The Turf Publicists of America introduced Nov. 25 that the 2024 Huge Sport of Turfdom award will likely be introduced to coach Ken McPeek. The annual award acknowledges an individual or group of people that enhances protection of Thoroughbred racing via cooperation with media and racing publicists.
In 2024, McPeek turned solely the third coach in historical past to earn victories within the Kentucky Derby introduced by Woodford Reserve and Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in the identical 12 months, scoring with Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna.
Following her victory within the Kentucky Oaks, Thorpedo Anna went on to realize Grade 1 wins within the DK Horse Acorn Stakes and Teaching Membership American Oaks at Saratoga Race Course, the Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing, and the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar the place she accomplished her phenomenal 3-year-old season.
“Ken and his group have had an impressive 12 months with a number of triumphs on not solely our sport’s greatest stage within the Kentucky Derby but in addition in further Grade 1 victories throughout the nation with Thorpedo Anna’s phenomenal marketing campaign,” TPA President Najja Thompson stated. “He’s most deserving of this award chosen by our membership for at all times being welcoming and open to the media and a terrific ambassador for our business and sport.”
The Huge Sport of Turfdom award will likely be introduced to McPeek on the College of Arizona Race Monitor Business Program’s annual awards luncheon on Dec. 10. The luncheon is a part of the 2024 Symposium on Racing & Gaming at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Ariz.
“I’m honored and humbled to be given this award,” McPeek stated. “I’ve beloved horse racing ever since I used to be a younger boy. I’m proud to proceed to advertise our nice sport.”
McPeek was born in Fort Chaffee, Ark., to oldsters Ann and Ron McPeek, whereas his father served within the one hundred and first Airborne Division, McPeek was raised in Lexington, Ky.
He turned excited about racing when his father entered Thoroughbred possession. After graduating from the College of Kentucky with a level in enterprise administration, he obtained his coach’s license when his father requested him to situation his runners. He earned his first victory as a coach with Ultimate Destroyer at River Downs in October 1985.
Since then, McPeek has change into one of the crucial profitable trainers and bloodstock brokers in Thoroughbred racing. He has received greater than 2,000 races and amassed greater than $130 million in profession purse earnings. His achievements embrace American Basic victories earlier than this 12 months with Sarava within the 2002 Belmont Stakes and filly Swiss Skydiver within the 2020 Preakness stakes. Along with coaching and buying horses at gross sales as a bloodstock agent, together with two-time Horse of the Yr Curlin as a yearling, McPeek developed the Horse Races NOW app, and owns and operates Magdalena Farm in Lexington.
The Huge Sport of Turfdom has been introduced yearly since 1966. That is the second time McPeek has received the award. He beforehand was honored in 2002.
Earlier winners embrace jockeys Mike Smith, Pat Day, Chris McCarron, Invoice Shoemaker, Angel Cordero Jr., Eddie Arcaro, and Gary Stevens; trainers Artwork Sherman, D. Wayne Lukas, and Jack Van Berg; and different people who’ve made important contributions to the game, corresponding to Secretariat’s proprietor, Penny Chenery, a two-time winner; announcer Tom Durkin, writer Laura Hillenbrand, broadcaster Jim McKay, Turf author Joe Hirsch and actors Tim Conway and Jack Klugman.
An entire checklist of previous Huge Sport of Turfdom winners may be discovered on-line at http://www.turfpublicists.com/awards.html.
