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Christopher John McCarron (born March 27, 1955, Boston, Massachusetts) is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. He mounted his first horse ever at 16.5 years old and was racing professionally by 18.
- 7,141
- March 27, 1955 (age 68), Boston, Massachusetts, US
- Jockey
Learn about the career and achievements of Chris McCarron, one of the most successful jockeys in North American racing history. He won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey twice and set a record for most wins in a season.
Jun 4, 2021 · Chris McCarron shares his memories of riding Alysheba, his views on today's jockeys and his passion for medication reform. He also talks about his grandson Griffin, who is learning to ride horses from him.
Jun 27, 2002 · The legendary jockey, who won 7,141 races and $264 million in purse money, announced his retirement in 2002. He was praised by his peers and admirers for his skill, integrity, and dedication to the sport.
- Witnessing History - Then Making It
- The Move to California
- A Colt Named Alysheba
- A Game of Musical Chairs
- Vivid Memories
- Sleep at Any Price
- Miraculous Recovery
- Preakness Confidence
- Missing Out at Belmont
- Career Boost
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Besides being home to the Preakness Stakes, Maryland had a rich history when it came to Thoroughbred breeding and Thoroughbred racing. It was also a proving ground for jockeys, many of whom went on to bigger and better things after spending time in Maryland. Kent Desormeaux, Ramon Dominguez and Edgar Prado are a few who come to mind. In 1973, I was...
On Preakness weekend, all the top riders in the country were getting mounts that the local riders would have had. It made quite an impression on me to see how in demand they were, and I wanted to be one of those elite riders. That meant shifting my tack to New York or Southern California. I was going out there on occasion to ride in a major races a...
I was on my way to becoming one of those elite riders. I led the nation in wins in 1974, 1975 and 1980 and led in purse earnings for a jockey in 1980, 1981 and 1984. And I was seeing more and more of a legendary trainer named Jack Van Berg. Jack was the son of a Hall of Fame trainer and he became one himself during a 60-year career in which he won ...
When it comes to jockeys (or their agents) lining up mounts for major stakes races, like the Triple Crown or Breeders’ Cup races, it often resembles a game of musical chairs. And that was the case with Alysheba in the spring of 1987. One morning a few days after the San Felipe, I was walking around in the barn area at Hollywood Park and I saw Jack ...
After reviewing the video and talking to the two riders, the stewards disqualified Alysheba, placing him third instead of first. War was declared the winner with Leo Castelli second. I didn’t agree with their decision, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. The way Alysheba had run in the Blue Grass, even with the disqualification, made us all ...
UPS jets were taking off about every six minutes starting at 1am. Our windows rattled every time they did and I got very little sleep. I went looking for the general manager the next morning. He said he could move me to a suite - but it would be even more expensive than the already astronomical rates Louisville hotels charge that week. I didn’t car...
It is not an easy race to win and, in fact, some of our sport’s most accomplished horses did not win it. Among them: Seabiscuit, Man o’ War, Kelso, Forego, John Henry and Cigar. I felt goosebumps every time I rode in the Kentucky Derby … and I never felt them in any other race. Shortly after the starting gate sprung open, another horse wiped us out...
Before I checked out of the hotel early Sunday morning for our flight back to California, I went to see the general manager again. I had plucked one of the roses from the blanket of roses and I gave it to him as souvenir. A few days later, a package arrived at my home. The track maintenance guy had used all of the $100 to buy all sorts of Kentucky ...
There had not been a Triple Crown winner since Affirmed won all three races over his rival Alydarin the spring of 1978. There had not even been an attempt at a Triple Crown since 1979, as no horse had won both the Derby and the Preakness. Adding to the drama and the excitement was the $5 million bonus for any horse winning the Triple Crown and the ...
The publicity I got from his Triple Crown campaign and his 4-year-old campaign really gave my career a boost. I won a second Derby in 1994 with the Nick Zito-trained Go For Gin, another Belmont Stakes and two editions of the Preakness. I also won eight Breeders’ Cup races and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in Saratog...
Chris McCarron, a former jockey and Hall of Famer, shares his memories of winning the 1987 Kentucky Derby with Alysheba and his career milestones. He also reflects on the challenges and rewards of horse racing and his personal life.
May 4, 2023 · Listen to an interview with Chris McCarron, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner and a six-time Triple Crown champion. He shares his insights on this year's Derby contenders and his experiences in the saddle.
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Christopher John McCarron (born March 27, 1955, Boston, Massachusetts) is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. He mounted his first horse ever at 16.5 years old and was racing professionally by 18.
