Thomas R. McCarthy
Thomas Rutherford McCarthy (November 30, 1933 – July 21, 2016) was an American thoroughbred racehorse owner and trainer from Louisville, Kentucky, best known for the 2009 Blue Grass Stakes winner and Kentucky Derby runner, General Quarters. From a racing family, his grandfather was a jockey in Ireland and both his father and uncle trained horses at racetracks in New England.
| Tom McCarthy | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Educator, Racehorse trainer |
| Born | November 30, 1933 New London, Connecticut |
| Died | July 21, 2016 (aged 82) Louisville, Kentucky |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Career wins | 29 |
| Major racing wins | |
| Sam F. Davis Stakes (2009) Blue Grass Stakes (2009) Turf Classic Stakes (2010) | |
| Significant horses | |
| General Quarters, Brink of War, Breaking Free | |
McCarthy had been a racehorse owner and sometimes trainer since 1960 and was unique in the racing industry in that he did all the work of maintaining and conditioning his horses. He is also a former high school teacher and school principal. On May 30, 2008, McCarthy claimed General Quarters for $20,000 out of a maiden race at Churchill Downs. He would later turn down million dollar offers for the horse, telling the TVG Network interviewer "you don't sell a dream."[1] [2] [3]
McCarthy died on July 21, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky due to melanoma.[1][4]
References
- Staff (2016-07-21). "Thomas McCarthy, Owner-Trainer Of General Quarters, Dies". www.paulickreport.com. Horse Racing News | Paulick Report. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
- "Thomas McCarthy at the NTRA". NTRA. 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- "Feel-good story of Tom McCarthy, General Quarters, rides into Kentucky Derby". New York Daily News. 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
- Lerner, Danielle (July 21, 2016). "Horse trainer Thomas McCarthy dies at age 82". www.courier-journal.com. Courier Journal. Retrieved 2016-07-26.