Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
MCKENZIE
BEFORE THE dominance of the celebrated jockey George HoSang in the early and mid-'70s at Caymanas Park, there was a teenage sensation named Trevor McKenzie.
As a 15-year-old apprentice in 1965, McKenzie won his first jockeys' title with 45 winners in what was his first full season in the saddle. He duly followed up in 1966 with a record 60 winners and completed the triple in 1968 while still in his teens.
McKenzie, now based in New York but currently holidaying in the island, pointed out that had he not been suspended for 17 racedays by the Jockey Club for his riding of BLUE TANGO in 1967, he would have won the title four years in a row.
EXPLOITS IN THE SADDLE
During that era, McKenzie took Caymanas Park by storm. He not only dominated the jockeys' championship against the likes of arch-rival Winston 'Nero' Ellis, Kenneth Mattis, Neville Cousley, Arthur 'Daddy' Jones, Donald Andrade, David 'Scorcher' McKenzie, Glenford 'Coon' Walker, Cleveland Suckie and Keith 'Wissy' McFarlane, to name a few, but had the distinction of being the first jockey to be nominated for the Carreras Sportsman of the Year Award for what he achieved in 1966.
His exploits in the saddle that year saw him breaking a 38-year-old record for most wins, which was held by the outstanding Billy Pick.
Unlike HoSang, however, McKenzie's brilliant career was cut short by weight problems by the time he celebrated his 19th birthday.
"I tried very hard to contain my weight ... I virtually starved myself but this had little effect because I began to get taller and it limited my opportunities in the saddle. I rode only 19 winners in 1969 and eventually had to stop riding later that year," he recalled.
McKenzie attempted a comeback in 1971, but this lasted only briefly and he soon hung up his boots for good.
He migrated to the United States (New York) in 1974, became an exercise rider for trainer Jim Maloney at Aqueduct and Belmont Park for a number of years and is now assistant trainer to John Pregman, a job he truly enjoys.
Now 56, McKenzie can look back on a record of achievement and be justly proud. Back then, as an easygoing youngster who rode horses and loved football, he couldn't understand what all the fuss over him was about.
RACING IN HIS GENES
"The year I was nominated for the Sportsman of the Year Award, people at the time were making a big deal over it, but to me it was like nothing. It didn't impact on me at all. "Looking back on it today, I realise that it was something special at the time.
"What I always looked forward to was to ride winners every Saturday, having developed a love for racing from a tender age. My mother took me to Knutsford Park in the '50s and from that day my ambition was to become a jockey."
Indeed, racing was in his genes as his father, Reggie McKenzie, won the jockeys' championship on five occasions in the '30s and early '40s. Reggie eventually switched to training and in 1964, Trevor became his apprentice rider.
The young McKenzie won his first race in early 1964 aboard PUZZLE for his father and this signalled the start of a brief but brilliant career. When Trevor retired in 1971, he had ridden 184 winners from 1,078 rides.
Married with two children (twins), McKenzie is scheduled to leave for New York on March 28, but says he is always happy to visit Jamaica on an annual basis.
RECALLED WINNERS
He was recently at Caymanas Park to see his 56-year-old friend David McKenzie (no relation) ride his first winner in over 25 years and was among the first to congratulate him.
"We go back a long way and I am happy for him. In the old days, while we were riding together, people believed we were related. We told them we were cousins but we moved more like brothers," he confessed.
In closing, McKenzie singled out the legendary RAMESES as the best horse he has ever ridden. He also recalled that he rode winners for the top trainers of that bygone era - Laurie Silvera, Allan 'Billy' Williams, Gerry Skelton, Eileen Cliggott, Arthur McKenzie, Owen Silvera and Mortie Heron.
