McCarron Rides Off Into Executive Suite

Venturing into territory where few former jockeys have gone, Chris McCarron has become a vice president and general manager at Santa Anita, the track where he scored 2,104 of his 7,141 victories.

McCarron’s new post, which was announced Wednesday and begins March 31, may be more of a challenge than any of the 316 stakes races he won at Santa Anita.

The once-hallowed track, which used to call itself “The Great Race Place,” has fallen on hard times. A meet already marked by business reverses was further jarred Saturday when only 25,000 turned out for the track’s signature race, the Santa Anita Handicap. It was the smallest crowd in Big ‘Cap history, and overall betting, including off-track, dropped more than $4 million from the previous year.

McCarron, who ended a Hall of Fame career last June, joins a management team that has seen frequent changes since Frank Stronach’s Canadian-based Magna Entertainment bought the track for $126 million in December 1998.

Jack Liebau, who will continue as president after also holding the title of general manager, is the third boss of day-to-day operations under Stronach, who has gone on to build an empire that totals 13 other thoroughbred, harness and greyhound tracks.

Liebau is also in charge of Stronach’s other California tracks, Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows.

McCarron could not be reached for comment, but in a statement issued by Magna, he said: “I love this sport and I want to see it restored as a major sporting attraction in North America and internationally. For me, the best way to do that is to become part of the [Magna] team. Frank and the entire [Magna] management group are committed to live horse racing as a sports and entertainment business.”

Since his retirement, McCarron had been busy for several months as a technical consultant for the movie “Seabiscuit.” During his career as a jockey, McCarron was known for his savvy business sense, although he once lost more than $1 million to a couple of business managers who were later found guilty of breach-of-contract and other charges.

McCarron has been vice president of the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund for disabled riders since helping found the organization in 1987.

Once an active member of the Jockeys’ Guild, McCarron renewed an interest in the riders’ organization a couple of years ago when it appeared that jockeys were going to lose their health benefits. John Giovanni, the deposed national manager of the splintered guild, has dropped a lawsuit against McCarron and other members of the executive committee.

McCarron, who will be 48 on March 27, said in his statement that he hadn’t envisioned a new career in racetrack management.

“Until very recently, I thought I would be spending most of my time in the future on a golf course,” he said. “But when Frank approached me about this opportunity, I took a closer look at the company, at what has been accomplished over the past few years and at what is planned for the future.... I wanted to be a part of it.”

Few jockeys have gone on to the executive suite. A couple of other Hall of Famers, Steve Cauthen and Sandy Hawley, have made the jump, Cauthen once working as a vice president at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., and Hawley currently working in a public-relations capacity for Woodbine near Toronto. Eddie Arroyo, a retired rider, is now a racing steward, but he once was the general manager at Sportsman’s Park in suburban Chicago.

Of McCarron, Jim McAlpine, chief executive of Magna Entertainment, said: “He loves the business. His hiring will add an important new dimension to the company’s leadership team.”

There were reports that other changes at Santa Anita might be possible. McAlpine said that Magna is happy with Liebau, who was not available for comment.

“We have high respect for Jack,” McAlpine said. “This appointment [of McCarron] is exactly what it says it is. By itself, the general manager’s position is going to be a very important job.”

After showing a profit of $13.5 million in 2001, Magna Entertainment reported a net loss of $14.3 million last year.