Thoroughbred Makeover Champion

Sponsored by: Nationwide and NFP Private Client Insurance

Presented by: Thoroughbred Charities of America

Awarded to the horse chosen as the most inspiring entry from among the 10 discipline winners. The winner is chosen by the audience (both viewing live in the arena, and viewing online around the world) and is determined by text message vote.

Cash prize: $10,000 to the winner

2019 Winner: Cowboy Swagger (Fallon Taylor)

Past winners:

2018 – Reloaded (Elisa Wallace)

2017 – Old Tavern (Charlie Caldwell)

2016 – Fairway King (Lauren Turner)

2015 – Soar (Lindsey Partridge)

2014 – Icabad Crane (Phillip Dutton)

Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award

Sponsored by: Akindale Horse Rescue

Awarded to a Makeover trainer, official or volunteer who best embodies a spirit of teamwork, cooperation, sportsmanship and inclusivity. Individuals will be nominated for the Ambassador Award during the Thoroughbred Makeover at the info desk, and the RRP staff will select a winner from the pool of nominees.

2019 Winners: Alyssa Myatt and Peg Sorenson

Past winners:

2018 – Jen Ruberto

2017 – Kyle Rothfus

2016 – Michelle Craig

2015 – Olivia Dixon

Ira Schulman Rehoming Award

Sponsored by: Virginia Thoroughbred Association

Ira Schulman started rehoming Thoroughbreds as a teenager in 1965, buying at Finger Lakes Racetrack in New York and selling to friends in the area. In the decades since, he has bought thousands of horses from nearly every racetrack in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He is believed to have rehomed more Thoroughbred racehorses than any other person or organization.

The inaugural Ira Schulman Award was given to Ira himself in 2017, in recognition of his 50-plus years of dedication to rehoming Thoroughbred ex-racehorses. Going forward, the award will be given to an individual who does what Ira does, and does it well. Ira passed away in March 2018 at the age of 80, a few months after receiving the award.

2019 Winner: Jessica Redman of Benchmark Sport Horses

Past winners:

2018 – Amy Lynn Paulus

2017 – Ira Schulman

CANTER USA Award

Sponsored by: CANTER USA

Awarded to the highest-placed Thoroughbred Makeover horse that was acquired thorough a CANTER listing.

CANTER affiliates assist racing owners and trainers by listing their horses for sale. Some CANTER affiliates take ownership of vulnerable horses for rehabilitation and training before rehoming.

Cash prize: $1,000

$500 and trophy cooler to highest-placed Makeover horse that was acquired through a CANTER listing; $300 to the second highest-placed CANTER horse; $200 to the third highest-placed CANTER horse. Money will be split in the event of a tie. 

2019 Winner: Royal Flame (Gayle Cook)
Second Place: Noble Apollo (Timothy Brock)
Third Place: Long Legacy (Melanie Voght)

Past winners:

2018 Winner – Tripple Reward (Megan Waelti)
Second Place: B's Honey (Sarah Coltrin)
Third Place: Tanyas Pride (Courtney Asdourian)

2017 – Bowdrie (Lindsey Partridge)

Turning For Home Award

Sponsored by: Turning For Home

Trophy cooler and gift basket awarded to the highest-placed Thoroughbred Makeover horse that was acquired through Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association’s Turning For Home program directly, or from one of its partner farms. 

2019 Winner: Henny Strike (Susan Thomas)

Past winners:

2018 – BK's Angus (Lauren Lindsay)

2017 – Here Comes Adri (Lindsey Partridge)

Iron Horse Award

Sponsored by: MidAtlantic Horse Rescue

Awarded to the highest-scoring Makeover “iron horse” — those horses who were foaled in 2009 or earlier.

Cash prize: $1,000

$500 and trophy cooler awarded to the highest-placed amateur/professional
$500 and trophy cooler awarded to the highest-placed junior

2019 Winners:
Winners: Hula Pie (Michelle Houpt) and I Can And I Will (Meghan Crout)
Junior Winner: Wasted (Franny Galvin-Hynes)

Past Winners
2018 Winner: Father Mick (Ashley Lilley)
2018 Junior Winner: Shraded Edge (Evelyn Jones)

Top Louisiana-Bred Horse Award

Sponsored by: Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association

Awarded to the highest-placed Makeover horse bred in Louisiana. Winnings will be split in the event of a tie.

Cash prize: $4,000

2019 Winner: Tenpin Sugar (Katherine Deichmann)

Past winners:

2018 – Interactif Spy (Morgan Boyer)

Sponsored by: Judy Hartman's Copper Beech Stables

Awarded to the highest-placed Makeover horse bred in Maryland.

Cash prize: $3,000

2019 Winner: Silken Lady (Harry Caldwell)

Past winners:

2018 – Better Wise Up (Johannah Stahl)

Top Pennsylvania-Bred Horse Award

Sponsored by: Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association

Awarded to the highest-placed Makeover horse bred in Pennsylvania. Prize will be split in the event of a tie. 

Cash prize: $2,500

2019 Winner: Fairly Obvious (Lindsey Partridge)

Past winners:

2018 – BK's Angus (Lauren Lindsay)

Pennsylvania HBPA Award

Sponsored by: Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association & New Start

Awarded to any horse that came through the PA HBPA New Start program or were obtained from a Penn National based trainer and wins or places second or third in a Makeover division.

Cash prizes

$1000 for 1st, $500 for 2nd, and $500 for 3rd. Trainers must declare eligibility at time of entry and PA HBPA will confirm eligibility.

Contact Lauren Zagnit at (717) 645-6615 for questions or eligibility requirements.

2019 Winner: Fairly Obvious (Lindsey Partridge)

Past winners:

2018 – Miss Classy (Jade Wirick)

Empire Success Story Top New York-Bred Award

Sponsored by: New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, New York Racing Association, and New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc.

Awarded to the highest-placed Makeover horse bred in New York.

Cash prize: $5,000

2019 Winners (Tie): Regina Christina (Lindsey Partridge)
and Ouija (Courtney Asdourian)

Past winners:

2018 – Miss Classy (Jade Wirick) and Looking My Way (Tik Maynard)

Top California-Bred Horse Award

Sponsored by: Georgia B. Ridder Foundation in honor of the work done by After the Finish Line

Awarded to the highest-placed Makeover horse bred in California

Cash prize: $2,500

2019 Winner: Highly Cynical (Tom Mansmann)

Past winners:

2018 – Baker's Acclaim (Taylor Whipple)

Paulus Pony Award

Sponsored by: Changing Saddles LLC and Friends of Amy Paulus

Trophy cooler awarded to the highest-placed Makeover horse sourced by Amy Paulus/Changing Saddles LLC.  Money will be split in the event of a tie. 

Cash prize: $500

2019 Winner: Grande Warrior (Amy Bowers)

Past winners:

2018 – Regal Justice (Toni Harmon)

Delaware Park Horse Aftercare Initiative Special Award

Sponsored by: CANTER Delaware, Delaware Park Racing, Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, and MidAtlantic Horse Rescue

Awarded to the three highest placing Makeover horses that raced at Delaware Park. Eligible horses must have either been listed through CANTER Delaware, retired from racing at Delaware Park, or raced at least 50% of their career at Delaware Park.

Cash prizes

$500 to top finisher, $300 to second place finisher, and $200 to third place finisher.

2019 Winners (tie): Royal Flame (Gayle Cook) and American Colossus (Gail Szezecinksi)

Past winners:

2018 – Lovely Lad (Alison Chubb)
Second Place: Love the Beat (Emily Johnson)
Third Place: Here Comes Trouble (Anna Cox)

TAA Graduate Award

Sponsored by: Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

$1,500 cash prize will be divided between the rider of the highest-placed TAA horse and the TAA-accredited organization that rehomed or is in the process of retraining that horse. Eligible horses must have been adopted from or currently with a TAA-accredited organization.

Cash prize: $1,500

2019 Winner: Fairly Obvious (Lindsey Partridge)

Past winners:

2018 Winner – Okie Jazz (Nicole St. Martin)

Thoroughbred Charities of America Award

Sponsored by: Thoroughbred Charities of America

A special gift basket will be awarded to the rider of the highest placing horse in each division that was acquired through a 2018 or 2019 TCA grant recipient organization.

2019 Winners:
Competitive Trail: Wally K (Monique Cameron) - Galloping Out
Dressage: Frank's Gift (Lauren Burke) - New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program
Eventing: Jersey Justice (Rhiannon Rasmussen) - Thoroughbred Athletes, Inc.
Field Hunters: Frank's Gift (Lauren Burke) - New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program
Freestyle: Sterling Thunder (Meghan Edelman) - Maker's Mark Secretariat Center
Show Hunter: Zinziblanco (TEAM MAHR Zinziblanco) - Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue
Show Jumper: Jersey Justice (Rhiannon Rasmussen) - Thoroughbred Athletes, Inc.

Best Conditioned Award

Sponsored by: Nina Bonnie

A trophy halter will be awarded to the best conditioned horse in each division.

2019 Winners:
Barrels: Liz's Luck (Kendall McKibben)
Competitive Trail: Somebody's Beau (Kate Coldren)
Dressage: Negu (Kylie Cook)
Eventing: Kitten's Beauty (Caroline Homes)
Field Hunters: Bombarito (Brit Vegas)
Freestyle: Edger Jones (Kasey Mix)
Polo: Lady Driven (Andrea Groubert)
Ranch Work: Include the Best (Beth Young)
Show Hunter: Kid Chrome (Robin Hannah)
Show Jumper: Remember Gizmo (Kedal Lehari)

Wild and Wonderful Awards

Sponsored by: Charles Town HBPA 

New for 2019; $1,000 to any division winner and $500 to second or third placements. To be eligible, horse must have made a minimum of 6 starts at Charles Town OR one start at Charles Town and be a West Virginia-Bred. 

Cash prizes

$1,000 to any division winner,  $500 to any second and third place finisher.

2019 Winner: Furaha (Susan Deal)

Little Orphan Annex Memorial Award

Sponsored by: Friends of Hillary and Annie 

New for 2019; $500 to the highest-placed chestnut mare/filly.  Prize will be split in the event of a tie.

Cash prizes

$500 to highest-placed chestnut mare/filly.

2019 Winner: Great Reward (Buck Schott)

USPC Award in Memory of E. Marilyn Searle

Sponsored by: Beverly Strauss and MidAtlantic Horse Rescue in memory of E. Marilyn Searle 

New for 2019; Presented to the highest placing Pony Club Member in good standing.  Prize will be split in the event of a tie.

Cash prizes

$750 and trophy cooler to first highest placed Pony Club Member
$250 and trophy cooler to second highest placed Pony Club Member

2019 Winner: Ms. Mary Joe (Grace Heepke)
Second-highest: Henny Strike (Susan Thomas)

Kentucky-Bred Award

Sponsored by:  KTOB

New for 2019; Presented to the highest placing KY-Bred horse.  Prize will be split in the event of a tie.

$6,500 Cash prize

2019 Winners (tie): Fifth Ace (Alison O'Dwyer), Diplomat (Sara Katz), Great Reward (Buck Schott), and Sanimo (Rosie Napravnik)

Highest-Placed FL-Bred in Competitive Trail

Sponsored by: Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care

Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care, sponsor of the Competitive Trail division, is awarding $500 to the highest-placed Florida-bred in Competitive Trail.

$500 Cash prize

2019 Winner: I Can And I Will (Meghan Crout)