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Honoring Thoroughbreds: NYRA Celebrates the Fifth Annual New York Aftercare Day at Saratoga
Honoring Thoroughbreds: NYRA Celebrates the Fifth Annual New York Aftercare Day at Saratoga
By: Jay Privman
One of the highest-profile aftercare events of the year, and the biggest one of the summer in Saratoga, will take place July 17 with the fifth annual New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day, whose highlight will be the naming of the Down Broadway Retired Racehorse of the Year Award.
The Down Broadway Award is named for the first horse to retire through the New York-based TAKE THE LEAD Program, whose founder, the late trainer Rick Violette, has a stakes race named for him on that card.
Many organizations collaborate to make New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day such a meaningful and successful event, including the New York Racing Association, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, and New York Thoroughbred Breeders.
Four aftercare organizations – New Vocations, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Second Chance Thoroughbreds, and ReRun – all accredited and supported by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, are the homes of the four horses who are the finalists for the Down Broadway Award.
“In 2021, NYRA, NYTHA and the NYTB launched Thoroughbred Aftercare Day at Saratoga to celebrate and highlight the work of New York State’s aftercare community,” said Tony Allevato, the chief revenue officer and president of NYRA Bets. “Saratoga is the ideal location to reach both seasoned racing fans and newcomers to the sport, which provides us with myriad opportunities to communicate with fans about our work supporting aftercare initiatives and organizations.
“In addition to the on-track demonstrations, we use the reach of Saratoga Live and FOX Sports to speak with viewers not just on-track or in New York but across the country. NYTHA and NYTB have been central to the growth of Thoroughbred Aftercare Day, and we are excited to host the fifth edition on July 17.”
TAKE THE LEAD, which is a retirement program, and its sister organization, TAKE2, which re-trains horses for second careers, both were started by Violette, who was the longtime head of NYTHA. He died in 2018.
“TAKE THE LEAD and TAKE2 are a credit to the legacy of Rick Violette, who was so dedicated to creating second careers and retirement programs for Thoroughbreds in New York,” Allevato said. “We take great pride in supporting these groups, and that is reflected not only on Aftercare Day at Saratoga but throughout the year.
“New York is a national leader when it comes to supporting and investing in a variety of aftercare efforts. At NYRA, we believe the athletes who give so much to the sport deserve to retire with dignity when their racing days are done,” Allevato added. “Our commitment to these efforts is matched by our partners across New York’s racing community, and our collective dedication to supporting Thoroughbred aftercare continues to expand year after year. That is reflected in the investments we see from NYRA, NYTHA, NYTB and so many groups and individuals who work to re-home and re-train these athletes.”
Allevato’s personal commitment to the cause resulted in him being named to the board of directors of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at the start of 2025.
"Horse racing is special because it is a community of people who care deeply for these wonderful animals, and we all contribute in different ways to its success."
“Everything I have in my life I owe to a career in horse racing,” said Allevato, whose previous stops included Hollywood Park and TVG, now FanDuel TV. “This was an opportunity to join a visionary leadership group at the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance who effect change and make a lasting impact far beyond the gates of the tracks where so much of the public’s attention is focused.
“Horse racing is special because it is a community of people who care deeply for these wonderful animals, and we all contribute in different ways to its success. I thank the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance for having me, and I am looking forward to amplifying the work we do this summer on Saratoga Live with the help of FOX Sports.”
Learn more about Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance’s supporters:
