MacKenzie Miller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MacKenzie Todd Miller |
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| Full name | MacKenzie Todd Miller |
| Occupation | Trainer/Owner/Breeder |
| Born | October 16, 1921 Versailles, Kentucky, United States |
| Died | December 10, 2010 (aged 89) Lexington, Kentucky, United States |
| Career wins | 1,103 |
| Major racing wins | |
| Champlain Handicap (1955) Arlington Lassie Stakes (1956) Astoria Stakes (1956) Alcibiades Stakes (1956) Falls City Handicap (1957) John A. Morris Handicap (1959, 1974, 1975, 1993) Matron Stakes (1960) Bernard Baruch Handicap (1966, 1969 (2), 1971, 1973 (2), 1990) United Nations Handicap (1966, 1969, 1974, 1981, 1984) Long Island Handicap (1967, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1976) Round Table Handicap (1967, 1969) Lamplighter Handicap (1968) Jerome Handicap (1969, 1982) Man o' War Handicap (1969, 1975) Roamer Handicap (1970) Tremont Stakes (1970, 1992) Hopeful Stakes (1971, 1987) Breeders' Futurity Stakes (1971) Whitney Handicap (1971, 1987) Lawrence Realization Stakes (1972, 1974, 1985) Salvator Mile Handicap (1972) Del Mar Handicap (1973) Governor Stakes (1973) Metropolitan Handicap (1973, 1984) Red Smith Handicap (1973, 1984, 1991) Toboggan Handicap (1973) Manhattan Handicap (1975, 1986) Bowling Green Handicap (1975) Peter Pan Stakes (1976) Diana Handicap (1977, 1984, 1988, 1989) Suburban Handicap (1978, 1980, 1983, 1984) Brooklyn Handicap (1980, 1984) Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap (1980, 1987) Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (1981) Travers Stakes (1987, 1993) Bowling Green Handicap (1984) Comely Stakes (1984) Lexington Stakes (1985) Saratoga Special Stakes (1987) Belmont Futurity Stakes (1990) Champagne Stakes (1992) Laurel Dash Stakes (1993) Top Flight Handicap (1993) New York Stakes (1994) International race wins: Kentucky Derby (1993) |
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| Honors | |
| National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (1987) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Assagai, Fit to Fight, Java Gold, Halo, Hawaii, Leallah, Red Ransom, Sea Hero, Snow Knight, Tentam, Winter's Tale |
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MacKenzie "Mack" Todd Miller (born October 16, 1921, died December 10, 2010) was a famous American Thoroughbred horse trainer. He also owned and bred horses. For 46 years, he trained many winning horses. Seventy-two of his horses won major races. Four of them were even named "champions" with an Eclipse Award.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Horse Racing
Mack Miller grew up close to the Keeneland Race Course. He even went to its very first race in 1936. He studied at the Bolles School and then the University of Kentucky. However, he paused his studies to serve in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
After the war ended, in 1947, he started working at Calumet Farm. He was a stable hand, which means he helped care for the horses. Soon, he became very good at training horses. In 1949, he got his official license to be a horse trainer.
A Hall of Fame Training Career
Mack Miller became a very successful horse trainer. He trained a horse named Snow Knight who won the 1974 Epsom Derby in England. This horse was later bought by E. P. Taylor. Snow Knight was even named the best male turf (grass) horse in America in 1975. Miller also trained horses for other important owners, like Charles W. Engelhard, Jr..
Later, Paul Mellon hired Miller to train horses for his Rokeby Stables. Together, Miller and Mellon achieved a big dream. They won the famous Kentucky Derby in 1993 with their horse, Sea Hero.
Other Important Wins
Miller trained many other champion horses.
- Winter's Tale won three big races in 1980: the Brooklyn Handicap, the Suburban Handicap, and the Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap.
- In 1984, a horse named Fit to Fight won the New York Handicap Triple. This was a huge achievement. Only three horses had ever won these three races in nearly 100 years. No horse has won this "Triple" since Fit to Fight.
Awards and Recognition
Because of his amazing career, Mack Miller was honored in many ways.
- In 1987, he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. This is a very special honor for people in horse racing.
- There is even a special exhibit about him at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum. This is where he used to train horses in the winter.
- In 1993, he was the special guest at the Thoroughbred Club of America's dinner. This honor came from the National Turf Writers Association.
- After he retired, he was chosen to be a member of The Jockey Club in 1997. This is a very old and respected organization in horse racing.
Miller also helped breed some champion horses. He was a co-breeder of De La Rose, who was the best female turf horse in America in 1981. He also co-bred Chilukki, who was the best two-year-old female horse in 1999.
Champions Trained by Mack Miller
Mack Miller trained many horses that became champions. Here are some of them:
- Leallah – Named American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in 1956.
- Assagai – Named American Champion Male Turf Horse in 1966.
- Hawaii – Named American Champion Male Turf Horse in 1969.
- Snow Knight – Named American Champion Male Turf Horse in 1975.
- De La Rose – Named American Champion Female Turf Horse in 1981.
- Chilukki – Named American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in 1999.
Later Life
Mack Miller passed away on December 10, 2010. He had been in the University of Kentucky Hospital since December 5.
