Retirement
When a horse retires from racing, it may go into breeding, transition to a new career in another equestrian discipline, or live out its years in a long-term sanctuary. The specific path depends on factors like the horse's age, racing performance, health, temperament, and pedigree. Veterinarians are instrumental in rehoming a racehorse, requiring assessments of each horse’s physical and psychological attributes to optimize their rehoming potential. This page features our retired racehorses who are now enjoying life beyond the track.
Vahva
G1 Winner
Retired in 2025
20 Races – (7) Wins, (6) 2nd’s, (3) 3rd’s
Earnings – $2,289,000
Retired as 5 year old. “Vahva” had an amazing career and upon her retirement she became her sires “Gun Runners” first G1 filly and only filly by him up till then to have (5) Graded Stakes wins, and almost $2.3 Million dollars in earning. She was trained by Cherie DeVaux.
“Vahva” has raced at Belmont Park, Charles Town, Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Fair Grounds, Keeneland, Saratoga with wins at Charles Town, Churchill Downs, Keeneland. Her ultimate success was winning the $1 million dollar Derby City Distaff in 2024 at Churchill Downs on the undercard of “Kentucky Derby Day”. She ran 20 elite races in her career over a 4 year span, and amazingly retired never having bled, perfect airway function and anatomy, and her x rays were completely clean. She was sold to Boyd Racing at the Keeneland Nov. sale for $3.1 Million, and now heads off to her next career as a Broodmare. We will be very excited to watch and follow her babies in the future.
- $1 Million – 2024 Grade 1 Derby City Distaff: This was the pinnacle of her amazing career.
- $750K – 2023 Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks: This was her first graded stakes victory.
- $350K – 2023 G2 Lexus Raven Run: Her very first G2 win.
- $600K – 2024 G1 Madison Stakes: She finished 2nd by only a 1/2 length.
- $250K – 2024 G3 Chicago Stakes: Winning by almost 2 lengths.
- $500K – 2024 G1 Ballerina: She finished 3rd at the Saratoga track missing 2nd by only 1/2 length
- $300K – 2025 G2 Chicago Stakes: Vahva defended her title from 2024.
- $250K – 2025 Pink Ribbon Stakes: Finishing 2nd.
- $400K – 2025 G2 Thorough Club of America Stakes: Finished 2nd by 1/2 length.
- $1 Million – 2025 Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint: Ending her career on the biggest stage finishing 2nd.
Dontlookbackatall
G3 Winner
Retired in 2025
21 Races – (6) Wins, (7) 2nd’s
Earnings – $703,000
Retired as 5 year. “Dontlookbackatall” was an extremely competitive & reliable filly over her 4 year career. The first 2 1/2 years she was the model of consistency finishing 1st or 2nd in 12 of her first 14 career races. Out of her 21 races she finished 1st or 2nd a total of 13 times. Racing at 8 different tracks she showed her versatility in adapting to varying conditions and still performing at an elite level. She was trained by the late Christoph Clement and then by his son Miguel Clement.
- $200K – 2024 Grade 3 Caress Stakes: This was the highlight of her fantastic career.
- $125K – 2023 Glenn Cove Stakes: This was her first time hitting the board and finishing 2nd in a stakes race.
- $150K – 2024 License Fee Stakes: Her very first winning stakes race.
- $100K – 2024 Power by Far Stakes: a month after her first stakes win she came back and won her 2nd in a row.
- $1.5 Million – 2024 G2 Exacta Systems Lady Turf Sprint: Ran a huge race and came in 2nd.
- $150K – 2025 Smart -n- Fancy Stakes: Finishing 2nd by only a little more than a length.
Speaking Scout
G1 Winner
Retired in 2024
- Grade 1 Hollywood Derby: This was the pinnacle of his career. Speaking Scout won the $400,000 race at Del Mar on December 3, 2022, securing his first Grade 1 victory. The win was particularly meaningful as it was achieved through Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ “Newcomer” program, which allows new horse owners to participate in high-level racing.
- Hawthorne Derby: He earned a stakes victory in this race on October 1, 2022, dominating the field by five lengths.
- Pegasus World Cup Turf: Speaking Scout placed in the Grade 1, $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf invitational.
- Twilight Derby at Santa Anita: 2nd in the $200K G2.
- Monmouth Stakes at Monmouth Park: 3rd in the $150K G3.
- John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita: 3rd in the $200K G2.
Velocity
G1 Winner
Retired in 2025
5 Races – (3) Wins
Earnings – $274,800
Retired as a 3-year-old filly, Velocity joined us through the 2-year-olds in training at Ocala in 2024, in partnership with “Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.” Sadly, her racing career was cut short due to an injury, but in just five career races in 2025, she accomplished so much—winning three out of five races, including a huge G1 victory in the “Del Mar Oaks” at 30-1 odds. She earned a total of $274,800 in her 5 races.
Injuries are an unfortunate reality of this sport, and it’s especially difficult when they happen to a truly special horse like Velocity. Thankfully, her injury was caught early, she didn’t require surgery, and she will be fine. She now moves on to her next chapter as a broodmare, and we’re excited to follow her future foals in the years ahead.
Speaking Scout
Notable Highlights:
- Grade 1 Hollywood Derby: This was the pinnacle of his career. Speaking Scout won the $400,000 race at Del Mar on December 3, 2022, securing his first Grade 1 victory. The win was particularly meaningful as it was achieved through Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ “Newcomer” program, which allows new horse owners to participate in high-level racing.
- Hawthorne Derby: He earned a stakes victory in this race on October 1, 2022, dominating the field by five lengths.
- Pegasus World Cup Turf: Speaking Scout placed in the Grade 1, $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf invitational.
- Twilight Derby at Santa Anita: 2nd in the $200K G2.
- Monmouth Stakes at Monmouth Park: 3rd in the $150K G3.
- John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita: 3rd in the $200K G2.
Velocity
Earnings – $274,800
It is with deep disappointment that we share news of an injury sustained by Velocity. She suffered an avulsion fracture to her right front ankle, which also resulted in damage to a portion of her suspensory ligament—a particularly challenging combination.
After thorough consultation with top veterinary specialists, we are grateful to report that the injury is not life-threatening. However, it has been determined to be career-ending.
Velocity was a rising star with immense promise, having raced only five times and securing three impressive victories—including a standout performance in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. Her talent and heart on the track will be greatly missed.
Aftercare Sanctuary
Dedicated aftercare organizations work to rehabilitate, retrain, and rehome retired racehorses. These programs are vital for horses with injuries or those who are not suited for a second career. Rehabilitation and retraining: Nonprofits like New Vocations and After The Races take in horses directly from the track, give them time to recover from racing, and then retrain them for new homes and careers. Therapeutic riding: Some horses participate in equine-assisted therapy programs, which have been shown to help veterans with PTSD and others. Lifelong sanctuary: Organizations like the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) provide permanent sanctuary for horses that are too old or injured to be ridden again.
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