McCarthy, McMahon wrap up Maryland racing year-end honors

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

Trevor McCarthy and Hugh McMahon wrapped up titles for the calendar year in the jockey and trainer divisions respectively at the major Maryland tracks after today’s final card of the season at Laurel Park.

McCarthy finished the year with 107 victories at Laurel and Pimlico Race Course, eight more than Sheldon Russell. The promising 19-year-old apprentice rider won four races at Laurel on January 1 and ranked 12^th in the nation with 69 wins in early April when he broke his left tibia during training at Laurel and missed five months ruining his chance at the Eclipse Award. Overall he finished with 25 multiple-win afternoons in Maryland this year.

“I am very grateful seeing that I didn’t get to ride at Pimlico after the first week,” said McCarthy, who rode his first stakes winner on February 16, guiding Concealed Identity to victory in the John B. Campbell Stakes. “I really wanted the Eclipse but to be able to be the leading rider for the entire year in the state is rewarding. It was my goal when I returned from the injury.”

McCarthy rode 50 winners during the Laurel fall meeting to finish second behind fellow apprentice Victor Carrasco in the standings. Carrasco finished the meet with 69 victories and ends the year as the leading apprentice in the nation in both wins (215) and earnings ($4,357,715). McCarthy finished fourth in victories (140) and was third in earnings ($3,653,365).

McMahon had 74 winners at the major Maryland tracks during the campaign, 14 ahead of Juan Vazquez. The 45-year-old captured the Laurel Park winter and fall titles and had 15 multi-win afternoons, including three victories on January 19 and February 6. He finished the year winning at a 22.8% clip at the major Maryland tracks.

“I am really thankful to be in this position,” said McMahon, who ranked third overall a year ago. “We are at the mercy of the condition book and the timing of the races. There is a science to it. I think that is why sometimes trainers get really hot then kind of cool off. I don’t mind the cool times because it makes the winning that much more wonderful.”

McMahon and McCarthy will be honored by the Maryland Jockey Club during the upcoming winter meet at Laurel Park.

(Featured image by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.)