“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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“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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“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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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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“I've been in the Thoroughbred industry for almost 50 years as the founder of both DJ Stable and The Green Group,” Green explained. “I have witnessed firsthand the extraordinary work by TAKE2 and their dedicated team. Their primary focus is to ensure that our horses get the best care once their racing careers are completed. I support TAKE2 and cannot thank them enough for all the work they do.”

TAKE2 Executive Director Andy Belfiore added, “We are extremely grateful to Len Green and his team for getting our campaign off the ground. Without the support of Thoroughbred lovers from the racing and sport horse worlds, we would not be able to continue our mission of promoting second careers for retired racehorses. Our horses give us 110% on the racetrack and in the show ring; we hope members of our TAKE2 family will give what they can, whether it is $10 or $10,000, to help us reach our goal.”

TAKE2 was created by the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), in partnership with the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB). Any registered Thoroughbred can compete for thousands of dollars in prize money in TAKE2-affiliated Thoroughbred-only hunter and jumper divisions at more than 400 horse shows across the country. TAKE2 Thoroughbred League members are eligible for $10,000 in year-end High Score Awards, and for the $20,000 TAKE2 Hunter and Jumper Finals, to be held this year at the Kentucky National Horse Show Sept. 21-25.

In 10 years, TAKE2 has given out more than $1 million in awards and prize money supporting hunter/jumper competitions nationwide, with an estimated 2,000 horses competing in the TAKE2 divisions since its inception.

“Years ago, the Thoroughbred was king in the show ring, but the Warmbloods gained popularity,” said TAKE2 President and NYTHA Vice President Rick Schosberg. “Programs like TAKE2, RRP (Retired Racehorse Project) and TIP (Thoroughbred Incentive Program) demonstrate that Thoroughbreds have so much more to give after they leave the track–their competitive lives are far from over.

“I think our combined efforts are making a difference,” he added. “There is more demand for Thoroughbreds, more enthusiasm from the owners and riders and trainers in the hunter/jumper world, and that makes it easier to find homes for retired racehorses.”

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Hosted by the David Cassidy Memorial Legacy Group (DCMLG), the fundraiser aims to promote racing and to support Thoroughbred aftercare organizations, this year including the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, NYRA Cares, Take The Lead, Take2 and Columbia Greene Humane Society.

Debuting in 2021, the David Cassidy Remember Me Awards will again be included at this year's summer fundraiser. Featured among the award categories are Thoroughbred Aftercare Awards, Compassionate Trainers and Owners Awards, Heart of Saratoga Awards, Animal Welfare and Advocacy Awards, Animal Rescues and Shelters Awards, Amazing Horse Racing Awards and Thoroughbred Horse Racing Community Awards. The program will also include a concert.

The DCMLG previously announced a scholarship program, which includes four scholarships: The David Bruce Cassidy Thoroughbred Horse Racing Family Scholarship; David Bruce Cassidy Memorial Saratoga County Scholarship; The Dr. Jerry Bilinski Animal Sciences Scholarship; and The David Bruce Cassidy Theatre and The Arts Scholarship. The deadline for all scholarship applications is Apr. 12. For more information, email DavidCassidyIts4ever@gmail.com.

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Hurter credited the success of “Niles” to riders Christina Severino and Claire Kelley, veterinarians Meredith Boulay and Joe Naranjo, and farriers Jason and Iaian Mulligan, with a special shout-out to “his Thoroughbred-loving trainer Joe Fargis.”

She added: “Niles has a huge team behind him. It takes a village to keep a Thoroughbred happy and healthy and fit and Niles has the best team ever. Everyone was super thrilled to hear the news! He has placed in the top 10 pretty consistently in the TAKE2 Thoroughbred League over the past few years, but this is the first time he's managed to come out on top.”

Hurter would encourage everyone to ride a Thoroughbred.

“They are lovely horses, so brave and fun,” she said. “And you can't beat their incredibly gorgeous fine coats and elegant look. There are so many lovely horses out there looking for a good home, it just seems like a great thing to do, and I love the way they are so sensitive and intelligent and forward. No kicking required!”

Click here for the Final Standings for the TAKE2 Thoroughbred League.

Maybe it's their shared youthful exuberance, but the compatibility of Thoroughbreds and Junior Riders is off the charts. Just ask this year's winners of the TAKE2 High-Score Junior Rider Awards, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA). Alyssa Paulette partnered with Check the Label to win the TAKE2 Junior Rider Award in the Hunter Division, and SeaSea Dance captured the Jumper Division with Dandelion Dust.

This is the second TAKE2 Junior Rider Award for Paulette, who earned the honor with Always Drama in the Jumper Division two years ago. “Warmbloods are fun, but I still prefer the sports car ride of a Thoroughbred,” she said.

Dance, who also finished fourth in the Hunter Division of the TAKE2 Junior Rider standings on Dandelion Dust this year, has nothing but praise for the Thoroughbred.

“I've had the opportunity to show and train so many Thoroughbreds in my junior years, and I give these horses credit to helping me become the rider I am today,” she said. “I think every kid should work with this breed for at least one chapter in their journey.

“When you step into the ring with 'Dandy,' you feel her change, she truly has a competitive edge,” she added. “The more you challenge her, the better she gets. She's quick, brave, and has all the heart for this sport. I don't doubt for a minute that that's the Thoroughbred in her; they just have this drive in them that really brings so much to the ring.”

The TAKE2 Junior Rider Award, presented by TCA, was created to recognize the juniors competing on Thoroughbreds in nationwide TAKE2-affiliated Hunter and Jumper classes, and to encourage young horsemen and horsewomen to consider the Thoroughbred when looking for their next sport horse. The award is just one example of the many ways TCA supports the racing industry and retired racehorses.

“TCA is thrilled to once again support the TAKE2 program by sponsoring the Junior Rider Award,” said Erin Crady executive director of TCA. “TCA believes strongly in supporting not only the organizations that are rehabbing, retraining, and rehoming Thoroughbreds, but also organizations like TAKE2 that are working to create a demand in the marketplace for off-track Thoroughbreds. We congratulate Alyssa and SeaSea on their accomplishments this year and applaud their support of Thoroughbreds in the Hunter/Jumper rings.”

TAKE2 Executive Director Andy Belfiore said, “We're really proud to partner with Thoroughbred Charities of America to put the spotlight on the Junior Riders, who prove day in and day out that a Thoroughbred can be the perfect horse for riders of all ages. TCA has been a staunch supporter of TAKE2 for many years, and is helping us to fulfill our mission of ensuring happy and healthy lives for retired racehorses.”

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Irbywood was retired through the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, while Mo Bandit retired through After the Races.

The TAKE2 Jet Run Award was created in 2016 to recognize the importance of the organizations that transition racehorses to second careers. The Award, named for the Show Jumping Hall of Fame inductee, honors the TAKE2 Thoroughbred League High-Point Hunter and Jumper that graduated from an aftercare program accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance or affiliated with the Thoroughbred Charities of America.

Jet Run Champion Jumper Irbywood was raced by Stonestreet Stable. He was retired after undergoing surgery for a condylar fracture, and given ample time to recover before being sent to New Vocations, the country's oldest and largest racehorse adoption program. New Vocations, established in 1992, has facilities in Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and retrains and rehomes approximately 500 retired Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses every year.

Anna Ford, New Vocations' Thoroughbred Program Director, remembers the bay's first days at their facility. “He came into our program ready to start transitional training, as Stonestreet has provided all the rehabilitation for him,” she said. “He was a very stout yet elegant gelding who had great confidence and was full of class. We didn't have to work with him much to realize he was an athletic and talented gelding. He was only with us for a month.”

Aftercare organizations provide the necessary rehabilitation for every horse, and give each one the foundation needed to excel in a second career. But their most important role might be placing the horses with the perfect adopter. Irbywood was adopted by Michael and Sharon Kvistad of Indiana. How did New Vocations know this was the right fit?

“Mike and Sharon were past adopters and have always done an amazing job helping each horse reach its full potential,” Ford said. “They had contacted us looking for their next project. Once we started working with Irbywood it became apparent that he would be a good match for them.”

The Kvistads brought Irbywood home in October of 2014.

“We have adopted a number of horses from New Vocations since we moved to Indiana in 2002,” Michael Kvistad said. “Prior to that we bred, raised, and trained Thoroughbreds for the hunter ring. Thoroughbreds have been our breed of preference since the 1980s. Sharon competed for years in the hunter ring as an amateur.

“We discovered New Vocations in the early 2000s as we transitioned from the breeding aspect of the industry,” he continued. “Our first horse from New Vocations was a horse by the name of Sox and the City, who went on to become a zone champion as a hunter. We currently have Irbywood and another New Vocations adoptee, Italian Syndicate, in our barn.”

Kvistad was quick to credit a team of people for Irbywood's achievements in the show ring.

“We are blessed to have a great primary vet in Janssen Vet Clinic; our farrier, Dion O'Brien; our trainer, Michael Burnett; and amateur rider Taylor Embs, who allow us to remain involved in a sport which has been a part of our lives since we were both much younger than we are today,” he said.

He was also enthusiastic in his praise for New Vocations.

“New Vocations is important to the equine industry, not just racing, because they serve as a qualified gateway linking the owners, professionals, and amateurs in various equine sports with the racing industry,” Kvistad said. “Most Thoroughbreds in the country are bred for the racing industry. But the Thoroughbreds are competing in the jumper, hunter, eventing, western, dressage, and multiple other disciplines in equine sport beyond racing. The equine industry needs organizations like New Vocations to link the various involvements for Thoroughbreds in a qualified and professional manner.”

Mo Bandit, who finished in the top 10 in the Hunter Division of the TAKE2 Thoroughbred League, was adopted by owner Melissa Rega from After the Races, a Thoroughbred rehabilitation and rehoming center located in Elkton, Maryland. The organization was launched in 2010.

Mo Bandit came to After the Races following his final race in 2014.

“Penn National has a track-based retirement program called New Start for Horses, but New Start doesn't typically house horses themselves, but rather connect horses at the track directly with partners like After the Races so that they can come to us for any needed rehabilitation, retraining, and eventual adoption,” explained Bonnie McRae, the founder and executive director of After the Races.

According to McRae, Mo Bandit's transition to a second career was relatively seamless. “Mobie was always a sweetheart,” she said. “He was a leggy, gangly youngster in our barn, but always easy to work with. He was very kind and uncomplicated. He was the type of Thoroughbred we would now call amateur-friendly.”

Mo Bandit did prove a bit of a challenge when it came down to finding him a new home, as he had filling in a hock that frightened off some would-be adopters.

“We did radiographs and ultrasounds and our vet confirmed it was a blemish, just a pocket of harmless fluid, but I remember being frustrated watching so many people he'd do well with overlook him,” McCrae said. “That was until Melissa came along. She breezed through our application process as she had the right background and good help to bring along a young, green Thoroughbred.

“As he shipped off to Kentucky, I remember hoping he would go on to do big things after he was passed over here so many times,” she added. “We just knew he would be one of the good ones. I am so grateful he went to Melissa as he has truly thrived in her care. Some might say he ended up exactly where he was meant to be.”

Rega was just getting back into riding after a 20-year hiatus when she connected with Mo Bandit. She grew up around horses, first in upstate New York, and later competing on hunters in Virginia. She retired from the saddle after a spill in 1995, but had the chance to foxhunt in England late in 2014, and started looking for a horse when she got home to the States.

“I now live in Kentucky and was again surrounded by Thoroughbreds, so it seemed natural to search out the perfect Thoroughbred mount,” she said.

But joining the TAKE2 Thoroughbred League had not been in the original plan.

“Initially, I wanted a horse that would be safe to hack around at home and take some jumping lessons,” Rega admitted. “However, my competitive side took over when I was made aware of the TAKE2 Thoroughbred classes being offered at the shows, and I refocused my efforts to get Mobie in show ring.”

Rega believes that TAKE2 is helping to bring the Thoroughbred back to the show ring and opening up opportunities for retired racehorses. “I have watched the program grow, and the 2021 TAKE2 Finals showed that there are some beautiful and talented Thoroughbred Hunters that are not only competitive amongst Thoroughbreds, but also in the Warmblood-dominant classes,” she said.

Added McRae, “TAKE2 does a wonderful job promoting Thoroughbreds as show horses and bringing them back into the national spotlight. Having breed-based incentives for competitors helps normalize the consideration of a Thoroughbred for your next hunter or jumper and really helps bolster the market for retiring Thoroughbreds. Just look how far a horse like Mobie has gone, from being outrun in all of his five races, to transitioning from the track in a responsible aftercare program, to being adopted by Melissa and clearly brought up with such care and talent to reach the upper levels of his new sport. His story is one that people need to read.”

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Riley, trained by Megan O'Dwyer Thiel and owned and ridden by 16-year-old Cyanea Robine, was the winner of the TAKE2 Jumper Final, going clear in the jump-off to nip Kathryn Currey's A Lil Evil.

The $20,000 TAKE2 Hunter and Jumper Finals were created in 2019 to honor the memory of TAKE2 founder Rick Violette Jr., who passed away in 2018. A total of 32 horses representing 14 states traveled to the Kentucky Horse Park to compete this year.

Based in Louisville, Ky., Tess Fortune only had to drive a little more than an hour to get to the Finals. She'd made the trip twice before, finishing second with MVP in the Finals in 2019 and 2020. The two have been a team for seven years, ever since the 10-year-old made two inauspicious starts at Oaklawn Park under his Jockey Club name of Kit's Captain, and was retired from racing through the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's Galloping Out program. Galloping Out has long been a supporter of the TAKE2 Program.

“He ran twice and he was slow,” Fortune said with a smile. “I watched the videos, and he was last in both; in one, he was very, very last.”

The young horsewoman connected with Captain, as he is known around the barn, by chance.

“My hunter was hurt, and I was looking for another, but on a very low budget,” she recalled. “I was working at a tack shop, and someone from Galloping Out came by with a flyer. I reached out, and they sent me videos of three horses. He had a lot of white, and he was by far my favorite.”

Fortune knew from the start she had something special in MVP.

“He looked like a hunter from the first day I tried him,” she said. “He's the best horse. He's very opinionated, and super picky – he'll eat peppermints and carrots, but he doesn't like weird snacks. But he's a very, very good boy.”

The two have won numerous championships in the TAKE2 and the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions. They will head to Harrisburg next month to compete in the Zone 2 Hunter Championship. Fortune has a soft spot for the TAKE2 Thoroughbred Program.

“I love TAKE2,” she said. “I love that the horses don't age out of the program, you can develop a horse properly and continue to show in the division. With the Green Hunters, you feel rushed, and off-the-track Thoroughbreds are as green as they come. With TAKE2, you can take the time you need and use it as a stepping stone to other divisions. The program is fair and friendly to the horses.”

She added: “TAKE2 is absolutely increasing the popularity of the Thoroughbreds. You can see that the quality of the competition in the division is better every year. The program is encouragement to get the Thoroughbreds going again.”

Andy Belfiore, executive director of the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program, was thrilled with the turn out for the Finals. “It is wonderful to see all these amazing Thoroughbreds and their enthusiastic owners, riders, and trainers demonstrating just what Thoroughbreds can accomplish after they leave the track,” she said. “The mission that Rick Violette set for us is to pave the way to happy and healthy second careers for retired racehorses. I think he would be gratified at the support our program receives from both the show horse and the racing communities.”

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“It is wonderful to see all these amazing Thoroughbreds and their enthusiastic owners, riders, and trainers demonstrating just what Thoroughbreds can accomplish after they leave the track,” said Andy Belfiore, executive director of the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program. “The mission that Rick Violette set for us is to pave the way to happy and healthy second careers for retired racehorses. I think he would be gratified at the support our program receives from both the show horse and the racing communities.”

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