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 Jockey
C.J. McMahon Apprentice on the Brink of National Prominence - by
Martha Claussen for SureBet
There is a new apprentice Thoroughbred rider who has accomplished a great deal
in a short, six-month period. While he might have been known to racing fans who
follow the Louisiana circuit, young C.J. McMahon is well on his way to becoming
a rider with a prosperous future ahead.
Charles Jansen McMahon is the son of Quarter Horse rider Charles McMahon. Born
in Jasper, Texas, he has been a fixture on the back of a horse since he was a
toddler.
C.J.'s father, Charles began working horses at 12 and had his jockey license as
a teen. He rode some Thoroughbreds, but has been on the Texas-Louisiana Quarter
Horse circuit since 1978 and is still an active jockey. According to statistics
provided by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), Charles McMahon, or
his nickname, “Dink,” has ridden in more than 16,216 races with 2,135 wins. C.J.
resembles his father in stature and desire, and learned the ropes with Quarter
Horses before transitioning to Thoroughbreds.
C.J. grew up on the racetrack and, under his father's tutelage, began galloping
horses at farms when he was 8 and breezing them at 10. As a teen, C.J. would go
ranch-to-ranch with his dad, working as many as 50 head a day. Charles remembers
C.J. always asking to ride the faster horses. Many times they worked in company
with Quarter Horse legend Jacky Martin.
"We would work horses on either side of him," Charles said. "Both Jacky and I
would tell him to feel what was underneath him and keep a straight path."
C.J. kept up with the two veterans, and his dad knew his son has something very
special.
"His hands were unbelievable," stated Charles. "Even as a kid, he had a unique
and natural talent."
One thing was undeniable; C.J. wanted to ride and wanted it badly.
"That was his dream," said his father. "He got kicked out of four tracks for
working horses when he was a young teen. Now all the security guards know him
and are happy he is doing so well."
Both father and son knew that Thoroughbred racing would be his destiny. C.J.
went barn-to-barn asking trainers if he could work their horses. Leading
Louisiana conditioner Sam Breaux hired him as a gallop boy.
"He told Sam that in just two days, he would show him what he could do,"
recalled Charles.
In May of this year, the 16-year-old McMahon began riding as an apprentice at
Evangeline Downs, followed by a successful stint at Louisiana Downs and then
onto Delta Downs.
In addition to his parents, C.J. has the support of his godfather, Quarter Horse
trainer Kenny Roberts. He has seen C.J. grow from a horse crazy toddler to an
accomplished rider.
"I remember putting him on a pony at my barn at Sam Houston Race Park when he
was 3 and 4 years old," said Roberts. "He would fall asleep on the back of the
horse rather than get down."
On Nov. 19, Roberts was riveted to a television monitor in the grandstand at
Evangeline Downs. He would saddle Political Option in the $517,844 LQBHA
Breeders' Futurity in a few hours, but he was completely focused on the $60,000
Orleans Stakes from Delta Downs. Mollys Missb'havin, with C.J. McMahon in the
irons surged to the lead and Roberts and his entire group whooped and hollered
so loud that heads turned.
"He's always been a good kid," said Roberts. "He really loves horses, but more
than that, he has a gift. There is a clock in his head, and that, and his
natural talent, just sets him apart from other young riders. Plus, he's always
got a smile on his face."
Trainer Jackie Thacker is a Believer
McMahon has forged a bond with Mollys Missb'havin, a 3-year-old filly owned and
trained by Jackie Thacker. He was aboard the bay lass when she broke her maiden
on June 3 at Evangeline Downs. After a brief freshening, she returned to the
winner's circle on Sept. 5 in a 6-furlong non-winner of two and won again, with
McMahon in the irons, in a starter allowance at Delta Downs on Oct. 28. Thacker
was pleased with the progress of his filly, but McMahon felt she had untapped
potential and urged him to enter her in the 7-furlong $60,000 Orleans Stakes,
one of the undercard races on Delta Jackpot Day. Mollys Missb'havin had won at 6
and 6-1/2 furlongs, but Thacker was not convinced she could get 7 furlongs.
McMahon felt otherwise.
"We sat down and talked," recalled Thacker. "C.J. told me that he felt she had
the heart and could handle 7 furlongs. My nickname for him is 'the bulldog' and
he was very persistent about the stakes attempt."
"The Bulldog" won the battle as well as the Orleans Stakes, sending his filly to
the lead and withstanding a bumping duel with Tapatia and her rider, Gerard
Melancon. Dismissed at odds of 9-1, Mollys Missb'havin paid $20.80 for her
winning stakes debut.
"C.J. is a polite, well mannered young man," said Thacker. "He's got the talent,
great hands and good head on his shoulders. Most importantly, he listens and
does what I ask to the letter."
The lessons from each race, combined with his desire and talent, have paid big
dividends. His wins have come at an impressive click; as of Nov. 28, McMahon has
won 102 races, with earnings of $1.7 million.
Solid Debut at Fair Grounds
McMahon turned 17 on Nov. 5, and celebrated his birthday and Thanksgiving in a
very special way. McMahon and his agent, Tony Martin, departed Delta Downs for
140th season at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Trainers including Breaux, Robert
Young, Corale Richards, Karl Broberg, Joe Duhon and Cody Autrey named McMahon on
mounts.
He is in demand, which is a huge compliment as the competitive colony includes
last year's leading rider Rosie Napravnik, James Graham, Robby Albarado, Shane
Sellers and Louisiana veteran riders John Jacinto and Richard Eramia.
Racing fans had an opportunity to see McMahon's skill in the sixth race on the
Saturday, Nov. 26, card aboard 2-year-old Rule the Sky. He guided the
Florida-bred colt to an early lead and held off a determined stretch drive by
the favorite, Hilarium under Napravnik. Rule the Sky ($11.40), trained by Edward
Johnston, prevailed, and McMahon caught the eye of many followers, including
Hall of Fame jockey, Gary Stevens, who serves as a host on HRTV and was on the
air that afternoon.
"I think we'll be seeing a lot more of C.J. McMahon," said Stevens on the HRTV
broadcast of Fair Grounds.
McMahon had a solid opening weekend at the New Orleans racetrack, and after the
first four days of the meet, he ranked fourth in the jockey standings with three
wins, four seconds and five third-place finishes from 22 starts.
Jason Boulet, racing secretary at Fair Grounds, has known McMahon for many
years. McMahon's mother, Sandra, worked for Boulet as a claims clerk, and he is
thrilled that McMahon will ride at Fair Grounds this meet.
"You could see his talent right away," Boulet said. "He is extremely patient and
makes adjustments very easily. He has already ridden at three different tracks
and found success at each one. He has a magical personality, and of course, that
big smile."
McMahon's stature serves him well, as he is just 103 pounds. Boulet notes that
horsemen flock to an apprentice who can weigh in at 110 pounds, with talent to
boot.
"He looks great on a horse," adds Boulet. "I call him little Pat Day."
Learning from Legends
McMahon counts jockeys Robby Albarado and Shane Sellers as role models. Both are
riding at Fair Grounds this meet and have been very helpful to the young rider.
"I love the way Robby rides," McMahon admits. "He will sit on the rail and at
the right time, slingshot to the outside."
Neither C.J. nor Charles dwell on prejudice in the sport of horseracing. The
elder McMahon feels that there is little discrimination in the current era. But
clearly, there are very few African-American jockeys in the top echelon of the
sport, which is quite an evolution, considering that in the first running of the
Kentucky Derby in 1875, 13 of the 15 jockeys were African-Americans. Jimmy
Winkfield won the 1901 and 1902 Kentucky Derby and it took another 79 years for
Marlon St Julien to ride in the Kentucky Derby. Born and raised in Lafayette,
La., St. Julien also began his career at Evangeline Downs. He finished seventh
aboard Curule in the 2000 Kentucky Derby.
Eclipse Award
Rarely has an Eclipse Award for Apprentice Jockey gone to a rider who did not
compete in the major circuits. Recent recipients include Omar Moreno (Woodbine
-2010); Christian Santiago Reyes (California-2009); Paco Lopez (Florida-2008)
and Julien Leparoux (Kentucky-2006).
However, 2007 Eclipse Award winner, Joe Talamo was the leading rider as an
apprentice at Fair Grounds. The Louisiana native moved his tack to southern
California and continues to forge a name for himself at Santa Anita, Hollywood
Park and Del Mar. Now 21, Talamo is a very popular rider and was a hit on the
television show "Jockeys," which ran on Animal Planet. Since his debut in 2006,
Talamo has ridden more than 6,400 racehorses who have earned $42 million. With
946 wins on his resume, it is likely he will reach the 1,000th milestone in
2012.
"C.J. has had calls from California and Kentucky," Boulet said. "But, we are
hoping that he will follow the same road to the Eclipse Award as Joe Talamo, who
rode here as an apprentice five years ago when he was just 16."
Without a hint of ego, McMahon admits that winning an Eclipse Award as the
nation's top apprentice is definitely a goal.
"Most importantly, I want to ride to the best of my ability," he said. "I am
happy to be riding at Fair Grounds and competing against some of the best riders
in the country."
He is leaning toward moving to Kentucky after the conclusion of the Fair Grounds
meet.
But for the next several months, he will hone his craft and enjoy the unique
culture and history of Fair Grounds. A popular Louisiana phrase is, "Laissez les
bon temps rouler," which loosely translated means "let the good times roll."
For apprentice rider C.J. McMahon, he is fully embracing the slogan as he rises
to prominence in the sport he loves.
Martha Claussen has been prominent in the Texas racing industry since 1997 as a
publicist, writer and handicapper
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