Florida Thoroughbred Charities and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association are awarding a $1,000 cash prize to the highest-placed Makeover horse in preliminary competition that is an FTBOA-registered Florida-bred.
More than 250 recently-retired Thoroughbreds—both retired racehorses and former broodmares—will compete in one or two of ten offered disciplines all over the Kentucky Horse Park, showcasing the athleticism and trainability of the ex-racehorse as they transition to new careers.
Seventeen Florida-breds are among the horses vying for the championship.
Florida-breds in the National Makeover Competition
| JC Name | Trainer First Name | Trainer Last Name |
| Gav N Brody | Melanie Lynn | McJannet |
| General Robinson | Olivia | Lefferts |
| Go Green | Niamh | O’Connell |
| Governor Atwood | Keegan | Oswald |
| Happy Farm | Jocelyn | Brooks |
| Harry’s Onthebeach | Madelyn | DuBois |
| Joe Brains | Laurine | Fuller-Vargas |
| Kitty Quick | Samantha | Leach |
| Majestic Pharoah | Bethany | Glaser |
| My Man Vito | Laura | Stepic |
| Pachi | Kaitlynn | Buchholz |
| R Hot Mess | Meadow | Van Engen |
| Revelatory | Jenna | Cannock |
| Shakem N Breakem | Kari | Wilbanks |
| Shesmisunderstood | Jordyne | Chernitsky |
| Stirdatpot | Mike | Leverett |
| Whistle Me Home | Madalyn | Allen |
“I am thrilled we are supporting an award for Florida-breds. It’s exciting to see them compete this year and I am pleased to see so many Florida-based trainers from so many disciplines ready to showcase talent coming out of the Sunshine State,” said FTC Executive Director Tammy A Gantt. Gantt is also vice president of membership, events and sales for FTBOA.
In honor of Makeover week, Gantt is presenting Thoroughbred Retirement: What do horses do after they retire from racing? as part of the Master the Possibilities community learning program at On Top of the World in Ocala on Thurs., Oct. 9 from 4 to 5 p.m. Community members are encouraged to come learn about the boundless career opportunities for horses, how they make a difference in people’s lives, and where past Kentucky Derby champions reside. RSVP here.
The 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, takes place on Oct. 8-11 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. The banner event of the Retired Racehorse Project, a 501(c)3 charitable organization working to increase demand for Thoroughbreds beyond racing, the Thoroughbred Makeover is the largest and most lucrative retraining competition in North America for recently-retired racehorses and former broodmares, as well as the largest gathering of those with an interest in Thoroughbred aftercare.
Return to the October 8 issue of Wire to Wire
