2020 Special Awards
The following awards are confirmed for the 2020 competition year at the 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover. We will continue to update this list as awards are confirmed for the 2021 competition year. As these awards are sponsored by individuals, organizations or companies to support their own initiatives and goals, there is no guarantee that these awards will be offered every year.
Thoroughbred Makeover Champion
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 highest ranking as determined by the combined marks of the discipline judges during the finale.
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


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)


Top Maryland-Bred Horse Award
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)


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)


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)

Iron Horse Award
Sponsored by: MidAtlantic Horse Rescue
Awarded to the highest-scoring Makeover “iron horse” — those horses who were foaled in 2010 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)



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



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: $5,000
2019 Winner: Tenpin Sugar (Katherine Deichmann)
Past winners:
2018 – Interactif Spy (Morgan Boyer)


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)



Wild and Wonderful Awards
Sponsored by: Charles Town HBPA
$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)


Kentucky-Bred Award
Sponsored by: KTOB
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)




2019 Special Awards

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)


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)

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)

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)


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)
