Auburn alumnus living Kentucky Derby dream

It only took a moment to feel Auburn alumnus Alan Dorton’s enthusiasm for not only being a veterinarian, but more specifically for caring for horses. 

“I am living the dream that I always wanted to have: being a horse doctor in Lexington, Kentucky,” said Dorton. 

And what makes this dream extra special? Being a veterinarian to a horse that wins the Kentucky Derby. 

An American thoroughbred named Rich Strike won the 148th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in 2022, racing at 80:1 odds, and Dorton’s care of “Richie,” as he fondly called him, played a role in the horse’s victory. 

“The Kentucky Derby is an intense part of the whole horse business in Kentucky. It’s a daily discussion,” said Dorton. “Just being in the Derby and then actually winning the Derby is definitely a thrill.”

Rich Strike wins!

The Kentucky Derby falls right in the middle of foaling and breeding season, which means Dorton can rarely attend the races. In 2022, he arrived home just 20 minutes before the Derby began and headed to his basement to watch.

“I just about fainted when Rich Strike won,” said Dorton. “I had several hundred calls and texts in the next few hours because a lot of people knew I was his veterinarian.”

Being a part of this victory was particularly grand for Dorton because he “knew [he] had a big part in him winning.” 

Rich Strike had raced in December 2021 and placed fifth and again in March in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes and placed fourth. Dorton felt something was off, that Rich Strike should have performed better. 

He ran tests and learned the horse was extremely anemic. Dorton then implemented a series of vitamin injections to improve Rich Strike’s health, and at his next race, the Jeff Ruby Stakes, he came from last place to finish the race in third. 

“We started thinking he could possibly win the Derby if he could get there,” said Dorton. 

Fast-forward to the Kentucky Derby — Rich Strike is on the eligible list, and it is scratch time. Another owner scratched a horse, trainer Eric Reed was called and Rich Strike had 15 minutes to join the race. 

And the rest is history. In fact, his victory is historical — as it’s the second-biggest long shot to ever win the Derby, the last occurring in 1913. 

Dorton meets Rich Strike

How Dorton became Rich Strike’s veterinarian is an interesting story. 

Dorton has been a farm veterinarian for the Ramsey Farm in south Lexington for more than 18 years. In 2016, Eric Reed’s training facility in the northside of Lexington suffered a barn fire; it was a devastating blow for the family. 

To support the Reeds, the Ramsey Farm owner sent 20 yearlings to the training facility to break and get started, offering Dorton’s services for the yearlings as needed. Reed’s veterinarian eventually retired, and Reed asked Dorton to care for his horses. Dorton began working with Reed Racing in 2019. 

Reed claimed Rich Strike in September 2021.

“Eric said, ‘I’ve got this horse coming in, and he might be my Derby horse next year,’” said Dorton followed by a chuckle. “I’ve definitely heard that 10 million times in my career.”

Little did he know what was to come. Dorton started working with the horse the September before he won the Derby. 

“Most likely, I was just in the right place at the right time,” Dorton said.

A love of horses begins

Kentucky is the most competitive place to be a horse doctor, explained Dorton. But thanks to Auburn, he said he has not only survived, but flourished. 

Although a Kentucky native, Dorton was not introduced to horses until he was 20 years old. 

“There was a young lady I took a fancy to, and I followed her into a horse barn,” said Dorton. “The lady departed, and I stayed with the horses. And I’ve been with them ever since.”

Dorton started at the University of Kentucky and paid for his education “working on horse farms, race tracks and sale rings” and eventually landed at Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in 1983, during the era of Charles Barkley and Bo Jackson, he noted.

Dorton was able to attend Auburn due to Kentucky’s contractual agreement with CVM, making it basically Kentucky’s state veterinary college. 

“I was horse all the way,” said Dorton. “I was in the horse barns starting freshman year until the day I graduated.”

Following graduation, Dorton found his way back to Kentucky in 1990, worked for a private equine practice and eventually became a partner. He has been a solo practitioner for the past 11 years.

Proud of Auburn education

Dorton is currently in his 35th breeding and foaling season, working eight- to 10-hour days, and seems perfectly delighted even though his next day off will not be until July 4. 

He stays connected with his Auburn classmates, and he and his wife Jean, also an Auburn graduate, recently returned to campus for his 35th CVM reunion.

“It’s been 37 years since I graduated, and I am not planning on stopping any time soon,” said Dorton. “Auburn has always been a big part of my life. I am immensely proud of my education and my time there.” 

"In fact, whenever anyone asks me where I went to school, I reply, 'Auburn, of course. That's where all the good vets go.'"