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This commentary is a free excerpt originally shared on the Paulick Report Insider Patreon on October 16, 2025. With the 2026 Thoroughbred Makeover event approaching this week, it feels like the right moment to offer it to a wider audience.
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One of my personal favorite events to cover is the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover, which wrapped up its 2025 competition last weekend. It’s a wonderful source of inspiring stories — from the horses we remember on the track to the varied journeys their trainers undertake to participate.
I’ll admit, after 15 years covering the Thoroughbred world, many events don’t excite me as much as they once did; too often it’s the same faces saying familiar things. But the Makeover still lights up parts of my brain that might otherwise fade. My main complaint is that the event coincides with my busiest content production period, limiting how much attention I can devote to it.
It helps that my wife Natalie and I (mostly her) took part in the 2021 Makeover with our OTTB Underscore, better known as Blueberry. This gives me a practical connection to the competitors beyond just being an observer or an industry insider.
But you don’t need hands-on horse experience to appreciate what’s happening at the Makeover. If you have any affection for the “horse” side of horse racing, attending this event will leave you feeling uplifted.
Such events rely heavily on the Thoroughbred industry’s support, whether financial or moral, and the RRP team has done a commendable job rallying that through initiatives like the Makeover Champions program (renamed “Makeover Connections” in 2026). This program lets everyone involved with a horse — from stud farms to breeders to trackside handlers — show their support through donations, volunteering, attending the event, or even just posting about it on social media.
Do I wish more people who profited from these horses would do more once the horses’ racing careers end? Absolutely. Yet it’s encouraging that many larger operations at least do the minimum or get actively involved, as trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. did in 2024 for former runners of Colts Neck Stable.
But knowing who meets that minimum effort also highlights who doesn’t even manage that low bar.
Thankfully, attitudes are shifting — slowly but surely — but there’s still a mindset within parts of the industry that opposing events like the Makeover reflects badly on their stallions, breeding programs, or stables. They fear it implies their horses couldn’t succeed on the racetrack.
Selling a high stud fee or a million-dollar yearling is selling a dream, which obviously doesn’t include a dressage ring at the Kentucky Horse Park. I understand that perspective. But this way of thinking is flawed for a few reasons:
Most Thoroughbreds bred, raised, sold, and raced won’t become highly lucrative on the track or in breeding. Adding value by highlighting their potential as OTTB prospects benefits everyone, since new owners are more likely to pay for retraining than euthanasia. Plus, seeing a horse from your program in a bail pen is far worse PR than having them compete in the Makeover.
This attitude suggests horses that don’t excel on the track are disposable, which is a damaging image for the industry to present to the public.
In recent years, top racehorses like Eclipse Award winner Whitmore and Grade 1 millionaire Sibelius have competed in the Makeover—both with strong involvement from their original racing connections. If you want to erase such horses from your operation’s history due to their Makeover participation, send me a check for the money they earned, and I’ll see about removing their records from your legacy. Otherwise, you’re still tied to their success.
Many people in Thoroughbred racing keep asking, “What can I do to save the industry?” This is a clear answer: support events like the Makeover. Even the smallest gestures—a few tweets, sending a team member to watch a short dressage presentation—help. Even if you’re skeptical or don’t personally invest in the cause, these efforts provide a crucial outlet for retired racehorses and counter negative publicity by showcasing positive aftercare.
This is vital because public perception of the fate of ex-racehorses remains a challenge. When I shared a video of Sibelius’ 2025 Freestyle at the Makeover on Paulick Report’s social channels, most reactions were positive but some viewers still saw it as a “demotion,” implying that anything past racing is a step down if it doesn’t involve money or high-level competition.
That view is insulting and reflects a misunderstanding of horsemanship and talent.
Training horses for any discipline takes years; preparing them for races may take months to years just to get them gate-ready. Expecting them to instantly excel in an unrelated sport with vastly different skills is unrealistic. Plenty of retired human athletes never find a fulfilling second career, let alone horses facing a mere year to transition. Sibelius isn’t a Grade 1 freestyle champion, nor the top finalist in 2025, but he has a purpose and compassionate caretakers ensuring his well-being beyond racing—a purpose that’s invaluable.
While reluctant farms grudgingly tweeting about the Makeover won’t change minds overnight, publicly showing care for retired racehorses influences how the wider public perceives our sport. When scandals inevitably arise, demonstrating genuine animal welfare concern helps the industry defend itself and maintain trust. Being on the right side of history is simple, yet many still fail to grasp that.
A golden opportunity to bolster your reputation and that of the entire industry was just presented—why wouldn’t you take it?
This story first appeared on the Paulick Report on October 5, 2026. To add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source, click here.
Fan Take:
This commentary highlights why supporting off-track Thoroughbred initiatives like the Makeover is essential for horse racing’s future. Embracing these programs not only improves public perception but also honors the full life of racehorses, fostering a more sustainable and compassionate industry for fans and participants alike.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
