2nd Annual Thoroughbred Makeover: A Marketplace & National Symposium

America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred Contest highlights the 2nd Annual Thoroughbred Makeover: A Marketplace & National Symposium that takes place at Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness, on Saturday, October 4, and Sunday, October 5.

The two-day event, organized by the nonprofit Retired Racehorse Project, demonstrates the versatility, trainability and value of Thoroughbred racehorses learning new careers.

The weekend features the TCA Thoroughbred Marketplace, sponsored by Thoroughbred Charities of America, of horses for sale or adoption, educational seminars, a sponsor fair, demonstrations and the contest to choose America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred.

Ten teams representing 10 disciplines will compete for the title of America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred and a $10,000 prize. Each horse participant will demonstrate a different discipline: fox hunting, eventing, dressage, polo, pony clubber, steeplechasing, show jumping, show hunting, barrel racing and ranch work.

The contestants for America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbreds are:

1. Its a Little Chili, who will be instructed in polo. The horse is owned and trained by Marisa Bianchi and Juan Carlos Garcia and sponsored by Capitol Polo Club.
2. D’Sauvage will become a show hunter. D’Sauvage is owned by Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue and trained by Bev Strauss.
3. Discreet Dancer will be taught show jumping. The horse is owned by New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program and trained by New Vocations staff and Armand Leone.
4. Icabad Crane will learn eventing. He is owned by Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Graham Motion and his wife, Anita. Olympic rider Phillip Dutton is the trainer. Icabad Crane placed third in the 2008 Preakness, behind Big Brown and raced until last year when he was retired by the Motions.
5. Mad Bomber will be a pony clubber and is owned and trained by 16-year-old Hannah Gilhool.
6. Now and Then will be learning dressage over the summer and is owned and trained by Nuno Santos.
7. Pookie’s Princess will learn barrel racing. The horse is owned by Jackie Harris and trained by Patrick King.
8. Rikim will be learning ranch work. Owned by Horse Creek Thoroughbreds, the horse will be trained by Dale Simanton of South Dakota.
9. Saba Rock will be taught fox hunting and is owned by Larking Hill Farm and trained by Christy Clagett.
10. So Outspoken will become a steeplechaser. The horse is owned by B’More Hopeful Stable and trained by Jazz Napravnik.

Over the coming months, the public can follow the journeys of these teams online as they prepare to perform at the October 4-5 Makeover on the track at Pimlico.

Voting for America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred will take place by the public online at www.retiredracehorseproject.org and by celebrity judges who will be on hand at the Makeover weekend. The judges will also provide commentary for the contest.

Also at the two-day October event, dozens of ex-racehorses at all stages of second-career training will be showcased in the TCA Thoroughbred Marketplace. The Thoroughbreds will be stabled in the infield, catalogued online, inspected by veterinarians and ready for purchase or adoption to the right home.

Seminars over the two days include topics such as “The First 100 Days,” “Maryland Racing: Where Horses Come First,” “Racehorse Reality Check” and “The Trainers Forum.” In-barn topics include selecting prospects, soundness issues, holistic health and saddle fit.

A variety of vendors and food and drink concessions will be available both days.

Tickets cost $25 per person, per day, or $40 for the weekend. Activities begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m.

Last year’s inaugural event drew 800 horse enthusiasts and other interested followers who watched the ex-racehorses demonstrate new skills such as jumping, dressage, polo, ranch work, barrel racing, police work, eventing and liberty training.

“The Retired Racehorse Project’s competitions have proven to the public that Thoroughbreds off the track are the most trainable, generous and talented four-legged animals on the planet,” said Steuart Pittman, founder of the Retired Racehorse Project. “The trainers in this year’s contest are some of the best in their disciplines, and the past racing connections of the horses are engaged.”

Carolyn Karlson, vice president of the Retired Racehorse Project and a partner in the national Bourbon Lane Stable, said, “As a racing owner, nothing is more important to me than educating equestrians who might someday own and care for one of these horses. These 10 horses and trainers will inspire us, and they will inspire the general public.”

Pimlico Race Course is located at 5201 Park Heights Avenue in Baltimore. For more information, visit retiredracehorseproject.org or call 410-798-5140.