The Saint of Saratoga

re: The Saint of Saratoga

dghidiu — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 01:31:56 GMT

Valerie-- you rock!!

Steve--Thanks for another great article.

Go to youtube "HERO LOOK ME IN THE EYES"

Do NOT miss this video!

re: The Saint of Saratoga

slee — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 20:03:11 GMT

Steve - nothing to do with this column, except it's Saratoga - the NY Times is reporting Asmussen has rehired Blasi. True?

re: The Saint of Saratoga

Bellwether — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 20:36:02 GMT

Far and few in between...

re: The Saint of Saratoga

Fran Loszynski — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 17:36:28 GMT

My gosh Steve what a beautiful story! We as fans are so lucky to have people like you and Valerie and our racehorses are so lucky too. I notice the Preakness logo is for 2015, pretty special for Afleet Alex 2005 anniversary! for the champ. It's been a long time since we have had a Preakness-Belmont winner. The logo in my mind does tribute to Alex! and Saratoga will do tribute always to Valerie Buck.

re: The Saint of Saratoga

Lise from Maine — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 16:35:25 GMT

Hi!

Valerie is a remarkable woman. The horses and others need more like her.

I told my niece (sister's daughter), who was raped while in the military, about the Saratoga Warhorse program after reading about it here on Bloodhorse.com.

I also contacted them since my oldest son is an IRAQ veteran and currently works at the Pentagon.

My niece currently has a "specially" trained dog to help her with her PTSD.

This is a remarkable story, and thanks for sharing it with the horse racing fans.

Thank you!

Lise from Maine

re: The Saint of Saratoga

Windolin — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 16:03:31 GMT

The world needs more heroes like Valerie.

It would have been so easy for her to retreat from the world as the result of her injury and the diagnosis of MS.

But she did not and thank God that she took the path of seeing her glass as being half full and not half empty and decided to make lemonade from lemons to quote a couple of overused clichés.

It has been said that when we stand before the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven on our judgment day that we will be asked to account for how we have used the talents God gave us.

The gates already will be open for Valerie and smiling angels will be standing there to escort her in.

Thank you Steve for this article. Her story and your passionate writing of it brought me to tears.

re: The Saint of Saratoga

Linda Stephan — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 13:21:09 GMT

Thanks so much Steve - and Valerie, for doing what I cannot at this time in my life. I would love to come if I could and will donate whenever I am able. In my life as a Clinical Psychologist I treated many abused women suffering from PTSD, some abused as children, some as adults as well. It is very hard to give them enough in therapy alone. As a life long horsewoman, I know that your horses can do what I too often could not.

re: The Saint of Saratoga

txhorsefan — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 15:34:48 GMT

Thank you, Steve, for sharing this wonderful story about Ms. Buck and the wonderful work she is doing not only for the OTTBs but for the wounded people in need of help. What a saint indeed!! You've touched my heart with your words again and I'm so grateful for you to giving voice to so many and giving us such insight to those involved in racing.

re: The Saint of Saratoga

Racingfan — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 10:17:41 GMT

Thank you making us aware of Valerie Buck and her story! She is an inspiration - the world truly needs more people like her.

re: The Saint of Saratoga

English Pete — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 16:25:54 GMT

A heartwarming story of a remarkable lady, as told by a master wordsmith. I wish her all the best, and I'll add that it's wonderful to see this kind of article in the racing press now and then.

re: The Saint of Saratoga

Deltalady — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:10:13 GMT

Thank you so much for this in-depth story about Valerie Buck and the impact she has had on the Saratoga Warhorse project, along with her other efforts and her ACTT Naturally project. I have added her ACTT Naturally project to my list of worthy groups to contribute to. I have watched the Saratoga Warhorse video on HRTV so many times and each time I come away inspired and uplifted. I have shared it with many of my Facebook friends. HRTV does allow it to be shared without registration at their site -- www.hrtv.com/.../saratoga-warhorse-

I was moved by your story about this amazing woman and her years of devoting her life and treasure to restoring both human and horse lives. Thanks so much for a beautiful column about this "one of a kind, a savior to both horses and other animals and a humanitarian whose goal in life is to help people who have been damaged inside and abused, mainly women and the war-torn veterans, male and female, whose lives have been severely scarred." Very well said.

re: The Saint of Saratoga

Paula Higgins — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 00:58:27 GMT

Thank you for this post Steve and thank you trackjack for her site address. I will make a donation to it. She is a very impressive woman from any standpoint. She also has a heart that is as big as Texas.

re: The Saint of Saratoga

BelmontBarb — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 00:53:19 GMT

Dear Steve ~ as I see it:

Saints and Angels are always amongst us - some from the past and some that just recently have been welcomed - but there are also some that are still here - present and doing what they have never thought they would do or even imagined - they continuously work and step in when most needed and guide and nurture ~ leaving us with astonishments of successes that are beyond our understanding - as we remain with the question - how could this be! how did that just happen! How amazing is that! or Unbelievable!! It is not only that we are forever amazed by our equine but truly amazed by those that can meet these brilliant beauties at their level and communicate with them and build a relationship that will endure forever. It is easy for most that do not understand nor show no knowledge of the equine world or wish to become educated in it, to be so cruel with comments of which I personally deplore and know all those here and you, Steve, would find it distasteful but it is a factor that it happens once too many times. So the "Saint of Saratoga" who bears her own weight (MS) and struggles to repair and rebuild the once mighty and magnificent beauty of beast that failed the expectations and faltered before the crowd and as a result stands weakened by defeat and even forgotten must just begin to learn and return to its natural self and in the process be the trumpeter of life to all those that suffer from the ills bestowed upon them. The result is inexplicable - even inconceivable ~ but it is! and it is what Valerie Buck has done and is doing and the reasons for doing it be it for the War Horse, War Hero, the victims of domestic violence or the Autistic Child - meeting everyone one of them at their level and make the effort to understand, strengthen, befriend, comfort and build a trust that will help them all conquer what most do not even understand.

Steve ~ This "Saint of Saratoga" is recognized because of your deep spirit and ability to share the story of an outstanding individual that deserves honor and respect for being such ~ as you do and it is with many thanks for this story and good reason to acknowledge and/or participate in this event

re: The Saint of Saratoga

rags2riches — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:18:09 GMT

Thank you so very much Steve for your generous support...I can already feel things moving forward, You're a great writer it was such a pleasure reading your article. xoxoxo Valerie

re: The Saint of Saratoga

artsandletters — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 11:20:28 GMT

I would like to donate. How about an address? Great story, thanks for bringing Valerie's mission some press.

re: The Saint of Saratoga

trackjack — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 11:17:34 GMT

Thanks Steve for a touching and informative article. I wish I was in Saratoga this weekend, I'd be at Valerie's fundraiser.

My wife was diagnosed with M.S. in October of '85. We had to cancel our plans to attend the BC at Aqueduct that year. Living with M.S. and other issues, we are well aware of the need for a safe place for women suffering from PTSD and the healing that animals and especially thoroughbreds can have. God bless Valerie in all she is trying to do for at risk women and the Warhorse Veterans.

Will post Valerie's website that has information for donations:http://www.acttnaturally.org/

Thanks again Steve for your insightful articles shining a much needed light on the needs of those who suffer from PTSD.

re: The Saint of Saratoga

Zen4Zen — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 06:05:57 GMT

Valerie Buck is highly impressive and sympathetic, and I'll follow her worthy charitable work with great interest. Thanks very much for bringing her to your readers' attention.

re: The Saint of Saratoga

Tana Rae — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 02:35:41 GMT

I've read so many of your stories over the years and was deeply touched by them all. But this story of Valerie Buck was mind-blowing. If I was anywhere near Saratoga on the date of this fund-raising event, I would definitely be there. She is the future of truly understanding the thoroughbred breed and their potential contribution to humanity once they leave the track. Many dimensions to your story, Steve. Well done.