New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day at Saratoga Race Course will be held Thursday, July 17, and once again the presentation of the Down Broadway Retired Racehorse of the Year Award will highlight the event. Named for the first horse to retire through the TAKE THE LEAD Program back in 2013, the Down Broadway winner is decided by a vote of the fans. Voting opened June 9.
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), and New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) will host the fifth annual New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day, which showcases retired racehorses demonstrating the skills they've learned in second careers, and interviews with members of New York's aftercare community. The $150,000 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 the racing card.
"We have a collective responsibility to provide our equine athletes with the best of care not only when they are at the racetrack, but into their retirement as well," said Andrew Offerman, NYRA Senior Vice President for Racing & Operations. "New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day is an opportunity for all stakeholders to come together to demonstrate our dedication to aftercare. NYRA takes great pride in hosting this event for the fifth straight year on July 17 at Saratoga Race Course."
"Thoroughbred aftercare has become an increasingly important element of New York's racing community since TAKE THE LEAD was launched a dozen years ago," said Rick Schosberg, president of that organization. "Ensuring racehorses have the happy, healthy, and purposeful retirement they deserve is paramount. All of us—owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys, and racetracks—are thoroughly committed to providing for our horses after they leave the track, and together we contribute over $1.2 million a year to aftercare."
"We're proud to partner with NYTHA, NYRA, and each participating organization for New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day," said New York Thoroughbred Breeders Executive Director Najja Thompson. "This day helps to highlight our efforts and awareness to racing fans and the public to ensure New York remains a leader in Thoroughbred aftercare, and second career opportunities for our equine athletes."
In addition to TAKE2 and TAKE THE LEAD, representatives of ACTT Naturally, Akindale, Lucky Orphans, New Vocations, Old Friends at Cabin Creek, ReRun, Second Chance Thoroughbreds, Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, and Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation will be on hand in the Community Booth behind the jockeys' quarters to talk about their efforts on behalf of New York's retired racehorses.
Bred and trained by Michelle Nevin, My Boy Tate was campaigned by Little Red Feather Racing.
"We love being a part of Aftercare Day," My Boy Tate's adopter, Kendra Richardson, said after the award ceremony. "It really is our favorite thing to do every year. What we enjoyed most this year was meeting the previous owners, or people who knew the horses when they were racing, and making that connection. We are all working together for the horses, but we rarely get to meet and talk to people from the racing side. Not only are we showing the public what these horses can do, we are bringing these two communities together."
Four retired Thoroughbreds have been nominated for this year's Down Broadway Award by the organizations who participate in Aftercare Day. They include a true war horse who earned $342,783 in his 89 starts and was the leading Colorado-bred earner for a time; the hero of the 2008 Maryland Million Turf; a filly raced by Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parsells; and a gelding whose lone career win was a 14-1 upset in the mud at Belmont Park.
The winner of the Down Broadway Award will be decided by a vote of racing fans, with the voting open June 9 through June 26. ONE VOTE PER PERSON.
Wristbands for each nominee will be given away on Aftercare Day so that fans can show their support, and the presentation of the award will be made in the Saratoga winner's circle after the first race that day.
Click HERE to cast your vote for the 2025 Down Broadway Retired Racehorse of the Year
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