NEWS
Jockey McKee secures 1,000th career win
Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2008 6:45 PM
JOHN MCKEE
John Engelhardt photo
Jockey John McKee secured his 1,000th career win on Sunday at Turfway Park when he guided Bid Made to a 5 1/4-length victory in the eighth race.
Sent off as the 8-to-5 favorite, the six-year-old Repriced mare drew clear under steady urging by McKee in the 6 1/2-furlong claiming race to secure the milestone win.
A native of Cincinnati, McKee has compiled 42 stakes wins, including 11 graded stakes victories, from 7,007 starters that have amassed $26,180,477 in purse earnings through Sunday.
McKee was the regular rider for Lawyer Ron, champion older male of 2007, during his two- and three-year-old seasons when he was trained by Bob Holthus. McKee guided Lawyer Ron to eight wins, including four consecutive stakes victories in the 2006 Risen Star (G3), Southwest, and Rebel (G3) Stakes and Arkansas Derby (G2). He subsequently finished 12th aboard Lawyer Ron in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
McKee became an exercise rider at Poplar Creek Farm in Bethel, Ohio, at age 17, despite a lack of enthusiasm from his parents. He later became acquainted with agent Eddie Campbell, who is best known for launching the career of Racing Hall of Fame rider Steve Cauthen.
McKee rode his first race on March 15, 2002 at Turfway Park and won his first race two months later on May 27 at River Downs. That year he won the leading riding title at River Downs, winning 114 races to break Cauthen’s 1976 record for an apprentice at the track. He also was the leading rider that year at Turfway and a finalist for an Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey. McKee also has won leading rider titles at Oaklawn Park and Churchill Downs
In 2003, he earned his first graded stakes win aboard Tap the Admiral in the Firecracker Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs.
