keeneland race meet is taking place, a few former Keeneland runners are among off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) lining up for the next phase of competition in their lives – the 2021 Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Thoroughbred Makeover presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. It will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park on Oct. 12-17.
Nine Links, Beyond Comparison Named TAKE2 High-Score Champions For 2021
The TAKE2 High-Score Champions for 2021 are Patricia Hurter's Nine Links, trained by Joe Fargis, in the Jumper Division, and Jaime Gibson's Beyond Comparison, who repeated in the Hunter Division. The High-Score Reserve Champions are John Beebe's Gold Label (Jumper) and Kelly Fleming-Bentz's Purely Grateful. Beyond Comparison, an unraced 14-year-old mare by St. Alydar, dominated her division, winning by 774.5 points, but it came down to the wire in the TAKE2 Jumpers, with Nine Links finishing just 16 points ahead of Gold Label. New York-bred Nine Links was unplaced in seven starts at the racetrack, but has been a consistent performer in the show ring.
Hurter credited the success of “Niles” to riders Christina Severino and Claire Kelley, veterinarians Meredith Boulay and Joe Naranjo, and farriers Jason and Iaian Mulligan, with a special shout-out to “his Thoroughbred-loving trainer Joe Fargis.”
She added: “Niles has a huge team behind him. It takes a village to keep a Thoroughbred happy and healthy and fit and Niles has the best team ever. Everyone was super thrilled to hear the news! He has placed in the top 10 pretty consistently in the TAKE2 Thoroughbred League over the past few years, but this is the first time he's managed to come out on top.”
Hurter would encourage everyone to ride a Thoroughbred.
“They are lovely horses, so brave and fun,” she said. “And you can't beat their incredibly gorgeous fine coats and elegant look. There are so many lovely horses out there looking for a good home, it just seems like a great thing to do, and I love the way they are so sensitive and intelligent and forward. No kicking required!”
Click here for the Final Standings for the TAKE2 Thoroughbred League.
Maybe it's their shared youthful exuberance, but the compatibility of Thoroughbreds and Junior Riders is off the charts. Just ask this year's winners of the TAKE2 High-Score Junior Rider Awards, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA). Alyssa Paulette partnered with Check the Label to win the TAKE2 Junior Rider Award in the Hunter Division, and SeaSea Dance captured the Jumper Division with Dandelion Dust.
This is the second TAKE2 Junior Rider Award for Paulette, who earned the honor with Always Drama in the Jumper Division two years ago. “Warmbloods are fun, but I still prefer the sports car ride of a Thoroughbred,” she said.
Dance, who also finished fourth in the Hunter Division of the TAKE2 Junior Rider standings on Dandelion Dust this year, has nothing but praise for the Thoroughbred.
“I've had the opportunity to show and train so many Thoroughbreds in my junior years, and I give these horses credit to helping me become the rider I am today,” she said. “I think every kid should work with this breed for at least one chapter in their journey.
“When you step into the ring with 'Dandy,' you feel her change, she truly has a competitive edge,” she added. “The more you challenge her, the better she gets. She's quick, brave, and has all the heart for this sport. I don't doubt for a minute that that's the Thoroughbred in her; they just have this drive in them that really brings so much to the ring.”
The TAKE2 Junior Rider Award, presented by TCA, was created to recognize the juniors competing on Thoroughbreds in nationwide TAKE2-affiliated Hunter and Jumper classes, and to encourage young horsemen and horsewomen to consider the Thoroughbred when looking for their next sport horse. The award is just one example of the many ways TCA supports the racing industry and retired racehorses.
“TCA is thrilled to once again support the TAKE2 program by sponsoring the Junior Rider Award,” said Erin Crady executive director of TCA. “TCA believes strongly in supporting not only the organizations that are rehabbing, retraining, and rehoming Thoroughbreds, but also organizations like TAKE2 that are working to create a demand in the marketplace for off-track Thoroughbreds. We congratulate Alyssa and SeaSea on their accomplishments this year and applaud their support of Thoroughbreds in the Hunter/Jumper rings.”
TAKE2 Executive Director Andy Belfiore said, “We're really proud to partner with Thoroughbred Charities of America to put the spotlight on the Junior Riders, who prove day in and day out that a Thoroughbred can be the perfect horse for riders of all ages. TCA has been a staunch supporter of TAKE2 for many years, and is helping us to fulfill our mission of ensuring happy and healthy lives for retired racehorses.”
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