WWW.HOLDYOURHORSESMAGAZINE.COM Karl Keegan - Memorabilia Man!

Written by BILL GIAUQUE Photographs DANETTE PHILPOT

hat is the map that Wleads from Ireland to school to chef school to the jockeys’ rooms of the New York Racing Associa - tion to Ocala, Florida? How does an Irish lad windup in Ocala as a Pittsburgh Steeler fan with a house full of memorabilia? Ask Karl Keegan, assistant trainer at GoldMark Farm. He didn’t have a map; he just found his way, assisted by his wife Dana and a host of good people along the way. As a youngster, like a lot of Irish boys, Karl wanted to be a jockey. “Horses have been in my heart since I was a kid,” Keegan explained. “When I was a kid, I would steal the gypsies’ horses and go for joy rides.” Why wouldn’t Karl want to be a jockey? He loved horses, and after all, his father was a jockey. “I worked for a guy very in - The Keegan family. Karl, Dana, Amelia, Aidan Keegan, and Chili. fluential in my career—trainer Norman Cassidy,” he said. “He “Your first job, you show up “Your first job, “I flew over in ’92 for and my dad are golf buddies, and and learn so much,” Keegan said. the ,” he both of them had been jock eys.” “Those first things you learn you show up and explained. “When I saw the The job with Cassidy was and use for the rest of your life.” learn so much. racing over here, I was very Keegan’s first real job and is Those early lessons Cassidy Those first things excited. Going to Arlington still a foundation of his career. gave Keegan are paying off now. Park on that day, I saw that “I’m teaching my daughter to you learn and use the way (Richard) Duchossois ride now. I didn’t realize how for the rest of took care of the Europeans hard it was to teach someone your life.” was amazing. those important steps. He (Cas - “While there, Mohammed sidy) took the time to teach me I was pretty good at it, too. I turned to me and said, ‘We’re those things. Every time I go would think outside the box moving the whole operation back to Ireland, I try to see him.” with flavors, and it would work.” from England to the States, Eventually, Keegan found But once again, the call of and you are one of the chosen his way to the jockey school horses and racing were too few that I want to come over.’” at the Curragh. He was placed strong and Keegan returned to When Keegan and the Buck - with trainer Dessie Hughes. England to work as a work ram Oak crew reached the However, his father was not rider for such trainers as States, they drove from New anxious for his son to become John Gosden, Stanley House, York to Florida and back again a jockey, and as a result, and Henry Cecil, all very every year, but the third year Karl’s life took an entirely successful trainers. was the charm. different course. He also worked for Mo - He met Dana, his wife to be, “I next did two years in chef hammed Moubarak. While in in New York. With a change of college,” he said. “I liked it. the employ of Moubarack, motivation, Keegan decided trainer for Buckram Oak Farm, New York looked much better, Saddle cloth signed by the Keegan’s life course took an and he took a job as a valet in jockeys of the 2001 Breeders’ Cup extreme turn. the jockeys’ room.

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“I also free lanced as an exer - those years, meeting those cise rider in the mornings for legions of people, collecting such trainers as Neil Drysdale, started off just getting some Bobby Frankel and Scott Lake. programs signed. Then I I worked from six to six. I woke blossomed into a full blown up and went to the track to ride. memorabilia buff.” I would run home to get my bag The walls of the Keegans’ and come right back to the track. home are covered with framed pictures and display items, all signed. He didn’t have a “This is my prized posses - map; he just found sion,” Keegan said, pointing to (352) 591 2266 his way, assisted a lighted display of a riding saddle and a pair of boots. “It by his wife Dana is Jerry Bailey’s racing saddle and a host of good and boots. It is probably one WJ Distribution Stores people along of ten saddles that Jerry would 15398 NW 44 Avenue Rd. the way. have during his career. “I saddled for jockey Reddick, Florida 32686 Jerry Bailey before The Jockey “I’d go into the sauna, shave Club Gold Cup. Jerry and I had In Reddick, located across from the post office! and clean up and go to work become golfing buddies. On again. (The Jockeys’ room) Gold Cup day, after he and was like a big locker room. Cigar won, I asked Jerry if he I became good friends with would give me a saddle. The day many of the jocks.” Jerry retired he came over to my In that environment and bench and gave me the saddle.” working horses in the morn - Other items in the amazing ings, Keegan met everyone collection include ’s at the race track—jockeys, goggles and whip, Lafitte Pincay’s owners, trainers. goggles, Eddie Maple’s boots,

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Jerry Bailey racing saddle and boot. R

“People are surprised at my Pat Day’s riding pants, English phone book. You might say I champion jockey Kieran Fal - Tizwhiz have everyone’s number,” lon’s whip, a signed picture of Nutrition Keegan laughed. Javier Castellano and Ghostzap - During those years working per, ’ whip from Est.1956 in the jockeys’ room, Keegan his Belmont ride on Point Given developed another major inter - and a 2001 Breeders’ Cup Clas - est. He collects memorabilia. sic saddle cloth signed by all “Working in New York all of jockeys that rode that day. www.tizwhizfeeds.com

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Peb, the cartoonist for the Daily Racing Form, attracted Keegan. “I don’t have enough room for all of Peb’s stuff,” he said. “I bought his collection when it went on sale at the Museum of Racing.” Somehow an Irish lad was drawn to the Pittsburgh Steel - ers. Keegan explained that he identified with the Art Rooney family, the Irish owners of the Steelers. He went to a game every year. Among his Steeler memorabilia is a large picture of Big Ben Rothlisberger, hang - ing in his daughter’s room. “I wanted my daughter to have a good role model instead of Hannah Montana,” Keegan explained with a smile. He also has a picture in his son’s room of Three Rivers Stadium from the last game played there. The display includes a piece of turf from Eddie Maples boots, Fusaichi Pegasus shoe, Jerry Bailey signed saddle cloth, googles and whip, the stadium field and all of the Pat Day pants, Lafitte Pincay’s goggles and Julie Krone whip. home tickets from that season. Keegan also has a signed Eddie Woods, all major players picture of Terry Bradshaw and in the two-year-old market. a signed Rothlisberger football. A few years later, he would Despite the love of his job bump into Ian and Niall at the and his access to memorabilia, Ryder’s Cup at The K Club in Keegan wasn’t completely Ireland. They told him about happy in New York. GoldMark and encouraged him “I was sitting in the car on the to apply. He called Todd, got an Parkway, listening to car horns,” interview and a couple of he said. “The education of our weeks later he got the call he children is important to us.” was waiting for. The two factors combined to “When I saw GoldMark, I was cause him to think about change. awestruck. I came back and He had never been to Ocala, went to work for (general man - and on an earlier visit to Or - ager and trainer) Todd (Quast) lando to visit Dana’s grandpar - and (owner) Paul (Bulmahn). ents, who live there, he had “Wanting a good education driven to Ocala, where he met for our kids, it was the best thing signed saddle cloth, 2001 Breeders’ Cup and Belmont Ian and Niall Brennan and that ever happened to us. My Stakes signed programs, Julie Krone goggles, and John Velazquez cap

daughter is blossoming in school . a great experience too. CUSTOM HORSE TRANSPORT She is six and in the first grade. “Todd is hands down the To me, both of them are going best horseman I have ever Sales, Breed & Return, to such a terrific school.” worked for, and working with In addition, the Keegans Todd and his wife Lori is a joy Race & Return, are able to give their children every day. I am also learning a Long Distance Amelia and Aidan, the lifestyle great deal from our two vets they wanted for them. They Dr. Greg Bonnenclark and Best of Care have a barn for their own Dr. Jonathan McClelland.” horses, a tire swing hanging in a For now, the long road that & New Equipment big tree near the house and began in Ireland for Keegan about 250 acres for the family has come to a stopping point to enjoy. in the Ocala country-side for (352) 216-9050 The working at Goldmark is Keegan and his family.

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