Chris McCarron
Chris McCarron
Career wins: 7,141
Born in Dorchester, MA in March of 1955, the son of Herbert and Helen and one of nine children, Chris was introduced to the racing world by older brother, Gregg McCarron who was already a jockey. He started on the track as a hot walker for trainer Odie Clelland and rode his first race at Bowie Race Course in January 1974. As an apprentice, Chris rode a record 2,199 races scoring a record 546 wins. He became the first jockey to reach the $200 million earnings mark.
Inducted in the National Racing Museum Hall of Fame in 1989, Chris McCarron competed for 28 years winning 2 Kentucky Derbies, 2 Preakness Stakes, 2 Belmont Stakes, 5 Breeder’s Cup Classics plus three other Breeder’s Cup races, the Japan Cup and Canadian Int’l Stakes. Notable mounts include John Henry, Alysheba, Tiznow, Precisionist, Lady’s Secret, Sunday Silence, Glorious Song, Bayakoa and many others.
After race riding, Chris began appearances as a racing analyst for major races on ABC, NBC, ESPN, HDNet and TVG. He served as Race Designer and Technical Advisor for the feature film “Seabiscuit” also playing the role of War Admirals jockey, Charlie Kurtsinger. McCarron served as General Manager of Santa Anita Park from March 2003 to February 2005. Currently, Chris is the Founder and Lead Instructor of the North American Racing Academy in Lexington, Kentucky established to develop young jockeys. NARA is the first and only school of its kind in North America. The school offers an attainable degree through Bluegrass Community and Technical College.
Chris McCarron’s many awards include the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey (1974), Best Jockey ESPY Award, two Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Jockey (1974 and 1980), and Mike Venezia Memorial Award. He is a member of The Jockey Club.
Chris is the father of three daughters, Erin, Kristin and Stephanie who is an avid rider and instructor.