The 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America at the Kentucky Horse Park, was an unprecedented event, with competition running for both 2020-eligible and 2021-eligible horses due to the postponement of the event last year because of the pandemic. Competition years competed separately across three days of preliminary competition, vying for a total of over $100,000 in prize money, with each competition year crowning its own Thoroughbred Makeover Champion.
Thunderous Affair, trained by Lindsey Partridge, was selected by the panel of judges as the 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion. The four-year-old 16.2 h. gray/roan mare (barn name Elysia) was bred in Kentucky by Jim Williams. She never made a start at the track, but did train to race. By Liaison out of the Thunder Gulch mare Thunder Fan, Thunderous Affair was placed for rehoming through the Thoroughbred aftercare organization CANTER Michigan.
Partridge, a professional trainer based at her Harmony Horsemanship in Pontypool, Ontario, is no stranger to the Thoroughbred Makeover — she won the overall title back in 2015 with Soar — but this particular journey has not been without its challenges.