LAUREL, MD. 01-01-13---Mike McCarthy won 2,907 races as a jockey before retiring in 2002. His 18-year-old son Trevor is now 2,891 victories behind after a four-win afternoon at Laurel Park to ring in the new year.

McCarthy visited the winners’ circle aboard Kincaid ($3.20-second for trainer Dale Capuano), Merryland Moon ($5.60-fourth for trainer Mike Trombetta), Bluegrass Kopp ($24.80-fifth for trainer Ferris Allen) and Proud Daddy ($18.20-seventh for trainer Linda Albert).

“I had never won more than one a day so to win four is really exciting. What a great way to start the new year,” said McCarthy, who galloped horses for trainer Graham Motion at the Fair Hill Training Center while in high school. “My mom told me when I graduated I could do whatever I wanted and this is something I have wanted my whole life. My dad put me on horses when I was real young. I hope to be as good as him one day.”

Mike McCarthy had six consecutive 200-win seasons from 1995-2000, while riding at Delaware Park.

After graduating from high school last spring, Trevor McCarthy began riding at Parx Racing before relocating to Maryland last month. He had two wins from 31 mounts during the Laurel fall meeting, which ended yesterday.

“Maryland is known to be a good place for a bug rider,” added McCarthy.

Maryland-based riders have captured nine of the 41 Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Apprentice with Chris McCarron (1974), Ronnie Franklin (1978), Alberto Delgado (1982), Allen Stacy (1986), Kent Desormeaux (1987), Mike Luzzi (1989), Mark Johnston (1990), Jeremy Rose (2001) and Ryan Fogelsonger (2002) all being honored.

MARSHUA STAKES DID NOT FILL

Saturday’s card will not have a stakes race after the $100,000 Marshua Stakes did not fill. Only three of the 10 three-year-old fillies entered, according to Maryland Jockey Club assistant racing secretary Jillian Sofarelli. The nine-race program will be headlined instead by a $47,000 optional claimer allowance sprint for fillies and mares.

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.