The Breed Changer
by Lisa Harkema
He is one of the most influential and best stallions of all times, and has been a breed changer for American trotting. It could easily have been very different, because Valley Victory was nearly lost to US breeders twice before he even started his illustrious stallion career. Sweden’s loss was North America’s gain as the super stallion proved to be a real breed changer despite poor fertility.
Bred by Bill Weaver’s Valley High Stables, Valley Victory was purchased for $60,000 by Arlene Traub as a yearling. The colt was initially trained by Jan Johnson and Berndt Lindstedt at Continental Farms. In January 1988, after a severe colic attack, the colt was rushed to the University of Florida clinic in Gainesville, Florida. The horse had to undergo surgery for which the prognosis was negative, but fortunately survived the surgery. Upon returning to training in May, he was assigned to Steve Elliot. Despite losing out on several months of training, the son of Baltic Speed caught up with the other two-year-olds relatively quickly. His racing debut came in late August but he really made everybody take notice in a conditioned trot on Sept 30 when he put in a 27.1 / (1.07,6) final quarter to win at The Red Mile.
It was an almost unheard of speed for a two-year-old, and Valley Victory did it with ridiculous ease. Still, it hadn’t been smooth sailing for Elliot. In an article on HarnessLink, Elliot was quoted as saying the colt was goofy and lacking focus. According to his trainer, “it took a long time to get his mind right. He broke three jog carts and a couple of race bikes before we got his head on straight.”
When November came around his head was on straight, and Valley Victory was the clear favorite in Breeders Crown final after an impressive win in his elimination. Second-favorite Kaizer Lobell took the lead in the final and held a high tempo. As Ziggy Hanover went first over to challenge the leader, driver Bill O’Donnell ensured Valley Victory had his back. As the field were turning from home, O’Donnell let the colt loose, and Valley Victory exploded past the opposition and won with ease in track record time 1:58.1f (1.13,5). After four wins in seven starts at 2, Valley Victory was voted 2 Year Old Trotting Colt of the Year.