Andy Belfiore

With the encouragement of Sergio de Sousa from Hidden Brook Farm and Carrie Brogden from Machmer Hall, a group of 17 Thoroughbred industry stakeholders have pledged to donate a total of $35,000 in prize money for a series of TAKE2 Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper Classics at the Kentucky Horse Shows and Split Rock Jumping Tour in 2026. The 20 TAKE2 Classics, offering $1,750 in prize money each, will be held at 10 horse shows at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, between May and September. The TAKE2 Classics sponsors...

Edited Press Release After the Races, the organization that provided Jersey Fresh with the groundwork he needed to go from the racetrack to success as a show jumper, and CANTER USA, where owner Dr. Kate Carruthers found her TAKE2 Hunter Finals champion Red Magic, have been announced as the 2025 TAKE2 Jet Run Award winners. Created in 2017, the Jet Run Awards put the spotlight on the aftercare organizations that are essential in transitioning Thoroughbreds to second careers. "Racehorses still have so much to give when they leave the track...

Since Down Broadway became the first horse to transition to a second career via New York's TAKE THE LEAD Thoroughbred Retirement Program, the organization has contributed better than $2 million to accredited aftercare organizations, and by year's end, the total will be over $2.3 million. TAKE THE LEAD's partner program, TAKE2, has now distributed more than $1 million in prize money and awards to Thoroughbreds competing at recognized hunter/jumper shows across the country. "We could not have accomplished so much on the path that Rick Violette started us on more...

Breanna Moore and Raines Gammon both found immediate success in their first forays in the TAKE2 Junior Rider Program, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. Moore led all Junior Riders in the Hunter division of the TAKE2 Thoroughbred League, and Gammon was the high-score Junior in the Jumper division. In addition to trophies for the champions and saddle pads for the top five in each division, TAKE2 this year added a $500 award to the high-score Junior Riders. "Congratulations to Breanna and Raines for taking the top honors in the...

The fourth annual New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day, hosted by the New York Racing Association, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, and New York Thoroughbred Breeders will be held Aug. 15 at Saratoga Race Course. New York Aftercare Day showcases retired racehorses demonstrating the skills they've learned in second careers, and interviews with members of New York's aftercare community. The $125,000 Rick Violette Stakes, named for the late trainer and NYTHA President who spearheaded the creation of the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program and TAKE THE LEAD Retirement Program, will anchor...

Edited Press Release The TAKE2 Thoroughbred League announced today new 2024 awards worth a total of $6,000 in recognition of Junior and Amateur Riders who compete in the TAKE2 Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper divisions nationwide. The high-point Amateur Rider in each division of the TAKE2 League standings will earn a $1,000 bonus, while the leading Junior Rider will earn a $500 bonus. In addition, the top-finishing Amateur and Junior in each division of the TAKE2 Finals will be awarded $1,000 and $500, respectively. "Amateurs and Juniors ride head-to-head with Professionals...

Andy Belfiore will be returning as the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's executive director, effective Jan. 7, the organization announced Tuesday. "Andy has a wealth of experience in all facets of the racing industry," said newly elected NYTHA President Tina Bond. "In addition to her knowledge base, Andy's devotion to equine welfare and aftercare are especially crucial in this period of our sport. We are very pleased that she will be rejoining the NYTHA team." Belfiore started her career in racing on the backstretch at Belmont Park, working as a...

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...

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...

The Take2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program is celebrating its 10th year with a "Give 110 Percent!" campaign to raise $10,000 a month for 10 months. The ultimate goal is to reach $100,000 in donations by the end of the year. To help kick start the initiative, racehorse owner and entrepreneur Len Green has donated $10,000 to the campaign. "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...

Industry veteran Andy Belfiore, who has honed her skills on both the backside and on executive teams, has been named the new Executive Director of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association (FHBPA). For the last two years, Belfiore has been the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's Project Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities. The Massachusetts native spent the four years prior to that as Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. "The FHBPA board members as well as myself are delighted that Andy accepted our...