My life is horses and horses are my life – David McKenzie
David “Scorcher” McKenzie was the only jockey among 10 new inductees into the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in Jamaica. The induction ceremony for the 10 took place at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Thursday June 22, 2017. The other new inductees to the Hall of Fame are Horse — Mark My Word ; trainers — Richard Azan and Vincent Edwards; grooms — Linval McFarlane and Clive Evans and racing personalities — Dr Clifford Bradford, Christopher Armond, Elias Haloute and Dr St Aubyn Bartlett.
The Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame was created in 1982 by the Jamaica Racing Commission, then under the chairmanship of Dennis Lalor, to recognise the legacy and the foundation set by devoted and passionate individuals who serve the industry with distinction.
McKenzie was born into a racing family with his mother (the late Rita McKenzie), father (Alty McKenzie) and brother Donald all involved in racing. McKenzie first mounted a horse when he was just six-years-old.
He began his career as a jockey in 1963 with his first winner being Saint Valentine. Since then McKenzie has ridden well over 200 winners, included one 2000 Guineas winner, Royal Crest in 1970, for trainer Ralph Zaidie.
McKenzie said that he was overwhelmed to have received his citation for his contribution to the racing industry.
“This is a great feeling. I mean, right now, I am a happy man. The feeling is really wonderful knowing that you have been putting in the hard work for so many years and you have something to show for all the sweat. I really think this should have been done a long time ago, but I am happy all the same.
“I have to give thanks to God and all my supporters that are behind me 100 per cent. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame is a very wonderful thing and I am pretty much grateful for it.
“This means a lot. It means one part of my journey in racing is now over and I am going to start another part of my racing life, sooner or later, as I will be looking to go into the training of horses. My life is horses and horses are my life,” McKenzie told The Complete Racing Guide.
