A native of Thoroughbred racing and breeding country, Kiaran McLaughlin was born in Lexington, Kentucky in November of 1960. Before pursuing his career in horse racing, he attended the University of Kentucky.
He spent close to three years as an assistant for various trainers before going to work for U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer, D. Wayne Lukas in 1985. There he worked with champion Open Mind as well as top-class horses Dynaformer, Carson City and Salt Lake.
In 1992 he became the agent for jockey Chris Antley until November 1993 when he signed on as the trainer for Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai where he led all trainers in Dubai three times.
In 2006 McLaughlin had a banner year while winning major stakes races up and down the east coast. When it was all said and done McLaughlin was part of four Eclipse Award nominees in 2006; Henny Hughes for Champion Sprinter, Invasor for Horse of the Year and Older Male Handicap Horse, and the Eclipse Award for the Nation’s Outstanding Trainer. Invasor did cap Horse of the Year and Older Male Handicap Horse honors that year.
McLaughlin would go on to train an astonishing list of graded headliners to include Henny Hughes (G1 King’s Bishop and Vosburgh), Jazil (G1’s Belmont and Wood Memorial), Flashy Bull (G1 Stephen Foster), Albertus Maximus (G1 Donn H.), It’s Tricky (G1’s Acorn and Coaching Club American Oaks), Alpha (G1 Travers), Questing GB (G1 Coaching Club American Oaks), Emcee (G1 Forego S.), Closing Argument (2nd Kentucky Derby, won G3 Holy Bull S.), Soldat (G2 Fountain of Youth), Lahudood (Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf 07) and Intidab (multiple Grade 2 winner).
McLaughlin’s success continues to grow with current year stars such as Frosted - winner of the G1 Wood Memorial and 2nd to American Pharoah in the Belmont Stakes; Wedding Toast who won two Grade 1 stakes in 2015 and Cavorting, winner of the G1 Test Stakes.
Kiaran McLaughlin was bestowed the awards, Red Smith “Good Guy” Award and the C.V. Whitney Achievement Award. He has won over 1,300 North American races in his 21 years of training. Kiaran’s family includes wife, Letty; daughter, Erin; son, Ryan.
