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TAKE2 10TH Anniversary Raises Over $117K

Just shy of its goal of raising $100,000 in celebration of the Program's 10th Anniversary, TAKE2 received a holiday gift of $25,000 from the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund (NYSTBDF), pushing the campaign across the finish line. A total of $117,744 was raised during the 10 months of the drive.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made a contribution, and blown away by the generosity of the Fund,” said TAKE2 Executive Director Andy Belfiore. “Our Program is a labor of love, and it means the world to know that so many people share our commitment to retired racehorses. This funding will help us continue the work started by Rick Violette 10 years ago, putting the spotlight on the Thoroughbred in the show ring and creating second career opportunities to ensure happy and healthy lives beyond the racetrack.”

The NYSTBF long has been a staunch advocate for TAKE2, which offers Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper divisions at more than 400 horse shows. TAKE2's sister program, TAKE THE LEAD, works with New York's owners and trainers to find homes for the horses retiring from NYRA tracks. The promotion of responsible Thoroughbred retirement is at the top of the agenda for NYSTBDF, a mission that has grown in the last 10 years.

“I've been with the Fund since about 2010, and the commitment to aftercare has changed a great deal in that time,” explained NYSTBDF Executive Director Tracy Egan. “I've always believed we need to create the reality that we are taking care of our horses even after they leave the racetrack. Their racing careers are so brief, and they have long and productive lives after the track.”

The NYSTBDF will host a ceremonial check presentation and a reception with aftercare organizations and state legislators at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023.

“We have a new Board Chairman, Brian O'Dwyer, and it was his idea to have the check ceremony, to bring together the aftercare community and the lawmakers from Albany,” Egan said. “We want our lawmakers to learn about and understand our commitment to aftercare.”

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TAKE2 to Recognize Tbred Hunter, Jumper Divisions at USEF Shows

The TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program will recognize the results and count the points earned by TAKE2 Thoroughbred League members competing in the rated Thoroughbred Hunter and Thoroughbred Jumper Divisions at all USEF horse shows. This rule change will be retroactive to the beginning of the current TAKE2 season, which kicked off Aug. 29, 2022, and runs through Aug. 27, 2023.

“When we started TAKE2, we required the USEF-rated horse shows to complete an application to affiliate with our program,” TAKE2 Executive Director Andy Belfiore explained.

“Unfortunately, there were horse shows that offered the rated Thoroughbred Divisions but did not submit the application and as a result, we had League members who missed out on points. We felt it was in the best interest of our League members, and would best help us fulfill our mission of promoting second careers for retired racehorses, if we modified our rules, discontinuing the application requirement and expanding the TAKE2 network.”

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary in 2022, TAKE2 has grown from just a handful of horse shows in three states to more than 400 horse shows nationwide. The program was created by the late Rick Violette Jr., then president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), in 2012 to put the spotlight on the success of Thoroughbreds in the show ring.

“Rick would be overwhelmed by the support TAKE2 has received not only from the racing industry, but also from the many Thoroughbred lovers in the sport horse world,” Belfiore said, adding, “We encourage horse shows to brand the rated Thoroughbred Divisions as TAKE2, so we can continue to raise awareness and create second career opportunities for retired racehorses.”

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MVP and Riley Win TAKE2 Finals

A total of 35 horses from 14 states participated in the $20,000 TAKE2 Hunter and Jumper Finals at the Kentucky Horse Park Sunday during the Kentucky National Horse Show. In a repeat of last year's results, MVP took the TAKE2 Hunter Final and Riley captured the TAKE2 Jumper Final.

“It's so much fun to see the Thoroughbreds from all over the country competing,” MVP's owner/rider Tess Fortune said. “This is my third year doing the Finals, and I have a great time every year.”

MVP raced briefly without success under the name Kit's Captain before retiring through the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's Galloping Out program. He was adopted by Fortune as a 3-year-old in 2014. The reserve champion in the TAKE2 Hunter Finals was 11-year-old gray Mo Bandit, who was retired through After the Races, a Thoroughbred rehabilitation and rehoming center in Maryland. The popular Cozmic One, son of Zenyatta, finished 11th in the jumper division with Hidden Brook's Sergio de Sousa in the irons.

Cyanea Robine and Riley also had one rail and earned the championship sash once again. Robine was also named this year's top TAKE2 Junior Rider, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, in the Jumper division. Riley, whose Jockey Club name is Pic Me First, had a couple of less-than-impressive workouts at Delta Downs before it was decided he was not cut out for a racing career.

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TERF Named TAKE2 August Donor of the Month

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation (TERF), an offshoot of Thoroughbred Charities of America established to provide focused funding for equine education and research, has provided funding to the tune of $4,000 for an aftercare education program and for its generosity, has been recognized as 'TAKE2 Donor of the Month' for August.

TAKE2 set a goal of raising $10,000 a month for 10 months in honor of its milestone 10th anniversary this year. With the generous help of previous 'Donors of the Month' Len Green and the Green Group, TAKE2 competitor Patricia Hurter, Empire Racing Club's Kyle Emmich, the New York Thoroughbred Breeders and New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, and Michael Sternklar of Clear Stars Stable, the campaign is on track to meet its goal. More than $55,000 has been raised over the first 5 1/2 months of the year.

“We like to fund pilot studies by young researchers,” said Dr. Kathy Anderson, co-chair of TERF's board of trustees. “We want to support projects that are small enough that they fly under the radar of large funding agencies.”

The Labor Day event at Saratoga will feature TAKE2 Executive Director Andy Belfiore; TAKE2 President Rick Schosberg; and Dr. Keith Bogatch, an equine veterinarian who will speak to participants about the relationship between Thoroughbred owners and veterinarians and about how to decide when it's time to retire a racehorse. Also scheduled to speak are Monique Coston from Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue; and Deanna Mancuso from Lucky Orphans.

Held at the Spa Verandas, located at the top of the stretch, the event will include a day at the races from a trackside seat; a light lunch; and the aftercare presentation. Tickets are $25.

For additional information or to RSVP, contact Andy Belfiore at take2breds@gmail.com. Tickets are limited and the deadline to RSVP is Friday, Aug. 26.

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