Trainer: Thomas R. McCarthy

The septuagenarian Thomas McCarthy has been involved in racing on a tiny scale for a half-century, and General Quarters is his only horse in training. The grandson of a jockey from Ireland, McCarthy earned a degree in biology prior to serving in the United States Army. He then pursued a career in education, becoming a science teacher and eventually serving as principal of Seneca, Durrett and Valley High Schools in Louisville, Kentucky, until his retirement in 1990. Among his pupils was Steve Bass, who is now the agent for successful jockey Julien Leparoux. Throughout his time in education, McCarthy continued to own and train a few horses, but none nearly as successful as General Quarters. Ironically, he had first crossed paths with the colt at the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Believing that his pedigree was promising, McCarthy bid on the colt, but bowed out once the bidding reached $20,000. In late May 2008, he noticed that the very colt, now named General Quarters, was entered in a $20,000 maiden claiming race at Churchill Downs. McCarthy duly claimed the colt that he had liked so much eight months before, and the rest is history. McCarthy devotes his full attention to his charge, even performing the role of groom.

Jockey: Julien Leparoux

Julien Leparoux was born on July 15, 1983, in Senlis, France. His father Robert was a jockey and then an assistant trainer in his homeland. Julien grew up around racing in Chantilly, and said he knew he wanted to be a jockey from the time he was five. He rode competitive hunter/jumpers until his father allowed him to begin a racing career at 18. Julien moved to Southern California in 2003, to work as an exercise rider for trainer Patrick Biancone, a fellow French native. He began riding at Saratoga in 2005 and was quick to make an impact on the racing scene. Leparoux had a breakout year in 2006 which culminated in an Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey; his accolades that season included two record-breaking meets at Turfway Park, titles at Churchill Downs and Keeneland, 403 wins and $12,491,316 in earnings for the year, as well as his first stakes win (in February) and first Grade 1 win courtesy of turf mare Gorella (Fr) (in August). His rampant success continued in 2007 as Leparoux picked up riding titles at Turfway Park, Keeneland, and Churchill Downs' spring and fall meets. In the fall of 2008, he equaled Hall of Famer Pat Day's record for most wins on a single card at Churchill, booting home seven winners on the day. He concluded the meet with a record 63 victories to take home yet another riding title. Leparoux has ridden in the past two editions of the Kentucky Derby (G1), finishing unplaced each time. He owns a pair of Breeders' Cup victories, however, having guided Nownownow in the inaugural Juvenile Turf in 2007 and champion Forever Together in the Filly & Mare Turf (G1) in 2008.

Owner: Thomas R. McCarthy

The septuagenarian Thomas McCarthy has been involved in racing on a tiny scale for a half-century, and General Quarters is his only horse in training. The grandson of a jockey from Ireland, McCarthy earned a degree in biology prior to serving in the United States Army. He then pursued a career in education, becoming a science teacher and eventually serving as principal of Seneca, Durrett and Valley High Schools in Louisville, Kentucky, until his retirement in 1990. Among his pupils was Steve Bass, who is now the agent for successful jockey Julien Leparoux. Throughout his time in education, McCarthy continued to own and train a few horses, but none nearly as successful as General Quarters. Ironically, he had first crossed paths with the colt at the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Believing that his pedigree was promising, McCarthy bid on the colt, but bowed out once the bidding reached $20,000. In late May 2008, he noticed that the very colt, now named General Quarters, was entered in a $20,000 maiden claiming race at Churchill Downs. McCarthy duly claimed the colt that he had liked so much eight months before, and the rest is history. McCarthy devotes his full attention to his charge, even performing the role of groom.

Breeder: Mr. & Mrs. R. David Randal

Mr. and Mrs. R. David Randal are California residents who have bred horses for roughly 30 years. They own Fallbrook Farm near Versailles, Kentucky, which is home to their broodmare band of 30. They purchased Ecology for $120,000 while she was in foal to Sky Mesa, carrying General Quarters, at the 2005 Keeneland November Sale. The Randals sold General Quarters as a yearling for $20,000 at Keeneland September. Other stakes performers bred by the Randals include Ohio Derby (G2) victor Wild and Wicked and La Troienne S. (G3) heroine Silverinyourpocket, who raced for their breeders, as well as multiple Canadian stakes scorer Bear Character and Distinctive Dixie, most recently runner-up in the April 8 Bayakoa S. at Oaklawn Park. "You really never know what's inside of these horses," David Randal told the Daily Racing Form. "You never know what's in their heads and hearts. There are a lot of pleasant surprises, and there's a lot of bad surprises. (General Quarters) was just a big, gangly foal. Even as a yearling, you wouldn't think he was going to be what he turned out to be when you first saw him. He was a large, average-looking horse."