Messineo Makeover Scholarship recipients earn top placings across multiple disciplines, showcasing the talent of California’s off-track Thoroughbreds. The 2026 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover concluded in Lexington, Kentucky, earlier this month with CARMA’s Messineo Makeover Scholarship recipients turning in a strong showing across several disciplines, highlighted by a Golden State Award victory and multiple top finishes. Classical Cat, ridden by Kiersti Wylie, led the way, earning the $5,000 Golden State Award, presented by the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). Classical Cat also finished second in the Competitive Trail Championship and fifth in the Freestyle Championship, adding to an impressive week for the CARMA graduate. Other notable performances included St. Eligius, ridden by Liz Miller, who placed second among amateur riders in Freestyle and fifth in Ranch Work. Beach Hero, with Teegan Carthew aboard, finished sixth in the Freestyle Championship, while Pacific Tide and Allie Silvera earned sixth among amateur riders in Dressage. The younger members of Team CARMA also distinguished themselves. Prince Abama, ridden by Madison Curcie, finished fourth among junior riders in Freestyle and eighth in Dressage. Cali Bay (IRE), with Jileann Pinhero, placed fifth among junior riders in Dressage and eighth in Freestyle. Anisette, partnered with Emma Rosas and Kiersti Wylie, earned third in Freestyle Team and fourth in Competitive Trail Team. Read the full article: carma4horses.org/news/classi… @RRP_TBMakeover @CAHorsePower @TBaftercare

Thoroughbred riders, this is your chance to compete at an Olympic venue—without the Olympic-sized price tag! 🏅 The Split Rock Jumping Tour is coming to historic Santa Anita Park this November, with incredible incentives for Thoroughbred competitors across two weekends! ✨ *FREE class entries for designated Thoroughbred classes ✨ 50% OFF stalls** — just $400 instead of $800! ✨ $2,000 Thoroughbred High Point Award each weekend! And the best part? You'll be competing at Santa Anita Park, a venue selected to host equestrian events during the LA28 Olympic Games! Whether you're bringing a seasoned competitor or giving your off-track Thoroughbred another opportunity to shine, this is a fantastic chance to showcase the breed's athleticism and versatility on a world-class stage at an amazing price! 📍 Santa Anita Park | Arcadia, CA 📍 November 11–15 & 18–22, 2026 📍 Let's show everyone what Thoroughbreds can do! Learn more and enter: santaanitaequestrian.com/res… @santaanitapark @1st_racing @TBaftercare @SRJT_

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

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

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

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