Longtime Groom McFarlane Loves Caring for Horses

On a recent afternoon in trainer Jimmy Jerkens' shedrow at Belmont Park, the rhythmic swish-swish of straw being sifted through with a pitchfork could be heard coming from stall 13, the home of grade 1 winner Preservationist, who four days later finished fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1). 

While the Centennial Farms-owned 6-year-old was outside nibbling grass under the gentle sun of an early fall day, the horse's groom, Junior McFarlane, was meticulously tidying his stall.

"I don't leave any straw or shavings unturned in my horses' stalls. I make sure they are very well taken care of," McFarlane said with more than a touch of pride.

McFarlane, 53, has worked for Jerkens—son of the late Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens—since 1997, the year the younger Jerkens left his position as his father's assistant to train on his own. McFarlane groomed Jerkens' first winner, Ninth Inning, who subsequently became Jerkens' first stakes winner in the 1997 Astarita Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Born in Florida to parents who immigrated from Jamaica, McFarlane's journey to becoming a racetracker began in the 1990s when he visited Belmont Park to bet with money he didn't have. Allen Jerkens already was an established racing icon on the New York racing scene, so when McFarlane saw him one afternoon at the races, he went up to Jerkens, whose nickname was "The Chief," and introduced himself.

McFarlane, who has an outgoing demeanor, was more brazen when he met Jerkens for a second time, not long after their first encounter.

"I was doing construction work at the time. Business wasn't good," said McFarlane, who speaks with a slight Jamaican lilt. "I used to go to the races and (spend) all my money. I was at home one day, doing nothing, and started thinking about Allen Jerkens. I had a baby coming, with my girlfriend, and I had bills to pay. I just decided I would go over (to Belmont) and tell 'The Chief' that I needed a job. 

"I came one day to (the stable gate) and asked them to page him, and he came to the gate and I told him a bunch of lies, like I used to work in California for (Ron) McAnally. But as soon as I opened my mouth, he knew it was all a lie. He said, 'Why should I have to teach a man to rub horses at my age and at this stage of my life? Anyway, here's $20, come to work at quarter of six tomorrow morning.'"

McFarlane did as he was told, and after a few years working for Allen Jerkens, he left with Jimmy Jerkens when he started training on his own. In the 23 years since, McFarlane has had the opportunity to care for a multitude of stakes horses, including grade 1 winners Corinthian, Effinex, and Preservationist, the winner of this year's Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

McFarlane is hopeful his next grade 1 winner will be Stronach Stables' homebred Green Light Go, the winner of the Aug. 10 Saratoga Special Stakes (G2). The son of Hard Spun  who won his career debut July 4 at Belmont will run next in the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1) Oct. 5 at Belmont. The Champagne is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" qualifier for the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park.

A powerfully built colt with a striking blaze adorning his face, Green Light Go caught McFarlane's attention even before he walked off the van that brought him from the farm to Jerkens' barn at Belmont Park.

"Jimmy told me that when the four horses came from (Frank) Stronach's farm, I could pick any one that I wanted," McFarlane said. "Green Light Go was all the way in the back of the truck, and I had to take three horses off before him. I saw how big he was, and I like those kind of horses, so I knew at that point he was my man. I've nicknamed him 'The Big Kahuna.'"

One of McFarlane's most memorable moments on the racetrack—albeit one that caused him some anxious moments—came courtesy of the Centennial Farms-owned Corinthian, winner of the 2007 Metropolitan Handicap (G1). The son of Pulpit ended his racing career three starts after his Met Mile win with an emphatic victory in the inaugural running of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Monmouth Park.

"Just before the Breeders' Cup, a lot of people started looking at him, including people from Gainesway, where he ended up going to stud," McFarlane recalled. "One day I took him outside of the barn to show him to the people. There was a helicopter coming around, and it was flying low. Corinthian went up in the air, knocked me over, and ran off. I had like three candies in my pocket, so I got up and ran behind him and whistled and said, 'Corinthian.' He was right up near the back (stable) gate, and he stopped and turned around. I was like a hundred yards away from him, and I started shaking the candy and said, 'Come here, boy.' He looked and jogged right back to me, and I gave him the candy.

"He knew me—he did. I took him to the farm when he went to Gainesway. They wanted me to stay with him for a week, to get him settled because he was tough—we called him 'Crazy Boy' in our barn. I felt bad when I had to turn my back on him and tell him goodbye."

Jerkens said besides "handling the rougher horses a little better than the average guy," McFarlane "takes good care of the horses' legs. He's more conscious of the legs than most grooms."

Susie Raisher, who has had opportunity through her position as photographer and social media coordinator for Centennial Farms to see McFarlane in action at the barn, said the groom shares a special rapport with his horses.

"(Horses) really trust him, and he really knows them, inside and out," Raisher said. "If anything is slightly different (with them), he's the first one to notice. There are a lot of grooms who do a really good job and notice things and want to do best by their horse, but he's really, really truly invested."

As feeding time drew near, McFarlane grabbed a rake and cleaned up the wayward straw that found its way to the outside of Preservationist's stall, then warmly greeted the horse when he returned from his grazing session.

"You know, I have affection for these animals. I love all animals, but I just love Thoroughbreds," he said. "It's just a good feeling to work hard and see the results with them. I really take pride in them and take my time with them. I just love what I do."