Thoroughbreds From Coast to Coast Participate in TAKE2 Finals

Thirty-eight Thoroughbreds representing 13 states came from coast to coast to compete in the inaugural $20,000 TAKE2 Hunter and Jumper Finals at the Kentucky National Horse Show in Lexington Sept. 22. Paula Lampshire’s Lucca, trained by Ron Danta and Danny Robertshaw and ridden by Hunter Kay, was nearly flawless in winning the Hunter Final, while Larry Fugate’s Rostropovich and rider/trainer Lauren Schweppe were fearless finishing first in the Jumper Final. The TAKE2 Hunter and Jumper Finals Awards are named in honor of Rick Violette Jr., who created the program in 2012 and lost a battle with cancer last October.

“Danny and I were both impressed at the quality of the horses,” Danta said. “The jumps were beautiful, the course was challenging. I think we’ll see the program grow each year–I know it will grow, because we will have more horses for the TAKE2 division this year. We’re very excited about the program. We keep asking for more TAKE2 divisions at local horse shows. It’s a great way to get people thinking about Thoroughbreds.”