When you’re 84 years old and you own “the horse of life,” it’s kind of a sensational story.
But when that one lucky athlete bought his first horse when he was 83 years old and owns only two, it becomes a race story with a unique and incredible feel to it. a lot of.
“I’m very happy about this,” says Pat Kearney, PhD in advanced science. “It’s unbelievable. I could never have dreamed this could happen.”
In fact, who could have imagined what would happen after Kearney bought his first two horses at the venerable age of 83?
It all started innocently when, through the help and trained eye of Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, he purchased a pair of underrated fry at the Sales event. Ocala Breeders’ spring 2021 ‘Sell 2 year old is training in April.
His first purchase during the April sale was a dirty piece he named Katheen O. after his wife, whose maiden name is Kathleen O’Boyle.
More than a year later, that brought Kearney the biggest surprise and greatest thrill of his life. She has a 4 to 4 record, notably a match win at Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), and is attending the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) tournament on May 6 at Churchill Downs is one of the favorites in America’s top race for 3-year-olds.
Kathleen O. April 26 episode at Churchill Downs
“It’s a miracle what this horse has been.” Kearney, who races under the Winngate Stables banner, said. “It’s like playing the lottery. It’s rare, I think.”
McGaughey, 71, one of the sport’s most popular and successful coaches, has been a part of many famous and historic moments at races, even marveling at how Someone’s first purchase can yield such amazing results.
“It’s a story,” said McGaughey, whose biography covers two pages of the New York Racing Association’s media guide. “The chance of this happening is through the roof. I told Pat that something like this wouldn’t happen.”
Yet despite the odds piling up against Kearney and his 3-year-old, it really is happening and if all goes well in the next week and a half, Kearney, his wife Kathleen, or Kathy when he I call her, their daughter Katie and her husband, Clarke Devereux, will all be at Churchill Downs to soak in all the Oaks and Kentucky Derby competitions and colors presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on the next day on a magical vacation in Louisville.
“I’ve never been to Oaks or Derby and I’m totally looking forward to it. It’s like the Super Bowl,” said Kearney, who shares time between his homes in Surfside, Fla and Winnetka in Illinois.
The COVID-19 pandemic set off a series of events that led to a newcomer like Kearney pointing out how 84 is a new 40 for horse ownership.
He has been attending races since he was a teenager and will be heading to Arlington Park with his father, who already has a box at the Chicago area racetrack.
“I love horse racing, although I have never been a good handicapper,” Kearney said.
After a prosperous career in marketing and selling financial securities, Kearney retired a few years ago and spends his days playing golf and occasionally visiting the racetrack. He also plays weekly poker with about 9 friends, which ended abruptly in 2020 as the pandemic raged around the world and forced him to find a new outlet for his free time.
“I just wanted to find something that I could really enjoy and have a lot of fun with while not having a lot of obligations like going to meetings,” he said. “I never thought about buying a horse 10 years ago. It was just a spur of the moment. I wanted to do something different than just golf.”
Through a membership in the Indian Creek Country Club in Florida, Kearney had met McGaughey years earlier, and he and Kathy had played golf and some dinners with McGaughey and his wife, Alison. After much thought, in February 2021 he approached McGaughey about purchasing a racehorse.
“I asked Shug, ‘How do I get a horse?'” Kearney said. “He said, ‘You have two horses: a pony and a pony.'”
McGaughey also warned him.
“I told Pat he shouldn’t be in this for the money,” the coach said. “It’s about fun.”
Kearney signed and put everything in McGaughey’s hands.
“It’s all down to Shug. I asked him to choose a horse and he suggested it was a horse and a pony. I’m really a novice at this. When it comes to some understanding of the subject. this, you’re talking to the wrong person,” said Kearney. “I just come along to ride.”
Their first attempt to buy a horse came a few months later at The Gulfstream Sale, which sold select 2-year-olds trained by Fasig-Tipton in South Florida. A few days after they watched the horses scurry, McGaughey began a dirty bid, but withdrew when the price became too steep.
“I’m very disappointed that we didn’t buy the dirty stuff,” Kearney said. “I was ready to get a horse but Shug said, ‘There will be a lot of other horses for sale. “
Indeed, it did, and at the OBS sale, economics worked.
For $275,000, they bought Kathleen O., daughter of Start up and the first pony from Reprimand Quaver mares, deposited by Niall Brennan Stables and bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Bridlewood Farm.
“I watched on my computer,” Kearney said. “She walked in and 30 seconds later she was sold. I don’t know what happened and then Shug called and said, ‘Did you see? It’s you!’ That’s how I was introduced to the business of ownership.”
After the sale, Kearney and McGaughey bought Cloudy for $130,000. The son of Sublime Mission The mare of Unbridled’s Song Miss Exclusive was bred by Mt. Brilliant Broodmares II. In two warm-ups, he was no better than fifth and only began to resume training after suffering a bone spur.
While Cloudy made it to the lap ahead of Kathleen O., it was the filthy woman who gave Kearney a taste of high life as she rose from sixth in field seven in column eight to win her debut at Aqueduct race track by a leader. November 12th just happened to be his wife’s birthday. Fate was also on their side that day when Kathleen O. rose from column seven, matching the number of the uniform that Kathy’s father, Harry O’Boyle, wore when he was playing football for Knute Rockne at the University. Notre Dame.
“Shug and I were in a golf tournament the day she ran and I watched the race and couldn’t believe it,” Kearney said. “It was unbelievable how she got so many strong points in the race. I went looking for Shug and found him at a practice tee. When he saw me, he looked up with a smile. Smile and say ‘How are we?’ He has a great sense of humour.”
Kathleen O.’s second start creates a completely different atmosphere. McGaughey runs her in the January 1 Withdrawal Shares at Gulfstream Park with Pat and Kathy and Katie and Clarke and their three teenage children, Maeve, Mac and Quinn, at the Florida track — and the winner’s lap after Upstart posted an 8 1/2-length tilt win.
“Katie and her family visited us for Christmas and the nieces had never been to the racecourse before. They didn’t even know I owned a horse until they came to Florida,” Kearney said. . “Then we were there in the winners’ circle after a bet race. What a great memory. It was really fun for me, my wife and everyone.”
A two-length win at the Davona Dale Stakes presented by FanDuel (G2) and a length score of 2 3/4 in the April 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks game under regular driver Javier Castellano who followed and lifted Kathleen O. to the top of the Leaderboard for the Kentucky Oaks with 150 qualifying points.
Kathleen O. (outside) makes her winning move in Gulfstream Oaks Park
“Shug is absolutely right when he says it’s fun. It’s a joy to be in the winner’s circle,” said Kearney, who gave some of Kathleen O.’s $379,730 earnings to her. recently used by purchasing a small portion of a pack of nine, uncoded foals with Woodford Racing. “What I like most is that I’m thinking about things that I never thought I would do and I’m enjoying it. It’s very different from betting.
“It was a great experience and it just keeps getting better. I don’t know how you can improve it.”
Of course, that would be simple if Kathleen O. wins against the Kentucky Oaks.
It won’t be an easy task in the 3-year-old’s field, which is also required Secret Vow , Nest and the fat 2 year old champion Echo Zulu . However, Kathleen O. ranks with them and has a late running style that should suit the 1/8 mile distance.
“The way she’s bred, she’s going to hit the distance. She’s doing great and her works are as great as ever,” said McGaughey.
Equally excited for Kearney, McGaughey is also counting down the days until the first Friday in May. While he trained an army full of talent, including the Personal and Insider Hall of Fame and four winners of the Alabama Stocks (G1), the Kentucky native captured the Oaks. only once in his illustrious four-decade career.
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