Influential Florida Horseman J.B. McKathan Passes Away

Florida horseman J.B. McKathan passed away after suffering a heart attack Saturday. He was 53. McKathan and his brother Kevin, sons of pioneering pinhooker Luke McKathan, launched their 200-acre training center in Citra in 1988. The farm's most famous graduate is Zayat Stable's Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

“I guess the simplest way to put it is: 'super satisfying,'” J. B. McKathan told TDN after American Pharoah's historic Triple Crown sweep in 2015. “We've had horses in the past that have been close, but training him was a privilege. He was so easy, and so talented. At some point with horses like that, it's just up to the horse. He never did one thing wrong, he was nothing but super fast–just really great to be around and super sound.”

The McKathans had a long association with the Zayat operation, breaking such racetrack standouts as Pioneerof the Nile, Bodemeister, Paynter and American Pharoah for the family.

“When we got into the business, we only had one other farm before we started going to the McKathans and we've been with them 14 years,” said Justin Zayat. “Every good horse that Zayat Stables has had, J.B. had his hands on. He has been a huge part of our operation. We even had a horse named J Be K once who won the GII Woody Stephens and was named after J.B. and his brother Kevin–that's how close we've been with them. It's a very big loss for all of us.”

Zayat continued, “On a personal note, he taught me a lot through the years. And he loved to tell stories. He would talk and tell a zillion stories at a time. He would always keep you entertained.”

McKathan was among the first to recognize a Pioneerof the Nile colt as a star-in-the-making in the spring of 2014.

“Around March, we go to Ocala to see all of our 2-year-olds breezing,” Zayat recalled. “When American Pharoah breezed, J.B. said, 'I'm scared of this horse–he's too fast. Get him out of here.' And we sent him to Baffert right after that.”

Florida horseman J.B. McKathan passed away after suffering a heart attack Saturday. He was 53.

“Our hearts are broken today. J.B. Mckathan passed last night. Please keep his family in your prayers,” read a tweet from the family's McKathan Bros. Training Center Sunday morning.

McKathan and his brother Kevin, sons of pioneering pinhooker Luke McKathan, launched their 200-acre training center in Citra in 1988. The farm's most famous graduate is Zayat Stable's Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

“I guess the simplest way to put it is: 'super satisfying,'” J.B. McKathan told TDN after American Pharoah's historic Triple Crown sweep in 2015. “We've had horses in the past that have been close, but training him was a privilege. He was so easy, and so talented. At some point with horses like that, it's just up to the horse. He never did one thing wrong, he was nothing but super fast–just really great to be around and super sound.”

McKathan Bros. Training Center was also the early home of dual Classic winners Silver Charm and Real Quiet.

The McKathans had a long association with the Zayat operation, breaking such racetrack standouts as Pioneerof the Nile, Bodemeister, Paynter, as well as American Pharoah, for the family.

“When we got into the business, we only had one other farm before we started going to the McKathans and we've been with them 14 years,” said Justin Zayat. “Every good horse that Zayat Stables has had, J.B. had his hands on. He has been a huge part of our operation. We even had a horse named J Be K once who won the GII Woody Stephens and was named after J.B. and his brother Kevin–that's how close we've been with them. It's a very big loss for all of us.”

Zayat continued, “On a personal note, he taught me a lot through the years. And he loved to tell stories. He would talk and tell a zillion stories at a time. He would always keep you entertained.”

McKathan was among the first to recognize a Pioneerof the Nile colt as a star-in-the-making in the spring of 2014.

“Around March, we go to Ocala to see all of our 2-year-olds breezing,” Zayat recalled. “When American Pharoah breezed, J.B. said, 'I'm scared of this horse–he's too fast. Get him out of here.' And we sent him to Baffert right after that.”

EQB, Inc.'s Patti Miller, who worked with McKathan on Zayat Stable's horses, said the horseman was an original.

“They broke the mold with him,” Miller said. “It was always fun to call him–you'd have to put the phone down you were laughing so hard with all his stories. And he was an astute, brilliant horseman. He had the greatest eye in the world, bar none, for a horse.”

Miller recalled outbidding McKathan on a pair of future Grade I winners.

“I bought two fillies that J.B. was the underbidder on,” she recalled. “One was Forever Together and he came up to me and he said, 'Gosh, darn it, I brought a knife to a gunfight.' And then years later, we were both bidding on a filly by Custom for Carlos, a mare named Big World, at the yearling sale. And he came up to me and he said, 'I don't even know who Custom for Carlos was, but I bid $95,000 and I couldn't figure out who was the crazy person who bid $98,000.' But as soon as I knew he bid on that horse, I knew I was really glad that I had gotten her.”