Two New Vocations Graduates Shine in the 2024 RRP Makeover Finals

Two New Vocations Graduates Shine in the 2024 RRP Makeover Finals

New Vocations adoptees had a successful week at the 2024 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover October 9 - 12! Over 280 retired Thoroughbred racehorses appeared to compete in the competition intended to inspire trainers to transition these horses into second careers.

An impressive 23 graduates of New Vocations entered the Makeover and actively competed in various disciplines. These adoptees were: Accel Rose, Always Positive, Best Idea, Brooklyns Finest, Drafted, Elite Banker, Gaslighter, Good Girl Shorty, Hornswoggle, Illustrated, In the Union, Just So, Matty's Marauder, Mor Than Tough, No Ka Oi, Pretty Miss Keens, Skellig, Straight Answer (GB), Syndicated (GB), War Prince, Winfield, and Your Time's Coming.

The top 5 horses in each discipline throughout Wednesday and Thursday competed in the Finals on Saturday with a reset score to see who would be named Champion. Of the 23 New Vocations competitors, 7 were top ten finishers in their division, and 2 made their way to the finals!

In The Union, ridden by Kristal Gessler, competed in both Dressage and Eventing, earning 12th place in Dressage and 5th place in Eventing in the preliminary competition. In The Union, a 2019 gelding by Union Rags, had 7 starts in his racing career before retiring to New Vocations’ Lexington, KY facility. Their preliminary Eventing score earned them a place in the finals, where the duo took 5th overall.

Brooklyns Finest was ridden by his adopter and RRP Makeover veteran, Raechel Ramsey. Together they competed in Ranch Work and Competitive Trail at this year’s event. Raechel has adopted her RRP Makeover competitors from New Vocations since 2020, and each horse has taken her to the finals starting with Aussie Prayer who was named the 2020 / 2021 Mega Makeover Ranch Riding Champion. This year, Raechel and Brooklyns Finest had a deja vu moment after an incredible cattle sorting round in the Ranch Work finals. The duo became victorious, earning the 2024 Makeover Ranch Work Champion title.

New Vocations is so proud of the many adopters who worked hard to make their way to the Thoroughbred Makeover. The number of New Vocations graduates competing in the Makeover has increased every year. New Vocations is excited to see what the 2025 Makeover brings.

To find your next Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, become an approved adopter at newvocations.org/adopt and view our adoptable horses at newvocations.org/horses. Adopt your 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover competitor from New Vocations, and you’ll be reimbursed the $350 trainer application fee!