Kenneth McPeek

Kenneth G. McPeek (born August 2, 1962 in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.

Kenneth G. McPeek was born August 2, 1962 in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas and raised in Lexington, Kentucky. He graduated from Tates Creek High School and then the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. In 1985 Kenny took out his trainer's license in Kentucky and won his first race soon after. He won the most important race of his career and got his big break in 2002 when Sarava captured the Belmont Stakes. That year, he and wife Sue were voted the Big Sport of Turfdom Award by the Turf Publicists of America.

McPeek has found and/or trained such quality racehorses as Sarava, (Belmont winner) Curlin, (All time leading money earner) Dream Empress, Tejano Run, Harlan’s Holiday, Hard Buck (BRZ), Repent, Take Charge Lady, Sweet Talker, Leah's Secret, She’s A Devil Due,Wild Desert, Einstein(BRZ), Prince Arch, Noble’s Promise, Kathmanblu and Rogue Romance, among others. McPeek has won more than 115 stakes in his career, with over 40 of them graded and in 2009, he surpassed 1000 winners. In 2002, he won the Belmont Stakes with Sarava. He has won back-to-back Spinster Stakes' with Take Charge Lady in 2002 & 2003 and back-to-back Gulfstream Park Breeder’s Cup Handicap’s with Hard Buck (BRZ) & Prince Arch in 2004 & 2005. Other Grade 1 victories include the Florida Derby, Ashland S., Blue Grass S., Dixiana Breeders Futurity and the Darley Alcibiades S. three times in his career.

Kenny purchased a 115-acre farm at 2651 Russell Cave in Lexington, Kentucky named Magdalena Farm, formally known as 505 Farms and Pillar Stud. The 1959 Kentucky Derby winner Tommy Lee is buried here. Magdalena has a world class grass gallop located on the outer fringes of the farm property lines. With the help of golf course designer Danny McQueen and his staff, we have cut and graded the land to be smooth for the safety and footing of your horses. The course is 1 1/2 miles long and 100 feet wide. The land was graded by Louisville Grading Company to perfection. With the help of expert advice from Dr. AJ Powell of the University of Kentucky, and Dr. Todd Bunnell of SePro Corporation, the course has been seeded with the highest quality grass. We have sections of Riviera Bermuda and Ultimate Fescue that allows us to choose the type of grass your horse trains on each day. The Riviera Bermuda was sewn at 100 pounds per acre and the Ultimate Fescue at 400 pounds per acre, giving course a high grass density which will help cushion the impact of your horse's training regime. The course has two steady inclines designed to strengthen your horses’ heart, lungs and muscles. We have the option of training your horse either left or right-handed in order to change their routine. At Magdalena we have many more options, keeping your horse mentally and physically together for a longer period of time.

My sole purpose for this project is to help keep our horses racing happier and longer. Knowing how much people may invest, it is our goal to pay special attention to the horses in our care. I have focused all of my energies into developing a location where they can be happy and healthy, and I assure you that great attention to detail has been made. I invite you to come see us!

Kenny currently races primarily at Keeneland, Churchill, Gulfstream Park and Saratoga, as well as keeping a division at his Magdalena Farm in Lexington. Please visit www.mcpeekracing.com. A portion of every McPeek Racing win goes to support the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.

References

• Kenneth McPeek at the NTRA
• McPeek Racing official website