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TVG's LEGENDS: CHRIS McCARRON
Retired Hall-of-Fame jockey Chris McCarron's racing accomplishments are staggering: 7,141 wins, a pair of victories in each of the Triple Crown races, nine Breeders' Cup wins - five of them being Breeders' Cup Classics, two Eclipse Awards and $264 million in purse money....staggering indeed! But just as impressive is the virtue McCarron displayed along the way.
For more on this talented and driven man, host Gary Stevens sits down and has a casual conversation with his good friend and former Southern California racing rival, Chris McCarron.
Discussion touched upon former mounts JOHN HENRY, ALYSHEBA, TOUCH GOLD, TIZNOW's quirky personality - being unpredicatable and sometimes just flat out refusing to train or move a muscle on the track but then being brilliant on big race days and delivering, CAVONNIER, SUNDAY SILENCE and CAME HOME.
But with all of his racing career accolades and achievements, Chris is most proud of his post-retirement dream come true of creating and founding the North American Racing Academy in Kentucky which is the first school in the United States for jockeys. It not only concentrates on the formal training of jockeys with a series of tests for race riding skills and knowledge of the horse but also gives training in life skills such as managing finances, computer skills to keep up with today's technology but also communication. Chris feels it is very important for the future of racing to properly train jockeys in all these areas to withstand all the demands of the sport. In addition, three key virtues are instilled in each student: integrity, compassion and respect - everything he himself represents.
At the press conference at Hollywood Park when McCarron formally announced his impending retirement, he appeared before the media very tired for the first time in his long career. No longer was he the bright-eyed young man who came to California 30 years before. But two weeks later on his final mount, CAME HOME, in the Affirmed Handicap, he found that young man again and left the sport of horse racing the way he came into it - a winner!
(24 Minutes)
Listing Info: | |
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Listing ID: | 816 |
Format(s) Available: | DVD And VHS |
Category: | U.S. & Canadian Flat Racing |