Sarasota Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol Horse Wins National Award

SARASOTA, FL - A former racehorse and 14-year veteran of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded the 2017 Thoroughbred of the Year honor by the Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program, Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight announced. Valor, a 23-year-old gelding, receives a $5,000 grant, which is being donated to the Sheriff’s Activities League of Sarasota County.

Valor is one of two horses used in the League’s SADDLES program, which was developed for at-risk youth to learn about team building, non-verbal communication, and how to care for horses.

As a member of the sheriff’s office mounted patrol, Valor has facilitated crowd control at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, at a Super Bowl and during several college football games.

(For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Sarasota Patch. Click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

“We are so proud and honored to receive this award on behalf of Valor,” Sgt. Chris Laster said in a press release. “Valor has served with distinction his entire career and everyone who has worked with him has been honored and thankful to do so. He is an ambassador not only for mounted police units but also for retired racehorses.”

The award recognizes a thoroughbred that has excelled in a non-competitive career, such as equine-assisted therapy or law enforcement work. Valor ended his racing career in 1998 before joining the sheriff’s office in 2003.

Photo via Sarasota County Sheriff's Office