McCarthy back at Fair Grounds as General Quarters finds new home

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - Senior citizen trainer Tom McCarthy made a name for himself in 2009 by winning the Blue Grass Stakes with the only horse in his stable.

General Quarters became a Kentucky Derby contender that year for the former high school principal and went on to win other stakes before retiring. However, McCarthy is still saddling horses for races and currently doing so at Fair Grounds Racecourse.

"It's good to be back here in New Orleans," said the 78-year-old trainer earlier this week. "I couldn't make it down last winter because my wife Pat and I were both (seriously) injured in a car accident and were still recovering throughout the year. But I'm back now and looking forward to the new Fair Grounds season. Hopefully, we can have some luck with these three horses I've brought with me this winter."

McCarthy's former trainee, General Quarters, is retired from racing but is at a new home for breeding purposes. The 7-year-old stallion is now living at Crestwood Farm in Lexington, Ky.

"We are thrilled to get General Quarters. He was both a talented and versatile runner," according to Crestwood Farm's Pope McLean, "He is an extremely handsome individual, and I know people will be impressed when they see him."

General Quarters earned more than $1.2 million for McCarthy who both owned and trained the horse, along with anything else that needed to be done in a one- horse operation.

General Quarters also won the Sam F. Davis Stakes in 2009 and the 2010 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes. He finished in the money in the Stephen Foster Handicap, WinStar Kentucky Cup Stakes, New Orleans Handicap and Mineshaft Handicap.