Kenneth McPeek

Kenneth G. "Kenny" 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 McPeek received his Thoroughbred Trainer's License.

McPeek serves on the Boards of the University of Kentucky College of Agricultural Equine Program Advisory Committee, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), and the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA). He is a member of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and The Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine Equine Veterinary Medical Director Search Committee.[1]

McPeek has trained a number of racehorses. In 2002, he won the Belmont Stakes with Sarava.[2] His horses won back-to-back Spinster Stakes' with Take Charge Lady in 2002 & 2003 and back-to-back Gulfstream Park Breeder's Cup Handicaps with Hard Buck (BRZ) & Prince Arch in 2004 & 2005.[3] Other Grade 1 victories include the Florida Derby, Ashland Stakes (3 times), Blue Grass Stakes, Dixiana Breeders Futurity and the Darley Alcibiades Stakes four times in his career.[3] He has also trained all-time leading North American money earner Curlin, Dream Empress, Tejano Run, Golden Ticket, Harlan's Holiday, Hard Buck (BRZ), Java's War, Pure Fun, Repent, Take Charge Lady, Salty Strike, Sweet Talker, Leah's Secret, She's A Devil Due, Wild Desert, Einstein, Prince Arch, Noble's Promise, Kathmanblu, Rogue Romance, Daddys Lil Darling, Eskimo Kisses, Signalman, Restless Rider, Swiss Skydiver, Simply Ravishing, King Fury, Crazy Beautiful, Tiz a Bomb, Rattle N Roll, Dash Attack, Butterbean and Classic Causeway among others.

McPeek has won more than 260 stakes in his career, with 110 of them graded. Through September 17, 2023, he has 1,955 career wins with earnings of more than $111Million.[4]

McPeek currently races primarily at Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park and Saratoga, as well as keeping a division at his Magdalena Farm in Lexington.[5]

Graded Stakes Wins

Kenny McPeek -- 2002 Belmont Stakes win with Sarava

Horse	Stakes	Date	Track	Grade
V V's DREAM	Pocahontas Stakes	9/16/23	Churchill	3
DEFINING PURPOSE	Indiana Oaks	7/8/23	Horseshoe Indianapolis	3
RATTLE N ROLL	Blame Stakes	6/3/23	Churchill	2
RATTLE N ROLL	Pimlico Special	5/19/23	Pimlico	3
SMILE HAPPY	Alysheba Stakes	5/5/23	Churchill	2
RATTLE N ROLL	Ben Ali Stakes	4/22/23	Keeneland	3
DEFINING PURPOSE	Ashland Stakes	4/7/23	Keeneland	1
RATTLE N ROLL	Oklahoma Derby	9/25/22	Remington Park	3
FUN AND FEISTY	Pocahontas Stakes	9/17/22	Churchill Downs	3
BUTTERBEAN	Iowa Oaks	7/9/22	Prairie Meadows	3
CLASSIC CAUSEWAY	Belmont Derby	7/9/22	Belmont Park	1
TIZ TH BOMB	The Jeff Ruby Steaks	4/2/22	Turfway Park	3
SMILE HAPPY	Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes	11/27/21	Churchill	2
ENVOUTANTE	Falls City Handicap	11/25/21	Churchill	2
TIZ THE BOMB	Bourbon Stakes	10/10/21	Keeneland	2
RATTLE N ROLL	Claiborne Breeders' Futurity	10/9/21	Keeneland	1
CRAZY BEAUTIFUL	Summertime Oaks	5/30/21	Santa Anita	2
KING FURY	Stonestreet Lexington Stakes	4/10/21	Keeneland	3
CRAZY BEAUTIFUL	Gulfstream Park Oaks	3/27/21	Gulfstream	2
SWISS SKYDIVER	Beholder Stakes	3/13/21	Santa Anita	1
ENVOUTANTE	Falls City Handicap	11/26/20	Churchill	2
SWISS SKYDIVER	Preakness Stakes	10/3/20	Pimlico	1
SIMPLY RAVISHING	Alcibiades Stakes	9/27/20	Keeneland	1
ENVOUTANTE	Remington Park Oaks	9/27/20	Remington Park	3
SWISS SKYDIVER	Alabama Stakes	8/15/20	Saratoga	1
SWISS SKYDIVER	Santa Anita Oaks	6/06/20	Santa Anita	2
SWISS SKYDIVER	Fantasy Stakes	5/1/20	Oaklawn	3
SWISS SKYDIVER	Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Oaks	3/28/20	Gulfstream	2
FIGHTING SEABEE	With Anticipation Stakes	8/28/19	Saratoga	3
PRINCESS WARRIOR	Latonia Stakes	3/9/19	Turfway
HARVEY WALLBANGER	Holy Bull	2/9/2019	Gulfstream	2
RESTLESS RIDER	Debutante Stakes	6/30/2018	Churchll	L
RATED R SUPERSTAR	Ben Ali Stakes	4/14/2018	Keeneland	3
VETTORI KIN (BRZ)	Louisville Handicap	5/19/2018	Churchill Downs	3
DADDY'S LIL DARLING	Modesty Handicap	7/7/2018	Arlington Park	3
ESKIMO KISSES	Alabama Stakes	8/18/2018	Saratoga Race Course	1
CAIRO CAT	Iroquois Stakes	9/15/2018	Churchill Downs	3
RESTLESS RIDER	Darley Alcibiades Stakes	10/5/2018	Keeneland	1
PRINCESS WARRIOR	Mrs. Revere Stakes	11/23/2018	Churchill Downs	2
SIGNALMAN	Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes	11/24/2018	Churchill Downs	2
PURELY A DREAM	Bourbonette Oaks	3/25/2017	Turfway Park	3
SENIOR INVESTMENT	Stone Street Lexington Stakes	4/15/2017	Keeneland	3
SOME IN TIEME (BRZ)	Louisville Handicap	5/20/2017	Churchill Downs	3
TEN CITY	Bashford Manor Stakes	6/30/2017	Churchill Downs	3
DADDY'S LIL DARLING	American Oaks	12/30/2017	Santa Anita	1
WONDERMENT	Bourbonette Oaks	4/2/2016	Turfway Park	3
RATED R SUPERSTAR	Carry Back Stakes	7/2/2016	Gulfstream Park	3
DADDY'S LIL DARLING	Pocahontas Stakes	9/17/2016	Churchill Downs	2
DOTHRAKI QUEEN	Pocahontas Stakes	9/12/2015	Churchill Downs	2
CHASING BUBBLES	The Great White Way Stakes	12/28/2014	Aqueduct	3
LAWN RANGER	Dixiana Bourbon	10/5/2014	Keeneland	3
FRAC DADDY	Eclipse Stakes	6/1/2014	Woodbine	2
WAR DANCER	Louisville Handicap	5/24/2014	Churchill Downs	3
FRAC DADDY	Ben Ali Stakes	4/19/2014	Keeneland	3
FLASHY AMERICAN	Sixty Sails	4/19/2014	Hawthorne	3
OCCASIONAL VIEW	Commonwealth Stakes	4/12/2014	Keeneland	3
ROSALIND	Ashland	5/24/2014	Keeneland	1
PURE FUN	Indiana Oaks	10/5/2013	Indiana Downs	2
WAR DANCER	Virginia Derby	6/28/2013	Colonial Downs	2
JAVA'S WAR	Blue Grass Stakes	3/2/2013	Keeneland	1
PURE FUN	Hollywood Starlet Stakes	12/08/2012	Hollywood Park	1
GOLDEN TICKET	Travers Stakes	8/25/2012	Saratoga	1
SALTY STRIKE	Gardenia Stakes	8/11/2012	Ellis Park	3
VOLCAT	Virginia Oaks	7/21/2012	Colonial l Downs	3
BIZZY CAROLINE	Early Times Mint Julep Handicap	6/2/2012	Churchill Downs	3
BIZZY CAROLINE	Regret Stakes	6/18/2011	Churchill Downs	3
SCOTUS	Matt Winn Stakes	6/18/2011	Churchill Downs	3
MY BABY BABY	Early Times Mint Julep Stakes	6/11/2011	Churchill Downs	3
NOBLE'S PROMISE	Aristides Stakes	6/4/2011	Churchill Downs	3
SALTY STRIKE	Dogwood Stakes	6/4/2011	Churchill Downs	3
KATHMANBLU	Rachel Alexandra Stakes	2/19/2011	Fair Grounds	3
SALTY STRIKE	Dogwood Stakes	6/4/2011	Churchill Downs	3
KATHMANBLU	Golden Rod Stakes	11/27/2010	Churchill Downs	2
ROGUE ROMANCE	Bourbon Stakes	10/10/2010	Keeneland	3
ORCHESTRATOR	Bourbonette Oaks	3/27/2010	Turfway Park	3
STRIKING DANCER	La Canada Stakes	2/14/2010	Santa Anita	2
NOBLE'S PROMISE	Dixiana Breeders' Futurity	10/10/2009	Keeneland	1
BRIDGETOWN	Summer Stakes	9/19/2009	Woodbine	3
BOLD START	Aristides Stakes	5/30/2009	Churchill Downs	3
WAR KILL	Beaumont Stakes	4/8/2009	Keeneland	2
NISTLE'S CRUNCH	Commonwealth Turf Stakes	11/9/2008	Churchill Downs	3
DREAM EMPRESS	Darley Alcibiades Stakes	10/3/2008	Keeneland	1
DRILLING FOR OIL	Louisville Handicap	5/26/2007	Churchill Downs	3
BIRDBIRDISTHEWORD	Boyd Gaming's Delta Jackpot	12/1/2006	Delta Downs	3
PRINCE ARCH	Gulfstream Park Breeders Cup Handicap	3/6/2005	Gulfstream Park	1
PRINCE ARCH	Saranac Handicap	9/6/2004	Saratoga	3
SISTER STAR	Regret Stakes	6/12/2004	Churchill Downs	3
PRINCE ARCH	Jefferson Cup Stakes	6/12/2004	Churchill Downs	3
HARD BUCK (BRZ)	Gulfstream Park Breeders Cup Handicap	2/22/2004	Gulfstream Park	1
HARD BUCK (BRZ)	River City Handicap	11/16/2003	Churchill Downs	3
TAKE CHARGE LADY	Spinster Stakes	10/5/2003	Keeneland	1
TAKE CHARGE LADY	Arlington Matron Handicap	9/1/2003	Arlington Park	3
WILD AND WICKED	Ohio Derby	6/21/2003	Thistledown	2
WHITE CAT	Transylvania Stakes	4/4/2003	Keeneland	3
MIDNGHT CRY	The Stonerside Forward Gal Stakes	3/14/2003	Gulfstream Park	3
TAKE CHARGE LADY	Spinster Stakes	10/6/2002	Keeneland	1
MINISTER'S BABY	Gardenia Handicap	8/10/2002	Ellis Park	3
SARAVA	Belmont Stakes	6/8/2002	Belmont Park	1
PISCES	Louisville Handicap	6/1/2002	Churchill Downs	3
TAKE CHARGE LADY	Dogwood Stakes	5/25/2002	Churchill Downs	3
HARLAN'S HOLIDAY	Blue Grass Stakes	4/13/2002	Keeneland	1
TAKE CHARGE LADY	Ashland Stakes	4/6/2002	Keeneland	1
HARLAN'S HOLIDAY	Florida Derby	3/16/2002	Gulfstream Park	1
REPENT	Louisiana Derby	3/10/2002	Fair Grounds	2
TAKE CHARGE LADY	Fair Grounds Oaks	3/9/2002	Fair Grounds	2
REPENT	Risen Star Stakes	2/17/2002	Fair Grounds	3
TAKE CHARGE LADY	Silverbulletday Stakes	2/16/2002	Fair Grounds	3
REPENT	Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes	11/24/2001	Churchill Downs	2
HARLAN'S HOLIDAY	Iroquois Stakes	11/4/2001	Churchill Downs	3
TAKE CHARGE LADY	Alcibiades Stakes	10/5/2001	Keeneland	2
REPENT	Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes	9/22/2001	Turfway Park	3
SHE'S A DEVIL DUE	Alcibiades Stakes	10/15/2000	Keeneland	2
GO LIB GO	Tropical Park Derby	1/2/2000	Calder	3
TEJANO RUN	Turfway Championship Handicap	9/27/1997	Turfway Park	3
TEJANO RUN	Widener Handicap	3/22/1997	Hialeah Park	3
TEJANO RUN	Fort Harrod Stakes	4/12/1996	Keeneland	3
TEJANO RUN	Breeders' Futurity	10/23/1994	Keeneland	2
TEJANO RUN	Ky. Cup Juvenile	9/24/1994	Turfway Park	3
HER TEMPER	Beaumont Stakes	4/10/1994	Keeneland	2

In 2006, McPeek purchased a portion of the former Pillar Stud Farm, which is owned by William duPont III and formerly part of his mass landholdings prior to financial difficulties & bad investments in the 1990s causing him to sell off much of assets, a 115-acre farm, in Lexington, Kentucky which he renamed Magdalena Farm in honor of Magdalena Weber Shely (b. 6/2/1793), the original Matriarch of the land.[6]

The office at Magdalena Farm is also the home base for McPeek Racing, Magdalena Racing Partnerships, and Horse Races Now, the comprehensive horse racing APP. Currently, the farm has over 150 horses that are either racing, training, or being broken to saddle. The farm also handles mares and foals, as well as layups, thereby covering all stages of a horse's career.[7]

McPeek purchased Silverleaf Training Center in Ocala, Florida, in 2019. Formerly the Padua Farm Training Center, the property includes a six furlong training track, four 24-stall barns, four paddocks, 20 stall/turnout paddocks, six covered round pens, and a five stall quarantine barn.

When horses are purchased as yearlings, they are taken to Magdalena Farm in Lexington. As they mature into two-year-olds, they are transferred to our Silverleaf Training Center in Ocala to be saddle broken, started under tack, and trained to use the starting gate. As Kenny thinks each horse is ready to compete, he moves them to finish their training at a race track.

McPeek has made improvements to Silverleaf Training Center that directly benefit the two-year-olds' training such as having the track graded and adding a fully operational starting gate. New fencing and paddocks were also added.

The McPeek Silverleaf Team includes Lead Assistant Trainer Dominic Brennan, Assistant Trainer retired Eclipse award-winning jockey Robby Albarado, and Assistant Forman Shaun Charlton.

McPeek has developed a mobile app to provide comprehensive horse racing video and data for new fans and veteran horseplayers, called Horse Races Now.[8] He reported that he came up with the idea for a horse racing app while watching CNBC's Planet of the Apps, a one-hour program that explored the explosion of mobile technology, specifically through phone applications.[9] "During the show, I Googled 'horse racing apps' and there weren't any. I kind of politicked around and checked with some people to see if this was something that was happening. Long and short, I ended up doing it on my own because I just felt like it needed to be done."[10]

McPeek launched Horse Races Now on March 27, 2012,[10] and four years later, McPeek reported in a radio interview that the app had been downloaded over 500,000 times.[11]