I am trying to find info on it? It’s not likely I would actually get to go or participate since its in Kentucjy…However I thought it would be fun to research it since I got my new ottb in sept! I’ve only ridden her a handful of times very lightly but she will be off for a few months.
IIRC, last year the horses had to have raced or had a published work in 2015 and had no more than 15 off track rides prior to January 1, 2016. Anyone that wanted to enter had to submit an application outlining their riding accomplishments and I believe videos and pictures. Contestants were chosen from these applications. I think the cost was $200-$300 and there was a deadline for applications in the early part of the year. They have not said if the requirements will change for 2017 yet.
[QUOTE=Vic_007;8918953]
I am trying to find info on it? It’s not likely I would actually get to go or participate since its in Kentucjy…However I thought it would be fun to research it since I got my new ottb in sept! I’ve only ridden her a handful of times very lightly but she will be off for a few months.[/QUOTE]
We are going down with two hopefully if we get selected…
Trainer Eligibility and Application
Trainer Eligibility
Any member in good standing of Retired Racehorse Project can submit an application to be a Thoroughbred Makeover trainer. Non-members may join online before submitting the Makeover Trainer Application. RRP membership costs $45 per year and includes a one-year subscription to Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine, a copy of Retired Racehorse Resource Directory, free ticket to the Thoroughbred Makeover, discounts from sponsors, and other benefits.
Entry Fee
Each trainer will pay a $200 entry fee online with the application. If not accepted the fee will be returned minus a $25 processing fee. If the trainer is accepted the fee is non-refundable. See Fees and Other Costs below.1
Open and Closing Date
Trainer applications may be submitted to RRP online from January 4 through January 31, 2016. Mail-in applications are not accepted.2
Trainer Application Form
The Thoroughbred Makeover Trainer Application is linked here. In addition to basic contact information it requests the following. Please have the information ready when you log in to apply online.
Status as Professional, Amateur, or Junior - Juniors are 18 years or younger as of December 1, 2016. Amateur and Professional status are as defined by United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) General Rules 13 linked here. Note that all trainers compete against each other in the same divisions, but that special $500 awards are given to the top amateur and top junior in each of the ten disciplines.3
Primary and Secondary Discipline - It is important to know in which discipline(s) the trainer has experience, but this designation does not restrict the trainer’s choice of discipline(s) for the Makeover. RRP expects trainers to choose their discipline(s) six weeks before the Makeover event based on a combination of their own skills and the talents demonstrated during the training process by the horse(s) they train.4
Competition highlights in primary discipline (600 characters maximum) - This information is important as a means of evaluating trainer experience and talent. Lack of competition experience does not disqualify a trainer from consideration if other evidence exists that the trainer has the skills to succeed.5
Narrative describing skills and experience (600 characters maximum) - This is an opportunity for trainers to share information other than competition experience that might assist RRP in its evaluation.
Affiliations –Trainers are asked to describe their relationship to farms and organizations that share RRP’s commitment to Thoroughbreds.
References - Trainers must provide the names of two people who are familiar with the trainer’s work with horses, along with contact information, relationship to the trainer, and credentials of the references. RRP may or may not contact these individuals.
Video links - Trainers are encouraged to provide videos as evidence of riding skills, particularly if competition highlights fail to adequately demonstrate competence.6
Web Site and Facebook links - If trainers have business web sites or Facebook pages RRP requests that they be provided both for assessment purposes and to share publicly.7
Second Horse Preference - RRP may receive more qualified applicants for the Makeover than can be accepted. If this is the case all trainers will be restricted to one horse. Trainers who would prefer to enter two horses will state that preference in their application. If approved for two horses trainers will be billed for a second entry fee. Trainers whose participation depends on being approved to bring two horses should not apply.
Selection Criteria
An RRP Makeover Selection Committee will be tasked with reviewing all trainer applications and recommending a maximum of 500 for acceptance. The committee will consider the following factors.8
Evidence that the trainer will effectively introduce an off-track Thoroughbred with no experience outside racing to one or more of the ten Thoroughbred Makeover disciplines, demonstrating that horse’s talent and trainability
Need for adequate representation within each discipline
Need for representation by professionals, amateurs, and juniors
Need for geographic diversity
Affiliation with institutions that are committed to the mission of Retired Racehorse Project
Evidence that the trainer is committed to the mission of Retired Racehorse Project
Approval
RRP will contact all applicant trainers approximately two weeks after the close of applications to notify them of the status of their application. A list of the selected trainers will be posted at RetiredRacehorseProject.org soon thereafter.9
Trainer Withdrawal, Replacement, and Catch Rides
Once a trainer is accepted into the Makeover he or she may withdraw at any time by notifying the RRP office via phone or email.
In situations where an approved trainer has a horse registered in the Makeover, and that trainer becomes unable to participate due to extraordinary personal circumstances outside their control, the trainer can seek permission from RRP to nominate a replacement trainer. The nominated replacement trainer must be a member of RRP and submit a Makeover Trainer Application. The application fee will be waived. The RRP Makeover Selection Committee will review the application and notify both original and replacement trainer of its decision within 48 hours.
In situations where a Makeover trainer is unable to ride at the Makeover but has been the primary rider and trainer of the horse for the weeks leading up to the event, he or she may make a written request to RRP to allow a catch rider to show the horse. Catch riders will be approved only in cases where the approved Makeover trainer has an extraordinary personal circumstance preventing him or her from showing the horse at the Makeover. In cases where catch riders are approved the horse will be shown in the name of the trainer and prize money will be awarded to the trainer.
(June 30, 2016 Rule Change)
Horse Eligibility and Registration
Horse Eligibility
To be eligible for the 2016 Makeover horses must meet the following three requirements.
Must be registered with The Jockey Club and have a lip tattoo. Thoroughbreds from foreign countries must have equivalent registration and identification. Note that horses who meet the other requirements of eligibility but were never tattooed can be tattooed in advance of the Makeover if they have registration papers. Doing so costs approximately $75 and provides the horse with lifelong identification.
Must have raced or had a published work after October 1, 2014. The definition of a race or published work for the purposes of this rule is one that takes place during a period of time when the horse was in race training and was recorded in Equibase or Equineline for North American racing or equivalent foreign recording systems in other countries, including both flat and steeplechase. Works clocked and published for horses not in race training as a means of establishing Makeover eligibility do not make the horse eligible. (June 30, 2016 Rule Change)10
Must not have started in training for a second career before January 1, 2016 other than a maximum of fifteen allowable rides.11
Horses that cross-trained in other disciplines during their active racing careers are eligible as long as they did not show or compete in those other disciplines.
Horses that competed in sports other than racing before January 1, 2016 are ineligible.
RRP will accept the trainer’s pledge that a horse is eligible unless it is made aware of evidence to the contrary. Third parties are welcome to present evidence of ineligibility directly to RRP by email or phone at info@retiredracehorseproject.org or 410-798-5140. RRP will investigate such allegations and report its findings to the person making the allegation. The identity of the person making the allegation must be made known to RRP but will not be shared outside of the RRP board and staff without permission.
RRP will remove horses from the competition that it deems ineligible regardless of whether the determination is made before, during, or after the Makeover event.
Horse Acquisition
Trainers may acquire eligible horses at any time through any source. Note that while acquiring a horse and starting training early in the year would appear to be an advantage, many of the top placed horses in the 2015 Makeover began training in late spring or summer.
The online and the printed Retired Racehorse Resource Directory are excellent places to start. They include 300 farms, organizations, and racetracks, as well as lists of Facebook groups and searchable web sites. The RRP online Horse Listings includes a special section for horses whose owners believe they are Makeover Eligible.
Horse Ownership or Contract
Trainers can own their Makeover horse or ride under contract for the horse’s owner. Trainers are encouraged to have written training agreements that include a commitment by the owner to allow the horse to participate in the Thoroughbred Makeover. Note that checks for prize money are written to the trainer.
Horse/Trainer Relationship
For a horse to be eligible to compete the trainer must have been the primary rider of the horse after August 30, and the trainer must ride, drive, or otherwise direct the horse in the Makeover competition.12
Horse Registration Form
All trainers must register an eligible horse using the online Makeover Horse Registration Form no later than July 1. That form will request the following:
Jockey Club name,
date of last race or published work,
name of previous owner,
name and contact information of current owner,
narrative describing how you or owner acquired horse,
narrative describing any training done between retirement from racing and January 1,
identification of horse’s racing connections who are aware of Makeover entry,
identification of any aftercare organizations that assisted in transitioning the horse from racing,
additional notes about horse’s history,
photo of horse with you,
conformation photo, and
horse head photo.
Trainers grant RRP permission to publish all information in their horse registration form except for their email, address, and phone number.
Horse Withdrawal and Replacement
Trainers may withdraw a horse from the Makeover at any time using the online Makeover Horse Withdrawal Form.
Trainers may replace a scratched horse with any eligible horse as late as August 30, 2016.
Trainers may replace a scratched horse with an eligible horse as late as September 31, 2016 if that trainer has been the primary rider of that horse since August 31, 2016.
This rule will ensure that no trainer brings a horse to the Makeover that he or she has not been training for at least eight weeks.
Replacement horses must be registered with the online Makeover Horse Registration Form.13
It’s an incredibly cool event and well worth the money. I live in Lexington KY and work at the Horse Park, the RRP last week was an absolute blast.
If the travel is tough for you, there’s tons of people who ship in for it from all over the place so it shouldn’t be too tough to carpool (trailerpool?). I highly recommend applying.
