RRP Thoroughbred Makeover

Prince of New York, piloted by professional trainer Chris Bennings, won the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Achieve Equine, at the 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover. The achievement comes not only with the recognition of a job well done, but the liberty to choose an equine-related 501(c)3 nonprofit to receive a $2,500 donation sponsored by Achieve Equine. For Bennings–who’s first introduction to retraining off-track Thoroughbreds was with Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)-accredited Florida TRAC–choosing the TAA as the beneficiary of the People’s Choice Award was a no-brainer. “My wife Celia and I knew that the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance carefully allocates its grant funds to off-track Thoroughbred nonprofits all over the country, and we are confident that this donation will be the most effective in their hands,” said Bennings. “We are honored to be the recipient of the People’s Choice Award donation,” said TAA Funding and Events Manager, Emily (Dresen) Scandore. “Every dollar counts and we thank Chris and sponsor Achieve Equine for this contribution to the TAA and our 81 accredited organizations.” In the preliminary round of competition at the Makeover, Bennings and Prince of New York dominated in both Show Jumpers and Show Hunters, finishing in the top three out of more than 70 competitors in each discipline. When Bennings called on the six-year-old stallion to again bring the heat in the Finale, Prince of New York answered in spades, proving victorious in Show Jumpers, earning reserve champion in Show Hunters, and being awarded by text-in popular vote the People’s Choice Award. The son of Cairo Prince sold for $100k as a yearling and made all eight career starts for owners Harold Lerner LLC, AWC Stables, Nehoc Stables, Scott Akman, and Paul Braverman. After a final start at Finger Lakes, Prince of New York retired from racing with a record of 2-1-1 and earnings of $40,256. “I’ve always been a Thoroughbred fan and a racing fan,” said Bennings. “Thoroughbreds are incredibly versatile, making them excellent sport horses. Prince has a lot of class and I’m eager to continue his career as a sport horse stallion at our Paris, Kentucky farm– Morning Line Equestrian.”

Over 55 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) graduates competed in the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover October 12-15, 2022. This year, the RRP special awards—including the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Graduate High Point Award—were presented Friday night, following the conclusion of preliminary competition. As such, Buckeye Warrior ridden by Holly Zecchin and Union Charm ridden by Alyssa Kelly tied for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Graduate High Point Award. “It was wonderful to cheer on so many graduates of TAA-accredited aftercare organizations at the Makeover and in the Finale this year,” said TAA Office Manager, Catherine Flowers. “The success of TAA grads in the Makeover is a testament to the dedication of our accredited organizations in rehabbing, retraining, and rehoming off-track Thoroughbreds into new, well-matched homes. It is our pleasure to present the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Graduate High Point Award to not just one, but two deserving horses and trainers, and we congratulate all the TAA Graduates and their trainers for their impressive efforts in the 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover.” The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Graduate High Point Award comes with a TAA swag bag and $1,000 cash prize to be split between the winning trainers and TAA-accredited organizations from which the horse transitioned. Ohio-homebred Buckeye Warrior ran 18 times for owner Robert Reeves and trainer Mark Thomas. After four seasons on the track, the son of Majestic Warrior retired with a record of 2-0-4 and earnings of $43,819. Buckeye Warrior spent just 3 months at TAA-accredited New Vocations before being adopted by Holly Zecchin. At the Thoroughbred Makeover, their first-place preliminary ranking resulted in tying for the TAA High Point award, and on Saturday, October 15 Buckeye Warrior and Zecchin proved top of their class in the Dressage finale. Bred in Kentucky by Castlepark Farm, John Karakourtis, and AF Thoroughbreds, Union Charm made seven careers starts in New York and Maryland, never breaking his maiden. The half-brother to stakes winner Charming Vixen was retired after three starts under owner/trainer Horacio De Paz to TAA-accredited MidAtlantic Horse Rescue by way of Beyond the Wire. After seven months at the aftercare organization, Union Charm was adopted by Eileen Johnson. On behalf of Johnson, Alyssa Kelly competed with Union Charm in Show Hunters and Show Jumpers at the Thoroughbred Makeover, earning the fifth and first-place positions after the preliminary round in show Hunters and Jumpers, respectively. Of the 55 TAA graduates who competed in the Thoroughbred Makeover, 11 placed in the top five of their divisions, qualifying for the finale. TAA grads’ finale results are as follows: Competitive Trail: 1st Hieronymous & Isabel Wells (CANTER Kentucky) Dressage: 1st Buckeye Warrior & Holly Zecchin (New Vocations); 4th Bokeelia Island & Kelly Sulik (Thoroughbred Athletes) Freestyle: 2nd Evaluator & Colleen Nolan (New Vocations); 5th Stonecatcher & Raechel Ramsey (New Vocations) Polo: 5th Buffalo Dancer & Benjamin Lynch (New Vocations) Ranch Work: 4th Change of Fortune & Nathan Bradley (CANTER Kentucky); 5th Stonecatcher & Raechel Ramsey (New Vocations) Show Hunters: 3rd Union Charm & Alyssa Kelly (MidAtlantic Horse Rescue) Show Jumpers: 3rd Union Charm & Alyssa Kelly (MidAtlantic Horse Rescue); 4th Nothin Really & Clare Mansmann (MidAtlantic Horse Rescue)

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) once again enters as a sponsor of the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover. In conjunction with sponsoring the makeover, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance High Point Award will continue to be offered to the highest placed Thoroughbred adopted from or is owned by a TAA-accredited organization. The showcase of recently retrained off-track Thoroughbreds will take place at the Kentucky Horse Park October 12th to the 15th. Of the 377 horses entered across 10 divisions, 57 contestants are eligible to win the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance High Point Award, including a $1,000 cash prize split between the rider and the TAA-accredited organization from which the horse was adopted. The TAA and RRP have intersecting missions to facilitate horses retiring from racing in finding suitable second careers upon the conclusion of their racing careers. Currently, the TAA has 82 accredited organizations across North America, of those, 19 TAA-accredited organization have ties to horses competing in the Thoroughbred Makeover. “The success of the Retired Racehorse Project is another hallmark in the progression of Thoroughbred aftercare, and the TAA is proud to once again be a contributing sponsor to the Thoroughbred Makeover,” said TAA Operations Consultant, Stacie Clark Rogers. “The makeover is a first step towards a fulfilling second or third career for many Thoroughbreds and highlights what we already know to be true– Thoroughbreds are a versatile and intelligent breed capable of much success on and off the track.” Photo: Suzie Picou-Oldham

It’s not often a Thoroughbred’s name can predict their future- but for CHANGE OF FORTUNE, that’s exactly what happened. Out of MGSW Better Lucky, the Godolphin-bred showed little interest in racing, so he made his way to Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)-accredited CANTER Kentucky. There, he met his adopter who found a second career that peaks his interest: Western Dressage.