Kiaran McLaughlin, a respected figure in horse racing, is embarking on a new chapter in his career, transitioning from his long-standing role as a trainer to become the jockey agent for jockey Luis Saez. This significant career shift marks a full circle for McLaughlin, who began his journey in racing as a jockey agent in 1993 before dedicating 26 and a half years to training for prominent entities like Shadwell Stable and Godolphin Racing. His new role will commence on April 1, representing Saez, the regular rider of the $20 million Saudi Cup winner, Maximum Security.
McLaughlin described the decision to leave training as difficult, acknowledging the exceptional treatment and opportunities he received from the Maktoum family. “Any trainer would have loved to be in my position for all those years,” he stated. Despite the fondness for his training career, McLaughlin expressed his excitement about returning to jockey representation, a role he previously enjoyed. He anticipates missing the direct relationship with owners but is optimistic about achieving success in major races with Saez. McLaughlin’s extensive training career boasts 1,577 wins from 7,702 starts. His notable trainees include Invasor, the 2006 Horse of the Year and 2013 Hall of Famer, who secured victories in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic and the 2007 Dubai World Cup. He also trained the 2006 Belmont Stakes winner, Jazil, and achieved Breeders’ Cup wins with Tamarkuz in the 2016 Las Vegas Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Lahudood in the 2007 Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. All four of these Grade 1 winners were under the ownership of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum of Shadwell Stable.
McLaughlin’s achievements as a trainer also include being a three-time leading trainer at Nad al Sheba and the top trainer at the 2008 Saratoga Race Course meet. His career earnings exceed $120 million, placing him 17th on the all-time list. However, 2019 saw his lowest win total since 2003, with 51 victories from 43 starts this year.
Rick Nichols, Shadwell’s vice president and general manager, expressed that it is hard to imagine the team without McLaughlin, acknowledging his loyalty and excellent work with their horses. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum understands McLaughlin’s decision and wishes him the best.
McLaughlin will be succeeding the retiring Richard DePass as Saez’s agent. The 27-year-old Saez achieved a career-best of $18.2 million in earnings in 2019, ranking seventh-best in North America, and tied for fourth in wins with 274.
This career change comes as McLaughlin was already considering relocating his training base from New York due to increasing operational costs and faced state Labor Board fines. He was approached about the agent position and, after careful consideration with his family, found it to be a sensible move. McLaughlin, who has been managing multiple sclerosis since 1998, recognized the financial pressures of training in New York but expressed gratitude for the past 30 years in the state and looks forward to his new role. He found the prospect of working with Saez, whom he described as a “great jockey and family guy,” difficult to pass up. McLaughlin is actively assisting his employees in finding new opportunities within the industry.
Godolphin and Shadwell are arranging for trainers to manage their horses previously under McLaughlin’s care. For instance, Leonard Green’s turf runner, A Thread of Blue, has already moved to John Servis’ barn. Shadwell has 13 horses with McLaughlin, who will continue to train Ajaaweed through his March 21 start in the Louisiana Derby.
Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin’s U.S. operations, characterized McLaughlin’s career change as bittersweet, highlighting his expertise as a horseman and his strong relationship with the Maktoum family, which led to successful partnerships with horses like Frosted, Wedding Toast, Questing, and It’s Tricky. Bell commended McLaughlin’s exceptional ability to place horses strategically, predicting that McLaughlin and Saez will form a formidable team. He believes their combined skills and relationships will make them a significant force, and he is happy for McLaughlin, anticipating an exciting and revitalizing new career.
McLaughlin currently has 13 Godolphin horses, including Endorsed and Spa City, who are scheduled to compete in graded stakes in March. In 2005, McLaughlin nearly won the Kentucky Derby with Closing Argument, who finished second. The news of McLaughlin’s career transition was initially reported by the Daily Racing Form on Twitter.
