Chris J. McCarron

Biography

Chris McCarron became an instant sensation in the irons, winning the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 1974. That year, McCarron set a record with 546 wins, which stood until surpassed by fellow Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux in 1989. McCarron led all North American riders in wins again in 1975 and 1980 and topped the standings in earnings in 1980, 1981, 1984, and 1991. He earned the Eclipse for Outstanding Jockey in 1980.

McCarron rode many of the best horses of his era, including Hall of Famers John Henry, Alysheba, Precisionist, Lady’s Secret, Sunday Silence, Paseana, and Tiznow. He won each of the Triple Crown races twice, the Kentucky Derby with Hall of Famer Alysheba (1987) and Go for Gin (1994); the Preakness with Alysheba (1987) and Pine Bluff (1992); and the Belmont with Danzig Connection (1986) and Touch Gold (1997).

McCarron also enjoyed great success in the Breeders' Cup. Among his nine overall wins at the event, five were in the Classic, including consecutive runnings with Alysheba (1988) and Hall of Famer Sunday Silence (1989) and back-to-back editions with Hall of Famer Tiznow in 2000 and 2001. He also won it with Alphabet Soup in 1996, defeating Hall of Famer Cigar and Preakness winner Louis Quatorze.

Other notable wins for McCarron included multiple editions of the Kentucky Oaks (three), Del Mar Handicap (six), Del Mar Futurity (four), Del Mar Oaks (four), La Jolla Handicap (seven), Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (seven), San Felipe Stakes (seven), Santa Anita Handicap (three), Santa Anita Derby (four), and San Diego Handicap (six), among others.

McCarron retired with 7,141 wins and purse earnings of $263,986,005, a record at the time. He also served as technical advisor, racing designer, and had an acting role as Hall of Fame jockey Charlie Kurtsinger in the 2003 film “Seabiscuit.” McCarron also founded the North American Racing Academy to help hone the skills of young riders.

Achievements

Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey — 1974
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey — 1980

North America's leading rider in wins — 1974, 1975, 1980
North America's leading rider in earnings — 1980, 1981, 1984, 1991

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the 1987 Kentucky Derby — Alysheba
Won the 1994 Kentucky Derby — Go for Gin
Won the 1987 Preakness Stakes — Alysheba
Won the 1992 Preakness Stakes — Pine Bluff
Won the 1986 Belmont Stakes — Danzig Connection
Won the 1997 Belmont Stakes — Touch Gold

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the 1985 Sprint — Precisionist 
Won the 1988 Classic — Alysheba
Won the 1989 Classic — Sunsay Silence
Won the 1992 Juvenile — Gilded Time
Won the 1992 Distaff — Paseana
Won the 1995 Turf — Northern Spur
Won the 1996 Classic — Alphabet Soup
Won the 2000 Classic — Tiznow
Won the 2001 Classic — Tiznow