Retired Racehorse Project

With five career wins, a nose for treats, and a personality that keeps his rider entertained, Cali Bay (IRE) brought plenty of character to this year's Thoroughbred Makeover! 🐎 Congratulations to CARMA Messineo Makeover Scholarship recipient Jileann Pinhero and Cali Bay (IRE), affectionately known as Cal, on their performances at the 2026 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover in Kentucky! The pair finished 5th among junior riders in Dressage and 8th in Freestyle! A former racehorse with more than $178,000 in career earnings, Cal has traded racing for a new adventure with Jileann, a San Diego Pony Club member who is developing her skills in retraining off-track Thoroughbreds through the SCRAF Training to Train program. Described as curious, playful, brave, and always on the lookout for treats, Cal has found a wonderful partner in Jileann. While Jileann describes herself as a little shy, Cal is the outgoing one. Together, they've built a partnership centered on learning, having fun, and bringing out the best in each other. Congratulations, Jileann and Cal! We're proud to have you representing Team CARMA! ❤️ @RRP_TBMakeover Photo Credit: Erin Gilmore Photography

CARMA's Messineo Makeover Scholarship recipient Allie Silvera and Pacific Tide had plenty to celebrate at the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover in Kentucky! The young California-bred Thoroughbred delivered three outstanding dressage performances, earning a Top 5 dressage score in Eventing and placing among the Top 10 combined Dressage scores over two days! While the show jumping and cross-country challenges proved a little too demanding at this stage of his education, Pacific Tide showed nothing but heart, willingness, and an incredible attitude throughout the competition. Foaled in 2022, Pacific Tide is a son of West Coast out of V J's Bet, by Into Mischief. After just one career start, his journey as a racehorse came to an end, but his next chapter is already showing tremendous promise. For Allie, who previously competed at the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover, returning to Kentucky with the support of CARMA's Messineo Makeover Scholarship was another opportunity to grow as a horsewoman while helping a deserving Thoroughbred develop the skills for a successful second career. Congratulations to Allie and Pacific Tide! We can't wait to see what the future holds for this talented young horse. ❤️ #TeamCARMA #ThoroughbredMakeover #MessineoMakeoverScholarship #ThoroughbredAftercare Photo Credit: Erin Gilmore Photography

Big results for a young rider and her very special Thoroughbred! 🐎💙 At just 15 years old, Emma Rosas took on the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover with Anisette (affectionately known as Anna), earning 3rd place in Freestyle Team and 4th place in Competitive Trail Team alongside trainer and mentor Kiersti Wylie! A dedicated Pony Club member and aspiring horse trainer, Emma has built a wonderful partnership with Anna through patience, play, and plenty of affection (and watermelon!). The California-bred daughter of Central Banker out of Anais, by Malibu Moon, retired from racing with three wins and $28,781 in earnings. Now, she's showing off her talents in a whole new arena! With support from CARMA's Messineo Makeover Scholarship, Emma and Anna traveled from California to Kentucky, gaining valuable experience and taking another exciting step forward together. Congratulations to Emma, Kiersti, and Anisette! We love seeing the next generation of horsemen and women championing Thoroughbred aftercare! 💙 Photo Credit: Erin Gilmore Photography @RRP_TBMakeover #TeamCARMA #ThoroughbredMakeover

From a $500,000 racehorse to a second career full of possibilities! 🐎💙 For St. Eligius and his rider Liz Miller, the 2026 Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover was a story of determination. Bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm, St. Eligius is a six-year-old son of multiple graded stakes winner Bolt d'Oro out of Forever Discreet (AUS), by Bernardini. He sold for an impressive $500,000 as a two-year-old, but his racing career never quite lived up to those early expectations. Fortunately, his story didn't end at the finish line. Now a CARMA graduate, St. Eligius has found a dedicated partner in Liz, who described the pair as underdogs with something to prove. Liz works a desk job in the healthcare industry, but outside the office, she's passionate about retraining retired racehorses. St. Eligius has plenty of personality to match his athleticism! Liz describes him as a strong-willed character who still thinks he's a big, bad stallion. He greets her with a distinctive low, raspy whinny, gets jealous when she gives other horses attention, and has a particular weakness for German Horse Muffins. The two share a strong work ethic, a sense of humor, and a love of sweet treats! Their journey to Kentucky wasn't without challenges. St. Eligius struggled with the covered arena during Ranch Work, and with only a brief 10-minute chance to practice their freestyle routine the night before, Liz knew they would need to make some adjustments. Despite simplifying their routine and navigating a few unexpected moments, the pair rallied on the second day of competition and missed the finals by less than one point! Their preliminary competition results: 🏅 2nd Place Amateur – Working Equitation Freestyle 🏅 5th Place Amateur – Ranch Work 12th Overall – Working Equitation Freestyle 13th Overall – Ranch Work For Liz, a four-time Thoroughbred Makeover competitor, the experience means more than ribbons. She hopes their journey inspires others to consider adopting a retired racehorse and shows that you don't have to work in the equine industry to make a meaningful difference in Thoroughbred aftercare. CARMA's Messineo Makeover Scholarship, established through Nancy Messineo's generous legacy gift, supported their trip to Kentucky to help West Coast riders and their CARMA graduates compete at the Thoroughbred Makeover. And now, St. Eligius is ready for another exciting chapter! 💙 This talented gelding is looking for a new home and someone to continue developing his potential. Interested in learning more? Please reach out! Congratulations to Liz and St. Eligius! We're proud of your perseverance, your partnership, and everything you've accomplished together. #TeamCARMA #ThoroughbredMakeover Photo Credit: Erin Gilmore Photography

Pretty, talented, and just a little Stubborn! 🐎💙 At just four years old, CARMA graduate Stubborn (affectionately known as Hera) made quite the impression at the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover in Kentucky! Her journey to Kentucky wasn't without its challenges. After her rider, Kathleen Boyle, suffered a fractured fibula in May, the pair couldn't begin training in earnest until mid-June. Despite their shortened preparation, Stubborn showed incredible promise, tackling her first full cross-country course and jumping at Beginner Novice height for the very first time! While the water obstacle proved a little too much for this young mare, Kathleen knew when to end on a positive note, and the pair finished their experience with a celebratory gallop. Their partnership began in April, when Stubborn arrived through CARMA's Placement Program. Bred in California, this daughter of Volatile out of Sipmychardonnaynae, by Bodemeister, retired from racing after six starts and $14,700 in career earnings. For Kathleen, competing at the Thoroughbred Makeover was a longtime dream. With only a few months to build their partnership, the pair made the trip to Kentucky with support from CARMA's Messineo Makeover Scholarship. And this is only the beginning! Kathleen plans to continue her partnership with Stubborn, a mare she already considers pretty special. Congratulations to Kathleen and Stubborn! We can't wait to see what this beautiful pair accomplishes next. 💙 @RRP_TBMakeover #TeamCARMA #ThoroughbredMakeover #CARMAgrad #ThoroughbredAftercare

From stakes winner to Thoroughbred Makeover standout! 🏆🐎 Classical Cat certainly lived up to his name at the 2026 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover, earning 2nd place in the Competitive Trail Finals and 5th place in the Freestyle Finals! Partnered with Kiersti Wylie, Classical Cat (affectionately known as Classic) approached the competition with the same confidence, curiosity, and heart that made him such a special partner throughout his preparation. In fact, Kiersti shared that he was the only horse to complete the Competitive Trail course without hesitation! But Classic's journey to Kentucky began long before the competition. The Kentucky-bred son of Mendelssohn out of Conquest Strate Up, by Not Bourbon, enjoyed a successful racing career, winning three of his five starts and earning $166,300, including a stakes victory. His next chapter began at Sandia Creek Ranch, where he was originally intended for a young participant in the Training-to-Train program. When plans changed, Classic made his own intentions known, calling out to Kiersti whenever she entered the barn and eagerly watching her every move. What began with a few enthusiastic bucks during his early training quickly developed into a remarkable partnership, helped along by plenty of cookies! Today, Classic is an adventurous, willing partner who seems ready to tackle just about anything. Through the Sandia Creek Ranch Auxiliary Foundation (SCRAF), Kiersti helps mentor the next generation of horsemen and horsewomen. Her work with Pony Club riders through SCRAF's program gives young equestrians hands-on experience developing off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Thanks to CARMA's Messineo Makeover Scholarship, Kiersti and Classic made the journey from California to Kentucky. Congratulations to Kiersti, Classic, and the entire team behind this incredible accomplishment! 💙 #teamCARMA @RRP_TBMakeover