TAKE2 Continues Sponsorship of Hunter and Jumper Thoroughbred Divisions at Vermont Summer Festival

Hunter and jumper Thoroughbred divisions will return to the Vermont Summer Festival for the fourth consecutive year thanks to a generous sponsorship from the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program. Held at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT, the six-week Vermont Summer Festival, running July 5 through August 14, is the richest sporting event based on purse in Vermont with more than $750,000 in prize money on offer.

This year’s Vermont Summer Festival will feature a $500 Thoroughbred Hunter Division and a $1,400 Thoroughbred Jumper Division during each of the six weeks of competition.

Founded by the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, in collaboration with the New York Thoroughbred Breeders and New York Racing Association, TAKE2 offers hunter and jumper classes for registered Thoroughbreds nationwide. In addition, members of the TAKE2 Thoroughbred League have an opportunity to win a total of $30,000 in year-end awards.  This year’s TAKE2 high-point hunter and jumper awards will be presented at the Capital Challenge Horse Show held October 1-9, 2016, in Upper Marlboro, MD.

The TAKE2 program was created to put the spotlight on retired racehorses, demonstrating that they can be retrained for sport horse careers with great success. Thanks to generous supporters throughout the racing and horse show communities, TAKE2 is helping to ensure happy and productive futures for these equine athletes. For more information about the TAKE2 program, please visit the TAKE2tbreds.com.

“The TAKE2 program has been a great addition to our horse show these last four years,” said Billy Glass, Technical Director of the Vermont Summer Festival and Show Manager at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. “I’m old enough to remember when the Thoroughbred was the vehicle of choice in the hunter/jumper industry. Historically, the Thoroughbred has been the Cadillac in the show ring. When you get a good one, they can turn out to be a great one. It’s great to see them making a comeback.”

For over 20 years, the Vermont Summer Festival has attracted exhibitors and their families to the Manchester region in southern Vermont for great competition in an ideal summer setting. The Vermont Summer Festival is a proud member event of the Show Jumping Hall Of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL). Please e-mail or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com for more information about the Vermont Summer Festival.