Retired Racehorses Won California Scholarships
Seven horses received travel scholarships to compete in the 2026 Thoroughbred Makeover in Kentucky.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Large Animals
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The California Retirement Management Account awarded the Messineo Makeover Scholarship to seven retired racehorses. Known as the Magnificent 7, these horses will represent California at the national Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover.
Why it matters
The scholarship was created to reduce the financial burden on West Coast owners by covering the high costs associated with transporting horses over 2,000 miles to the national competition.
The seven selected horses are Savel, Classical Cat, Beach Hero, Sasafran, Prince Abama, Cali Bay, and Anisette. They are scheduled to travel approximately 2,000 miles from California to the Kentucky Horse Park for their competition.
The players
California Retirement Management Account
This is a charitable organization dedicated to the welfare of retired racehorses in California.
Nancy Messineo
She was a benefactor who established a trust to provide financial support for equine welfare initiatives.
Sandia Creek Ranch Auxiliary Foundation
This organization manages fundraising efforts for the ongoing care and training of retired competition horses.
Retired Racehorse Project
This national non-profit organization facilitates the transition of former racehorses into second careers through competition.
The details
The scholarships are funded by a trust established by the late Nancy Messineo, who passed away in 2023. Beyond transportation, the Sandia Creek Ranch Auxiliary Foundation is currently coordinating further fundraising to manage the horses training, boarding, and competition-related expenses.
Timeline
June 8, 2023: Nancy Messineo passed away.
October 7-10, 2026: The Thoroughbred Makeover competition will take place at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Roadmap
The Thoroughbred Makeover serves as a major pipeline for retired racehorses transitioning into sport horse careers. By providing transit funding, programs like the Messineo scholarship ensure West Coast equines remain competitive in a national market dominated by the regional industry in Kentucky.
For local horse owners and trainers, the scholarship mitigates the high logistical costs of national competition. Participants can now focus resources on daily training and health maintenance rather than the steep financial hurdle of cross-country transport.
The takeaway
Supporting the transition of retired racehorses into second careers requires significant logistical and financial planning. Owners should look for similar trust-based grants or local foundations to help manage the high costs of specialized equine training and travel.
What happens next
The Magnificent 7 are scheduled to compete at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington during the Thoroughbred Makeover event held from October 7 to October 10, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about equine welfare and transitional programs in the Large Animals section.
More information
Support the horses by visiting the SCRAF Thoroughbred Makeover fundraising page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Valley News.
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