The story of Valor begins with significant hopes. Born in 2017 and sired by Speightstown, he was purchased for $350,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, with expectations of success on the racetrack. After only three starts and modest earnings totaling $670, his racing career quietly concluded. But this led him to discover his real calling.
Through the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, Valor made his way to Central Kentucky Riding for Hope (CKRH), where he started a new chapter—not as a competitor, but as a collaborator in equine-assisted therapy.
Both New Vocations and CKRH hold accreditation from the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, an organization focused on retraining and rehoming former Thoroughbred racehorses. The high-pressure environment of racing became a thing of the past for Valor. He started a new life of connection, patience, and purpose. According to the team at CKRH, he seemed to like “the tempo of life at CKRH much better.”
One of the first things that people noticed about Valor was his striking resemblance to Secretariat — a likeness that extends beyond just looks, since he shares ancestry with the celebrated 1973 Triple Crown champion. But more than his impressive physical attributes, what truly distinguishes him is his gentle and curious nature.
“Valor is tender and inquisitive and truly is a gentle giant,” said Isabella Norrid, development director at CKRH. This wonderful character makes him ideally suited for CKRH’s therapy programs.
Valor is a key component in CKRH’s newest non-mounted, equine-assisted services program created with FMC prison. Each week, he assists Adults in Custody (AICs) enrolled in emotional regulation classes, taking them through groundwork activities intended to encourage trust, patience, and self-awareness.
“Adults in custody, participating in emotional regulation classes at the prison, engage with Valor through various challenges to support their understanding and management of emotions at a profound level,” Norrid said.
He supports participants in building confidence and fostering emotional strength, with his calm presence providing support throughout their journey.
Even though he excels in non-mounted work, CKRH has aspirations for his future involvement.
“While Valor is presently involved in CKRH’s non-mounted program, our long-range ambition is to introduce him to mounted equine-assisted services,” Norrid said. His journey of transformation is far from complete.
Although he seems calm and collected during therapy, Valor has a playful side.
“He enjoys playing with hats, taking off his bell boots, and attempting to eat pool noodles,” she added. And even though he’s brave, he’s also surprisingly jumpy, “he even startles himself easily!”
Valor’s story shows that a racehorse’s worth is not determined by wins or prize money, but by the lives they positively influence. Even though his racing career might not have been noteworthy, his influence at CKRH is obvious. He has found his place — not on the racetrack, but in the hearts of those he helps to heal.
The Jockey Club supports many aftercare initiatives including the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the only accrediting body in aftercare, and Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which encourages the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of careers. View all of the initiatives supported by The Jockey Club.
