On a recent afternoon in trainer Jimmy Jerkens' shed Belmont ParkFrom stable 13, the home of the 1st class winner, you could hear the rhythmic rustling of straw being sifted with a pitchfork Monument conservator who finished fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) four days later.
While the Centennial Farms-owned 6-year-old nibbled grass outside in the gentle sunshine of an early fall day, the horse's groom, Junior McFarlane, meticulously cleaned up his stall.
“I don’t leave straw or wood shavings in my horses’ stables. I make sure they are very well taken care of,” McFarlane said with more than a hint of pride.
McFarlane, 53, has worked for Jerkens — the son of overdue Hall of Fame coach Allen Jerkens — since 1997, when the younger Jerkens left his position as his father's assistant to coach on his own. McFarlane prepared Jerkens' first winner, Ninth Inning, which later became Jerkens' first stakes winner in the 1997 Astarita Stakes (G2). Aqueduct race track.
McFarlane was born in Florida to parents who immigrated from Jamaica. McFarlane's path to racing began in the 1990s when he visited Belmont Park to bet with money he didn't have. Allen Jerkens was already an established racing icon in the Recent York racing scene. When McFarlane saw him racing one afternoon, he walked up to Jerkens, whose nickname was “The Chief,” and introduced himself.
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McFarlane, who has an outgoing demeanor, was more brazen when he met Jerkens for the second time, not long after their first encounter.
“I worked in construction at the time. Business wasn’t good,” said McFarlane, who speaks with a slight Jamaican drawl. “I used to go to the races and spend all my money. One day I was at home doing nothing and started thinking about Allen Jerkens. I had a baby with my girlfriend and had bills to pay.” I just decided to go over (to Belmont) and tell The Chief I needed a job.
“One day I came (to the barn gate) and asked them to page him and he came to the gate and I told him a lot of lies like I used to work for (Ron) McAnally in California. 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 my age and at this stage of my life to rub horses? Tomorrow morning at six.'”
McFarlane did as he was told and after working for Allen Jerkens for a few years, he left Jimmy Jerkens when the latter began training on his own. In the 23 years since, McFarlane has had the opportunity to care for a variety of competition horses, including Grade 1 winners Corinthian , Effinex and Preservationist, the winner of this year's Woodward Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Saratoga Racetrack.
McFarlane initially worked for Jimmy Jerkens' father Allen
McFarlane hopes his next Grade 1 winner will be a home-bred sire from Stronach Stables Green lithe go the winner of the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) on August 10th. The son of Difficult-spun who won his career debut on July 4 at Belmont, will next compete in the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1) on October 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) on November 1st at Santa Anita Park.
Green Delicate Go, a powerfully built colt with a prominent blaze on his face, caught McFarlane's attention even before he left the pickup truck that took him from the farm to Jerkens' barn in Belmont Park.
“Jimmy told me when the four horses came from (Frank) Stronach's farm, I could pick any I wanted,” McFarlane said. “Green Delicate Go was at the back of the truck and I had to pull three horses in front of him. I saw how gigantic he was and I like those types of horses, so I knew at that point he was my horse.” Man. I nicknamed him “The Huge Kahuna.”
One of McFarlane's most memorable moments on the track – albeit one that gave him some unsettling moments – came courtesy of Corinthian, an owner of Centennial Farms, the winner of the 2007 Metropolitan Handicap (G1). The son of Pulpit finished his Racing career three starts after his Met Mile victory with a stunning victory in the first race of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Monmouth Park.
“Right before the Breeders' Cup, a lot of people started looking at him, including people from Gainesway, where he eventually went to stud,” McFarlane remembers. “One day I brought him out of the barn to show people. Then a helicopter came and flew low. Corinthian flew into the air, knocked me over and ran away. I had about three candies” in my bag, so I got up and ran after him and whistled and said, “Corinthian.” He was way up near the back (stable) gate, and he stopped and turned around. I was about 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 knew that. I took him to the farm when he went to Gainesway. They wanted me to stay with him for a week to house him because he was tough – we called him 'Crazy Boy' in our barn.” . I felt bad having to turn my back on him and say goodbye to him.
Jerkens said McFarlane not only handles the rougher horses “a little better than the average person,” but “also takes good care of the horses’ legs. He pays more attention to the legs than most grooms.”
Susie Raisher, who had the opportunity to see McFarlane in action at the stables through her position as photographer and social media coordinator for Centennial Farms, said the groom has a special relationship with his horses.
“(Horses) really trust him and he really knows them, inside and out,” Raisher said. “If there’s something different (with them), he’s the first to notice. There are a lot of grooms who do a really good job and notice things and want to get the best out of their horse, but he's really, really dedicated.”
McFarlane is a constant presence in Jimmy Jerkens' barn
As feeding time approached, McFarlane grabbed a rake and cleaned up the stray straw that had gotten out of the keeper's stall. He then warmly greeted the horse as it returned from its 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 tough and see the results with them. I'm really proud of her and make time for her. I just love what I do.”
