The TAKE THE LEAD Thoroughbred Retirement Program announced today that donations to aftercare organizations on behalf of the horses retired through TAKE THE LEAD will be increased. The minimum donation will now be $2,000 per horse, and the maximum donation will be $5,000.
Launched in 2013, TAKE THE LEAD works with owners and trainers to find placements for the horses on the New York Racing Association tracks. Each horse is given a veterinary evaluation, then found a home with an accredited aftercare organization. A donation to that organization is made to help offset the cost of rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming. The cost of transportation from the track is also covered.
"This marks the third time we have been able to increase the funding for the horses retired through TAKE THE LEAD," said the program's president, Rick Schosberg. "When we started, the minimum donation was just $500.
"Thanks to the support of the horsemen and women of New York, TAKE THE LEAD has distributed more than $2.8 million in contributions to our aftercare partners to date," he added. "We are all working together to make sure these horses have a safe landing after their racing careers are done."
Since its inception, the majority of the horses retired through TAKE THE LEAD have been placed with ReRun, which now boasts the largest retraining and rehoming initiative in New York, and New Vocations, the oldest racehorse adoption program in the country.
"We are incredibly grateful to NYTHA's TAKE THE LEAD program for its recent increase in the stipend provided for each horse entering aftercare," ReRun Program Director Lisa Molloy said. "This enhanced support will have a meaningful impact on ReRun and, most importantly, on the horses we serve. The cost of providing high-quality care--from feed and veterinary services to training and rehabilitation--continues to rise, and this increase helps ensure that retired racehorses receive the resources and opportunities they deserve as they transition into their next chapters.
"TAKE THE LEAD's ongoing commitment to Thoroughbred aftercare demonstrates a deep understanding of the responsibility we all share to support these athletes beyond their racing careers," she continued. "Their partnership allows organizations like ReRun to focus on what matters most: providing exceptional care, retraining, and placement for Thoroughbreds as they begin new lives."
The very first horse retired through TAKE THE LEAD, Down Broadway, transitioned to his second career through New Vocations.
Anna Ford, Executive Director of New Vocations, remarked, "Our partnership with TAKE THE LEAD, which began more than 13 years ago, has been instrumental in New Vocations' growth in New York. Their support helped us establish a facility in the state, significantly expanding our ability to serve owners and trainers racing at NYRA tracks.
"The financial support they provide with each horse ensures we can meet the horse's individual needs, from rehabilitation and retraining to placement in a successful second career. Beyond funding, their team plays a critical role in evaluating retiring racehorses and helping guide them through the intake process. TAKE THE LEAD has been an exceptional partner and their program serves as a model that we would love to see replicated by more racetracks and horsemen's organizations across the country."
To learn more about TAKE THE LEAD, or to make a donation, go to www.take2tbreds.com.
This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If there are any questions please contact the organization that produced the release.
