The versatility of Thoroughbreds was on display just a few miles from Keeneland Race Course Oct. 8-11 when the Retired Racehorse Project crowned 10 Thoroughbred Makeover champions at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

After two days of preliminary competition, the event’s new format was on display when 10 horses from each discipline continued competing in the ring they had visited in the preliminaries for the championship round on Saturday.

Previously, only the top five in each discipline qualified for the championship with the full championship round taking place in the covered arena.

While many competitors choose to focus on only one of the 10 disciplines offered at the Thoroughbred Makeover for horses in their first year of retraining, each horse at the makeover had the option of competing in up to two disciplines. This worked out well for many with 10 of those finalists competing in two divisions.

While no horse won both of their disciplines this year, the Amy Faison-trained Sekt impressed judges enough in both to take home two top-five placings. Sekt finished last in his only start as a racehorse and his racing owners quickly decided he needed a new career. He found exactly that when sourced by Faison from Pastured Place.

The gelding has done much better in this area, winning eventing by nearly three points over the second-place finisher. He also finished fifth in Show Jumping with Faison excited for what is to come with the off-track Thoroughbred (OTTB).

“I’m so excited. I’m so proud of him. He’s only 4, and he’s come such a long way this year. He’s really matured, even just this week – he’s really sorted out what he’s supposed to do. I couldn’t be prouder of him,” she told Retired Racehorse Project.

A name very likely familiar to racing fans is Sibelius, who also caught the eye at the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover.

Trained by Jerry O’Dwyer on the racetrack, Sibelius won nine of his 27 starts with seven other top-three finishes for more than $1.8 million in purse earnings. His crowning moment as a racehorse came in the 2023 Dubai Golden Shaheen when he gave his trainer O’Dwyer’s first Grade/Group 1 win. A special horse to their family, Sibelius stayed with the O’Dwyers after retirement from racing to transition to a show career and was shown in two disciplines at the makeover by Jerry’s wife, Allison.

The richest horse at this year’s Thoroughbred Makeover, Sibelius scored a 45 in dressage – just six points behind the winner – to finish third in that event. Adding Freestyle to his resume as well, Sibelius finished eighth in his second discipline.

Sibelius may not have won, but multiple graded stakes-placed Street Ready represented the stakes contingent well with a win in the Field Hunter division.

Kara Lee kisses Street Ready at the makeover. (Retired Racehorse Project/Erin Gilmore Photography)

Racing 31 times over six seasons, Street Ready placed in both the Grade 2 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes and Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes as a racehorse while amassing $335,077 in purse earnings. Retired in November 2024 after a win, he was sourced through Second Stride by Kara Lee.

The Field Hunter victory came down to the wire for Street Ready with three horses scoring 138 and Street Ready’s 138.500 score just 0.167 better than second place and 0.333 better than the third-place finisher.

“I’m overjoyed. It’s been surreal this whole week; this horse has shown up. I’ve always known that he was special, but I’m just glad that I was able to showcase him and let other people see how special he is. He means a lot to me and just really came through this week and has been great,” Lee said.

The other discipline winners were Battle Born in Barrel Racing; Vestal’s Gap in Competitive Trail; Patou Road in Dressage; Bandon in Freestyle; Qia in Polo; Miz Mosler in Ranch Work; Mentha in Show Hunter; and Late Night Cruiser in Show Jumper.

If you’d like to learn about the Retired Racehorse Project and the requirements to compete in the event, visit https://www.therrp.org. For complete results from the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover, click here.