McLaughlin Leaving Training to Become Saez's Agent

Kiaran McLaughlin's career is going full circle.

Back in 1993, he left a job as a jockey agent for Chris Antley to become a trainer for Shadwell Stable and Godolphin Racing, and he will return to those roots April 1, taking over as the agent for Luis Saez, the regular rider for $20 million Saudi Cup winner Maximum Security.

"It was a hard decision. I had one of the best jobs in the world working for such great people as the Maktoum family for 26 1/2 years. It was tough to leave because they treat you so well," the classic-winning trainer said March 4. "Any trainer would have loved to be in my position for all those years. I worked as an agent many years ago, and I really liked it. It's ironic that I left a jock's agent job in 1993 and now I'm going back to being a jockey's agent, but it's a different time and different situation and I'm excited about it. I'll miss that relationship with the owners, but hopefully we can win some big races for them."

McLaughlin, 59, has 1,577 wins from 7,702 starts. Invasor, the 2006 Horse of the Year and 2013 Hall of Famer, won the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) and the 2007 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (G1) for McLaughlin, who also trained 2006 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Jazil.

He also had Breeders' Cup wins with Tamarkuz  in the 2016 Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and Lahudood in the 2007 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T). All four of those grade/group 1 winners were owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum of Shadwell Stable. Invasor's victory in the Dubai World Cup ended his career with a sixth straight win at the group/grade 1 level under McLaughlin's handling.

A three-time leading trainer at Nad al Sheba and the top trainer at the 2008 Saratoga Race Course meet, McLaughlin has earnings of $120,427,849, putting him 17th on the all-time list, according to Equibase statistics through March 3. 

In 2019, he won 51 races, his lowest total since 2003. He has seven wins from 43 starts this year.

"It was a wonderful experience having Kiaran train for us as long as he has. It's hard to think about not having him as part of the team," said Rick Nichols, Shadwell's vice president and general manager. "I spoke to Sheikh Hamdan, and he understands why Kiaran made this move and he wants to wish him the best of luck. Kiaran has been loyal to Sheikh Hamdan and has done a great job with the horses we've given him. It will be hard without him."

McLaughlin will be taking over from the retiring Richard DePass as the agent for the 27-year-old Saez, whose mounts earned a career-best $18.2 million in 2019, the seventh-best figure in North America. He was also tied for fourth in wins with 274.

The decision by McLaughlin comes at a time when he was planning to leave his longtime base in New York because of the rising expenses associated with training in New York and state Labor Board fines of $304,646.82 for wages due, damages, and penalties for violating minimum-wage requirements.

"I was approached not that long ago to see if I was interested in the job, and at first I wasn't sure about taking it," said McLaughlin, who has been fighting a courageous struggle since 1998 with multiple sclerosis, a disease that attacks the central nervous system and impacts his ability to walk. "I thought about it, and the more I thought about it and talked it over with my wife (Letty) and family, it made a lot of sense. We had our issues with the Labor Board, and it's expensive to do business in New York, but New York has been great to me and my family the last 30 years. I'm glad we can go back there in the spring and look forward to working in a new role. It was hard to pass up working with such a great jockey and family guy."

McLaughlin is working with his employees to find them new jobs in the industry.

Godolphin and Shadwell officials said they are in the process of working out arrangements to line up trainers for their McLaughlin horses. Leonard Green's graded stakes-winning 4-year-old turf runner A Thread of Blue already has been moved to John Servis' barn, according to McLaughlin.

Shadwell has 13 horses with McLaughlin. Nichols said McLaughlin will remain as the trainer of Ajaaweed through the 3-year-old's March 21 start in the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

For Jimmy Bell, the president of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin operation in the United States, McLaughlin's career change is bittersweet.

"Kiaran is as astute of a horseman as there is out there. He's had a great relationship with the Maktoum family, and we had a great run with the likes of Frosted  (multiple grade 1 winner and 2015 Belmont Stakes runner-up), Wedding Toast, Questing (the 2012 champion 3-year-old filly), and It's Tricky. We've had some great Saturday afternoons together," Bell said. "One of his best characteristics was his ability to place horses in the right spots. He always knew where a horse fit, and it will lead to so many opportunities for him and Luis, who is a super young jockey. They will be a force. With Luis' riding skills and Kiaran's relationships, they will be a great tandem. He's the most popular guy you'll find on the backstretch. Every time a golf cart at Saratoga drives by his barn, it will stop.

"I'm very happy for Kiaran. I am sure it will be an exciting new career for him that will revitalize him."

McLaughlin has 13 Godolphin horses in his stable, including two starters in March 7 graded stakes: Endorsed in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and Spa City in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2).

In 2005, McLaughlin, who was born in Lexington and grew up there, just missed a Kentucky Derby score when he saddled 71-1 shot Closing Argument to a runner-up finish, a half-length behind 50-1 shot Giacomo, for owners Philip and Marcia Cohen.

The news of McLaughlin's career change was first reported via Twitter by Daily Racing Form.