If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, then Barry Irwin has every right to feel extremely flattered.
Barry Irwin
It was back in 1987 that Irwin first became involved with racing syndicates, joining with his friend, Jeff Siegel, to form Clover Racing Stables. In November of that year, Political Ambition won the Gr1 Hollywood Derby and the rest is a prime chapter in racing history.
More than 30 years later, after management changes and the adoption of the name Team Valor International, the partnership now has 301 stakes wins – including victories in the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup – and ranks as an industry leader, thanks to Irwin’s genius in crafting a business model that was years ahead of its time.
Barry Irwin with Animal Kingdom and jockey John Velazquez after winning the Kentucky Derby
“Barry’s record speaks for itself,” said Todd Pletcher, a seven-time Eclipse Award winner, who has trained for Irwin for about 20 years.
“He’s won the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup for his clients. He was right at the forefront of finding promising racing prospects that he was willing to step out and buy, and his success has made it a popular move. He’s not afraid to think outside of the box, and it’s worked well for him.”
