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NEWS 
THE TEAM
THE METHOD
GETTING STARTED
FAMOUS HORSES
STATISTICS
ROSTER
LINKS |
Although his entry title will be that of Racehorse Administrator, Wellman will be involved in all facets of the Team Valor operation. Barry Irwin said "Our stable has grown in number of racehorses and breeding stock and our client base had increased as well. "Last year when I bought out my longtime partner Jeff Siegel, I added ‘International’ to the company’s name, as a signal of things to come. "It should be no secret by now that I want to grow the business internationally, because it affords a better chance to include more quality racehorses in our stable, as well as a more diversified schedule of races. We are an American racing stable, but we have learned that by developing our horses before they land on our shores, the horses are better for it in terms of their overall quality as runners and they have increased in value as well. "Aron Wellman will assist me in prospecting talent. He will learn the ins and outs of our operation, with an eye toward freeing me up so that I can concentrate on other aspects of the company, such as expansion into different racing venues."
From time to time the parents would chat with Irwin about Aron’s desire to get into the horse business. "I told them the same thing over and over," Irwin said. "I said make sure that Aron gets the best possible education and becomes a success, then uses his own wherewithal to buy his own horses and makes racing his hobby, not his business. "The way the horse business has evolved, there is only room at the very top for somebody that does what I do to make a living anymore." The Wellmans took the advice to heart and saw their son graduate law school to become an attorney with a big future in real estate. But the young man’s passion for the racing burned just below the surface. He found ways to own a horse or two and to form some partnerships. Next thing he knew, he started his own stable, the LGL Stable, an acronym that stood for Let’s Get Lucky. Aron displayed talent, as among the horses he wound up prospecting and developing during the 3-year span of LGL were the top grass fillies Three Degrees and Valbenny. Bought reasonably abroad, both fillies won the Grade 2 Honeymoon and placed in more than one Grade 1 race. Three Degrees unfortunately suffered an early demise, but Valbenny was sold for a large profit last season when she realized a final bid of $1.2 million in Kentucky. Late last year, LGL and Team Valor joined forces to acquire and separately form individual LLCs to campaign the Singspiel filly Miss Singhsix.
"It wasn’t just a job that I offered Aron," explained Irwin. "It was the beginning of what could very well turn out to be Aron’s involvement as part of the ownership of Team Valor a few years down the road. The energy, passion, business acumen and talent Aron brings to our company promise to help the stable achieve its dream of forming a stable that will make a greater impact, not only in the United States, but in countries around the globe." Irwin said that Aron is a true "student of the game," he can write, is businesslike when dealing with horsemen and very personable when speaking with clients. "You’re not apt to run into a fellow like this very often that is so polished at the age of 30," explained Irwin. "I expect him to help Team Valor improve its game year after year. "Okay, I realize he’s not perfect. He’s missing the second ‘a’ in his first name and when he goes swimming in the Pacific Ocean the sharks leave him alone out of professional courtesy because he’s a lawyer. But at least we have something to work with!" As part of his employment with Team Valor, Wellman will be allowed to continue to manage the remaining equine assets of his LGL Stable until such time as they have all been played out.
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