LIFE & TIMES
Maryland Will Miss... Paul “Biggie” Johnson died on February 5
at the age of 75. Johnson was a longtime T or- oughbred racehorse trainer previously based out of Bowie Race Course. He was known for his dedication to horses and his generosity and willingness to help others. “If Biggie could give you his last dollar, he would,” racehorse owner Bob Haynes told MTHA. “He didn’t have a lot in the bank, but he had a very big heart. He loved his horses and made do with what he had. He spent 60 years in the horse business—those shoes cannot be fi lled.” According to Equibase, Johnson began his
career as a trainer in 1994 when he saddled Boo Boo Typhoon on July 1 at Laurel Park. His fi rst win came with Maryland-bred Sunburst (Mr. Goldust x Sun Doon, by Rose Argent) in Au- gust 1997 at Charles Town in West Virginia. Johnson’s top earner was the Maryland-bred mare Celestial Quest (Toolighttoquit x Eski- mo Quest, by Eskimo). Celestial Quest logged
$63,300 in earnings while with Johnson and went on to earn $89,051 in her full career. Other top earners for Johnson included Mark On the Run, We Hap Now, and Starlet Lady. Johnson saddled his last horse on March 21, 2021 ending a 27 year career with 632 starts, 16 wins, 17 seconds and 47 thirds for $382,378 in earnings.
Former National Steeplechase Association
jockey Roderick “Roddy” MacKenzie died on February 12 at the age of 45. MacKenzie got his racing start at a young age as a pony rac- ing jockey in his native Ireland. He continued racing in England and Ireland before moving the U.S. in 2008. He made his NSA debut at Tryon (NC) riding UK Limey for trainer Paul Rowland and later that year, logged his fi rst win in September aboard One Sea for owner/ trainer Randy Rouse. MacKenzie went on to ride winners up and down the East Coast rid-
Here’s a sample of our offerings... New! Big Champion E
Tall Doors Both Sides & Easy-Access Tack Compartment!
Updated Comfort
Taller Doors, Tack Compartment & More Working Space Forward
No Truck Required. A Favorite Worldwide!
Portax K Portax L K
PK & PLK Front Ramp (It’s for the Horses, but People love it, too!) 2-Mode Ramp Door—Ramp & Step-up Loading in One Trailer! PLK has 25” Extra Space Forward for Storage, Etc. New Smoother Aero Nose with Wider Front Window
Custom Aluminum Trailers by
Traveled Lane Trailers, Inc. Centreville, Maryland
www.traveledlanetrailers.com 410-556-6850
www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580 THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION | APRIL 2025 | 43
of Marylanders
ing for several trainers including Bruce Miller, Kathy Neilson, Julie Gomena, Mairead Carr, Earnie Oare, Richard Valentine, Janet Elliot, Cyril Murphy, Todd Wyatt, Bill Woff ord, Re- gina Welsh, and Michael Leaf. One of MacKenzie’s most notable wins was in the 2012 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup with Won Wild Bird, trained by Regina Welsh and owned by Wally Pinkard. In 2013, he won the David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Stakes (G3) at Colonial Downs with Inti, owned by Meritage Racing and trained by Cyril Murphy. MacKenzie was named NSA’s Champion
Apprentice jockey in 2010. Over his career in the U.S., MacKenzie compiled 25 wins, 48 sec- onds, and 41 thirds over 326 starts to earn a total of $611,750. More recently, MacKenzie had been starting young racehorses, galloping for local trainers, and providing equine salt therapy services.
0524
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
