Team Valor International LLC

Top Associated Horses: King of the Roxy, Solo Survivor, Early Vintage, Onthedeanslist, Princess Iris, Oh So Awesome

2009 Record: (49-8-5-9)

2009 Earnings: $702,431

2009 Win %: 16% In-The-Money %: 44%

Owner(s): Syndicate group under the leadership of Barry Irwin
Born: April 21, 1943, Los Angeles, Calif.
Residence: Versailles, Ky.
Family: wife, Kathleen, who maintains Team Valor’s comprehensive and timely Web site after joining the organization as the only employee in 1999; daughter, Chloe
Professional Background: Irwin was formerly a racing journalist with publications such as Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse in the 1960s and ’70s
Web site: www.teamvalor.com
Racing Background: The name of the company became Team Valor International as Irwin continued to acquire and race more horses globally … In 2009, the organization raced horses in at least 10 countries in addition to the United States – Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Uruguay, and South Africa. … Gitano Hernando (GB) epitomizes Irwin’s program of scouting horses worldwide … Gitano Hernando had a single victory to his credit when Team Valor purchased him in England and the horse won two more races in England before winning the G1-Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 10, 2009 in his North American debut … Also in Oct., Team Valor purchased two-year-old Maryland-bred standout Toboggan Slide as a 2010 Kentucky Derby prospect … The move was reminiscent of Team Valor’s purchase of Captain Bodgit in early 1997 … For Team Valor, Captain Bodgit went on to win the G1 Florida Derby and G2 Wood Memorial Stakes before finishing second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the G1-Preakness Stakes … Of buying horses in the current economy, Irwin said on Oct. 15, 2009, “This is a great time to be a buyer for the first time in many years. The prices at the yearling sales are very attractive for buyers. However, prices in the private market place have not come down very much at all.” … Has about 100 horses in training at any given time … Irwin operated Pacifica Thoroughbreds, a bloodstock agency, from 1979-87 ... In 1987, Clover Racing Stable was formed with partner Jeff Siegel, a television racing analyst and public handicapper with several Southern California newspapers. Clover Racing evolved into Team Valor in 1992 ... Team Valor syndicates horses to multiple owners for a share in the expenses and profits. Each horse is a separate limited liability company (LLC), with its own federal tax number and bank account … Team Valor moved on to a new phase in July 2007 when Irwin bought out Siegel and took sole ownership of the stable. Siegel wanted to devote his energies to his position as an on-air host and analyst for Horse Racing Television. In their 21-year partnership, they won 170 stakes races and 21 Grade 1 races.... Team Valor partnerships annually donate one percent of their racetrack earnings worldwide and Team Valor itself matches that figure for The Race For Education, a charity offering college scholarships to the offspring of backstretch and farm workers … Irwin, a member of the board of The Race For Education, was honored by the organization in 2006 with its inaugural "Valedictorian Award."
Racing Career: The first horse raced by an Irwin-formed partnership was Political Ambition, who won the G1 Hollywood Derby in 1987 for Clover Racing Stable ... First horse purchased by Team Valor was a little-known English turf runner named My Memoirs (GB), who debuted in the red and green silks when second in the 1992 Belmont Stakes behind A.P. Indy … Co-owned 1989 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Prized (in partnership with Barbara LaCroix when the group raced as Clover Racing Stable) … Grade/Group 1 stakes winners in Irwin’s syndicates have included Unbridled Belle, Visionaire, Irridescence (SAf), Ipi Tombe (Zim), Captain Bodgit, Prized, The Deputy, Star of Cozzene, Golden Ballet, Political Ambition, and Cashier’s Dream … Experienced horse racing’s highs and lows in the summer of 2009 when Sailor’s Cap died unexpectedly in his stall just days after winning the G3-Poker Stakes
Breeding/Racing Operation: Team Valor in recent years has been active at the yearling sales, most notably at Saratoga, where in 2004 it bought the $1,850,000 sale topper in Fairbanks, who went on to become a graded stakes winner of more than $879,768 ... Also at Saratoga, Team Valor bought the 2007, $2.2-million sale topper, a Mr. Greeley colt they named Kinsella, who won an allowance race at Saratoga Race Course in 2009 …In 2008, they bought the sale-topping filly, a $1,500,000 Storm Cat filly later named Carriage Trade, who has not started through Oct. 15, 2009.