Just as I was starting this blog, Barry Irwin of Team Valor was announcing that they were withdrawing from racing in the United States. Mr. Irwin made some comments about drug issues, but also discussed economics.
In one interview he said he was changing his business model to buying already successful horses. The implication is he was not thrilled by the yearlings sales anymore. Team Valor was very successful with Animal Kingdom, but it would be interesting to review their recent results. That is a project for another day. I have asked to be added to their mailing list, let’s see what happens.
Team Valor presents a table on their website:
It purports to show the stakes wins by various partnership between 2009 and the end of 2018. The most interesting thing is the number of operations no longer offering partnerships.
- Team Valor – not buy US horses
- IEAH – defunct after a spectacular crash
- Peachtree – cannot find a website
- Woodford – still buying horses, but not offering partnerships
- Sovereign – website not working
- Class Racing – website not found
- Karakorum – was a complete fraud
- Blinkers On – claiming only
- Dogwood – acquired by Eclipse
- Elite Racing – even has long Wikipedia page, but no longer exists
- Bongo – cannot find
- Horizon – cannot find
- Legends – cannot find
- Parting Glass – now called Dream Maker
- Starview – website very old
- Sackatoga – not taking new partners
When 16 of the 22 names on the Team Valor list are no longer functioning, it makes you worry about the viability of the business.
I will need to learn more about some of this history.
Buying A Race Horse 