Drafted is 2025 Bill Kraatz Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award Winner

[Wandering Eyes]

Multiple Graded/Group winner Drafted (Field Commission) has been named the 2025 Bill Kraatz Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award recipient, the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) announced Friday morning.

Named for the late past chief steward Bill Kraatz, the award recognizes a graduate horse that has gone on to serve as an ambassador for the athleticism and trainability of retired racehorses in their career beyond racing. Selected by a committee of Makeover officials, Drafted will be presented as the newest member of the honor roll.

A millionaire on track, and a globetrotter who visited two other regions of the world during his career, Drafted is described by owner Katie Tarasevich as not what she expected as a 10-year-old, but saw similarities early enough to believe that it was a match meant to be.

“I travel a lot, and I noticed that his race career took him to all of the same places I've traveled–I've been to England, I've been to Dubai. And we both have screws in our right ankle!”

“He's game for anything,” Tarasevich said, who was still moving between an electric wheelchair and a walking boot when she brought Drafted home. “I wanted an all-rounder, because I like to do a lot of different things with my horses: we've done some hunter shows, some dressage, we've showed in-hand, and we do trail obstacles and trail events all the time.”

Drafted participated in the Thoroughbred Makeover and the Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program Championships in 2024 as well as numerous shows and organized trail and endurance rides. Tarasevich says that, while he's a professional in competitions and during outings, at home he's let the bright lights get to him.

“I joke that the fame of his international racing career went to his head,” laughs Tarasevich. She says if Drafted doesn't feel that he's getting enough attention from people nearby, he's been known to pick up objects and throw them. The grey knows how to work a zipper and also turns the lights on and off in the barn if he can reach the switch.

For his owner, Drafted has been the perfect partner to bring back her confidence and show just what a Thoroughbred is capable of beyond the track.

“I haven't found anything that he's scared of or won't try.”

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