Increasing demand for thoroughbreds beyond racing
General Event Information
October 8th–11th, 2025
Kentucky Horse Park: 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511
Parking: Parking is assessed by the Horse Park at the main entrance guard shack
Stabling: Stalls are reserved via the RRP in August. Stalls are 10X10’ with wooden walls, concrete floors, and full-height permanent doors. Stalls may be bedded with biodegradable materials such as shavings, straw, pellets, etc. Stripping of stalls is not required. Participants are responsible for supplying their own stabling supplies and equipment and inspecting their stall upon arrival for any safety hazards.
Bedding & Stall Mats: Dever, Inc. 859-233-9702
The Kentucky Horse Park prohibits the use of full-size off-road vehicles (ATVs, mules, 4-wheelers, 3-wheelers, and dirt bikes). Self-owned mini-dirt bikes, golf carts, bikes (including electric bikes), Segways, and scooters, etc. are permitted.
ASPCA Right Horse Doughnut Breakfast - Thursday, October 12 at ASPCA Right Horse Adoption Barn at Barn 5, 10:00 AM. Stop by the ASPCA Right Horse Adoption Barn for complimentary coffee and doughnuts! Meet the ASPCA Right Horse team, learn more about horse adoption, and visit some adoptable Thoroughbreds.
Aftercare Afterhours - Wednesday, October 11 - Secretariat Center at 5:00 PM
Co-hosted by New Vocations and Secretariat Center. All working in the aftercare industry, whether for or non-profit, are invited to attend this casual cocktail hour. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to visit and network with colleagues from across the industry. Drinks and light snacks will be served. RSVP required. Click HERE to RSVP.Â
Barrels & Brews -Â Thursday, October 12th - 5:00pm
Tip your glass, not your barrel! Join us in the TCA Covered Arena for our new event: Barrels & Brews. Grab a drink in the biergarten, shop extended hours in the Vendor Fair, and cheer on Makeover and TIP Barrel Racing competitors. West Sixth Brewery and local food trucks will be in attendance, and all are invited. No Tickets Required
Stall Decorating Contest -Â Friday, October 13th - 2:00pmÂ
All are invited to walk the barns to take a look at stall displays and meet this year's competitors. For more information about stall decorating guidelines, please see the Stall Decorating tab.
Thoroughbred Makeover Awards Party - Friday, October 13th -- Doors Open 5:00pm -- The Competitor Party party will include an awards ceremony recognizing special awards winners along with preliminary discipline winners, top juniors, top amateurs, and top teams. Join us in Kentucky Horse Park’s Big Barn for an evening of celebration with great local food trucks and live music. Tickets Required. Click HERE to purchase tickets.
Thoroughbred Makeover Finale VIP – Saturday, October 14th – Doors Open 8:00am – Take a whole new look at the Thoroughbred Makeover Finale! Join us in the Club Lounge overlooking the Covered Arena and watch the Finale competition from the best seats in the house. Tickets include continental breakfast, buffet lunch and a drink ticket. Tickets Required. Click HERE to purchase tickets.
Many aspects of the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover and T.I.P. Championships are free, including shopping the vendor fair, browsing the Makeover Marketplace, attending preliminary competition and the Finale Championships. Select portions of the event, the Awards Party and Finale VIP, require tickets.
Click HERE to purchase tickets.
Accommodations
Spectators, vendors, and competitors should not wait until the last minute to book their accommodations. October is a busy time in Lexington other major events put pressure on hotel room and AirBnB inventory.
Host Hotel:Â Fairfield Inn & Suites Lexington Georgetown/College Inn
200 Tiger Way Georgetown, KY 40324 (p) 502-868-9955
Rate: $129/ night
BOOK HOTEL Booking deadline September 15th
Kentucky Horse Park Campground: The Kentucky Horse Park Campground has 260 campsites with electrical and water hookups, paved pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. A full-service facility, the campground has a grocery store and gift shop, two bathhouses with modern conveniences, laundromats, and two dump stations.Â
BOOK CAMPING
Visit LexingtonÂ
Known for fast horses and smooth bourbon, Lexington is excited to once again welcome attendees of the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover to the Bluegrass!
Horse Country Tours: Horse Country is your gateway to exploring the legendary breeding farms and other aspects of the Thoroughbred industry in the Bluegrass. Book your tours now.
Keeneland: Visitors are welcome to schedule tours, watch morning workouts, and visit the Keeneland Shop or Keeneland Library.
Woodford Reserve: Learn about the history of bourbon at the famous Woodford Reserve Distillery. Book your tours now.
Thoroughbred Makeover Seminars
Murphy Arena PavilionÂ
Makeover attendees will have the opportunity to sit in on the following
educational seminars and demos dedicated to the care and condition of
off-track Thoroughbred. Seminars will be free and open to all.
Details on individual sessions are below:
Wednesday October, 11th: Neurological Exam Demo & Discussion
presented by: Boehringer Ingelheim
Thursday October 12th: Body Condition Scoring Hands-On Demo
presented by: Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital
The ever-popular Stall Decorating Contest returns for 2023! Judging will begin at 2:00 PM on Friday, October 13th in the barns, and all are invited to walk the barns to view the creative displays and enjoy the festive atmosphere as competitors kick back after preliminary competition.
This year’s theme is "Your Makeover Movie": trainers are invited to decorate in the theme of a movie that sums up their Makeover journey.
A sign-up form will be distributed once stall assignments are posted.
Stall Decorating Contest rules:
- The Stall Decorating Contest will be judged by a traveling group of judges.
- Stall decorations may NOT impede access to stalls. Stalls must remain functional and be able to be fully opened and closed. Horses must be able to get in and out of stalls safely. RRP event staff reserves the right to request removal of decorations that are impeding safe access for horses and people.
- JUDGED stall decorations are limited to the stall front and shed row. Decorations MAY NOT block/impede roads between barns for emergency access. If you are stabled on an end barn or end stall with access to grass or extended parking, extra decorations beyond roofline will not be considered for judging. RRP event staff reserves the right to request removal of decorations that are impeding safe access for horses and people.
- Anything applied to the stall must be safe, removable and not result in any permanent damage to the barn facilities. All decorations must be in compliance with fire codes; two wire extension cords, light duty cords for indoor use and any cut or damaged cords are prohibited. The use of open flames and/or pyrotechnics is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate disqualification.
Kentucky Horse Park: 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511
Parking: Parking is assessed by the Horse Park at the main entrance guard shack
Stabling: Stalls are reserved via the RRP in August. Stalls are 10X10’ with wooden walls, concrete floors, and full-height permanent doors. Stalls may be bedded with biodegradable materials such as shavings, straw, pellets, etc. Stripping of stalls is not required. Participants are responsible for supplying their own stabling supplies and equipment and inspecting their stall upon arrival for any safety hazards.
Bedding & Stall Mats: Dever, Inc. 859-233-9702
The Kentucky Horse Park prohibits the use of full-size off-road vehicles (ATVs, mules, 4-wheelers, 3-wheelers, and dirt bikes). Self-owned mini-dirt bikes, golf carts, bikes (including electric bikes), Segways, and scooters, etc. are permitted.
Additional information about events at the Thoroughbred Makeover coming in 2025.
Accommodations
Spectators, vendors, and competitors should not wait until the last minute to book their accommodations. October is a busy time in Lexington other major events put pressure on hotel room and AirBnB inventory.
Host Hotel:Â Fairfield Inn & Suites Lexington Georgetown/College Inn
200 Tiger Way | Georgetown, KY 40324 (p) 502-868-9955
Rate: $129/night
BOOK GROUP RATE NOW
Booking deadline September 21st
Kentucky Horse Park Campground: The Kentucky Horse Park Campground has 260 campsites with electrical and water hookups, paved pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. A full-service facility, the campground has a grocery store and gift shop, two bathhouses with modern conveniences, laundromats, and two dump stations.Â
BOOK CAMPING
Visit LexingtonÂ
Known for fast horses and smooth bourbon, Lexington is excited to once again welcome attendees of the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover to the Bluegrass!
Horse Country Tours: Horse Country is your gateway to exploring the legendary breeding farms and other aspects of the Thoroughbred industry in the Bluegrass. Book your tours now.
Keeneland: Visitors are welcome to schedule tours, watch morning workouts, and visit the Keeneland Shop or Keeneland Library.
Woodford Reserve: Learn about the history of bourbon at the famous Woodford Reserve Distillery. Book your tours now.
Makeover attendees will have the opportunity to sit in on the following educational seminars and demos dedicated to the care of off-track Thoroughbreds. Seminars are free and open to all. Topics for 2025 will be announced in August. Here are the seminars that were offered in 2024:
Equine Ocular Emergencies
Presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Join board certified ophthalmologist, Dr. Stephanie Bell, in a discussion about equine ocular emergencies.
Body Condition Scoring Demo & Presentation
Presented by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital
Participants will learn how to assess a horse’s overall body condition distinctly from its muscle development in a presentation and demo led by Dr. Kate Christie.
Makeover Clinics
Friday, Oct. 10
Clinics will return in 2025! Designed to offer the opportunity for additional education and a route to end the week on a good note for horses whose preliminary rounds may not have gone to plan, clinics and guided schooling will be offered at the conclusion of preliminary competition for horses and their trainers that did not qualify for the Championships. All clinics and guided schooling rounds are free to audit by the general public. More information and rider sign-ups will be available in August.
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