In the 1960s he was the ‘wonder boy’ of Jamaica’s horse racing, and despite his brief career, his success as a jockey was unmatched, it was unprecedented, and his integrity was beyond question. Legendary jockey Trevor McKenzie, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006, will always be considered one of the best riders to grace the pigskin in Jamaica.

Son of former champion jockey Reggie McKenzie, Trevor won his first jockeys’ championship title in 1965 at the age of 15 and followed up in 1966 with 60 winners…a record at the time. With his exploits in the saddle that year, young McKenzie had the rare distinction of being the first jockey to be nominated for the Carreras Sportsman of the Year Award (now called the National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year). McKenzie won the championship for a third time in 1968 before weight problems brought his career to an end.

“I don’t want to brag or anything, but riding comes naturally for me. I started to learn how to ride in June of 1963 and began my career as a jockey in January of 1964, so in six months, I was a professional rider. My first winner was aboard a horse by the name of Puzzle for my father over seven furlongs, and I couldn’t sleep that night after winning my first race. It was just pure joy.

“The following year, 1965, it was the championship, and in 1966 it was another championship year again. I was going for history in winning three championships in a row, but I lost my riding licence. However, I came back the following year and won my third championship, and then I started to gain weight, which really hampered my career. I had a good teacher back then… my father… he taught me a lot,” McKenzie told the Supreme Racing Guide last Saturday on one of his visits to Caymanas Park.

Unable to conquer his weight problems, McKenzie said that he migrated to the United States of America (USA) to get a fresh start where he ended his career out of the saddle.

“I didn’t ride for long, as I rode for about six years. When I started riding in 1964, I was like 73 pounds, but my career ended quickly due to weight problems. I got heavy and I grew out of the saddle. As you can see I am very tall right now. I stopped riding in 1969, and in 1970 I tried to make a comeback, but I was too heavy. Then I migrated to the USA in 1974.

“I went to New York and became an exercise rider. I worked for some good trainers and that was my living. It was ok for me as I had enough to provide for my family, and so [I have] no regrets with the twists and turns of my career,” said McKenzie.

Although he lived in the States for over 40 years, McKenzie said that he always had a soft spot for the land of wood and water.

“I have been home every year since 1992, spending time from like the end of December to March of the next year. This time I came to see my friend David McKenzie ride and trainer Michael Marlowe, as we grew up together. I am also very proud of Marlowe, to see him come home and doing well conditioning horses.

“I am happy to be here…I am just happy as this is my life. I lived in America for over 40 years but my heart is always in Jamaica. The body was in America but the heart is here in Jamaica. I love it here and I love everybody here,” McKenzie declared.

McKenzie then shared the story of how he got into horse racing.

“When I was a little boy growing up, my sister took me to Knutsford Park, and from [the moment] I saw the horses and the jockeys, I said to myself, ‘I want to become a jockey.’ After that, they left Knutsford Park and racing began at Caymanas Park, but I didn’t go to Caymanas Park for a very long while (about four to five years), and I forgot everything about wanting to become a jockey.

“And so, one Friday evening I went to Old Harbour to visit my father and I saw a little guy riding a horse and I begged him a ride and he came up to me to give me the horse, but I said no at first. But eventually, I got up on the horse and it felt like it was natural for me,” McKenzie shared.

Although his riding career was short-lived, McKenzie said that he has no regrets how his life has turned out.

“I have great memories and I thank God for everything. The best horse I have ridden was Rameses. He ended up being one of the best horses in Jamaica, and I was the one who broke his maiden. The next time he [ Rameses] ran, I took a horse named Mary Poppins and beat him. Everything has been good and I have no regrets whatsoever about anything,” ended McKenzie.