Gulfstream recognizes aftercare efforts

Valid won two graded stakes at Gulfstream Park, and he returned there Saturday as Gulfstream recognized local aftercare efforts with Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care Day. Florida TRAC rehabilitates and finds new owners and careers for retired racehorses.

Valid and his owner, jockey Nik Juarez, participated in a meet-and-greet during breakfast at the track Saturday morning. Juarez won his first stakes on Valid in the 2015 Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin at Monmouth Park. He adopted the Medaglia d’Oro gelding last year after Valid was sold and made several unsuccessful starts in lower-level stakes in Colorado and Nebraska.

Valid, now 8, also won the Grade 2 Monmouth Cup in New Jersey, along with the Grade 3 Skip Away and Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper at Gulfstream. He retired with earnings of more than $1.1 million.

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In addition to Valid’s appearance, Gulfstream shared stories of other Thoroughbreds in new careers, including recent Florida TRAC adoptees Spirit and Going Home. Spirit, who arrived at the farm unbroken, and Going Home, an unraced Florida-bred, were both adopted by two-time bronze medal-winning U.S. Pan American team rider Todd Minikus.

“Most of my career, certainly the beginning of my career, I’ve had great success riding Thoroughbreds, and I think they are probably the best athletes,” Minikus, who owns more than 130 national and international grand prix wins, said in a video produced by Florida TRAC.

“We used to go to the racetrack all the time when we were younger to try to buy Thoroughbreds. Maybe my best two horses I ever had were Thoroughbreds off the track. I think it’s important these horses get a second chance.”