Thomas R. McCarthy The septuagenarian Thomas McCarthy has been involved in racing on a tiny scale for a half-century, and General Quarters is his only horse in training. The grandson of a jockey from Ireland, McCarthy earned a degree in biology prior to serving in the United States Army. He then pursued a career in education, becoming a science teacher and eventually serving as principal of Seneca, Durrett and Valley High Schools in Louisville, Kentucky, until his retirement in 1990. Among his pupils was Steve Bass, who is now the agent for successful jockey Julien Leparoux. Throughout his time in education, McCarthy continued to own and train a few horses, but none nearly as successful as General Quarters. Ironically, he had first crossed paths with the colt at the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Believing that his pedigree was promising, McCarthy bid on the colt, but bowed out once the bidding reached $20,000. In late May 2008, he noticed that the very colt, now named General Quarters, was entered in a $20,000 maiden claiming race at Churchill Downs. McCarthy duly claimed the colt that he had liked so much eight months before, and the rest is history. McCarthy devotes his full attention to his charge, even performing the role of groom.
