JB and Kevin, Born Horsemen

The brothers were born in the Orlando, Florida, area while their father trained Quarter horses at Seminole Downs. The family moved to Georgia for awhile when "Luke" McKathan managed a Quarter horse ranch there. From Georgia, it was on to South Florida and the Thoroughbred racetrack circuit. Finally, the family settled in Ocala as the elder McKathan decided to switch to pinhooking and training on the farm.

By the time the McKathan brothers graduated from high school, they had a lifetime of experience in the horse business. At 18, J.B. got his trainer's license and took over his father's clients. Based at River Downs in Ohio, he was the track's leading trainer at the age of 20 and had saddled stakes winners Minnieoso and Monsieur Champlain. Two years later, after high school graduation, Kevin would also acquire his trainer's license.

In 1988, the McKathan brothers gave up the racetrack circuit life to settle in Ocala establishing the original McKathan Brothers operation. The rest as they say, is history.

Old Philosophies

In the mid-1960's, William McKnight, founder and CEO of the 3M company, asked Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud what he needed to do to be successful in the horse business. Mr. Nerud replied, "Spend a million dollars.' McKnight then asked "What do I do if I'm not successful after I've spent a million dollars?' Nerud replied, "Spend another million dollars.'

In the relentless pursuit of the great horse, William McKnight and John Nerud built Tartan Farm, in Ocala, Florida, into one of the greatest modern-day racing and breeding dynasties whose influence continues to this day.

Our clients are looking for not just a good horse but a great horse.  They're in search of a horse capable of etching his name along with theirs into the annals of racing history. A Derby winner, a Breeder's Cup winner, a Dubai World Cup winner, an Alabama winner, A Cigar Mile winner, that kinda horse.

It's the same horse Sam Riddle was looking for in Man O' War back in the twenties, the same horse William McKnight was looking for in a Dr. Fager or an Unbridled, it's the same horse Bob and Janice McNair are looking for in a Champion like Chilukki or a 5 time Grade 1 winner like Congaree.

We are horse lovers and we whole-heartedly embrace Winston Churchill's quote, "there is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse."

What Makes the McKathan Brothers Unique?

Our ability to identify the elite athlete.  When you consider there are over 35,000 thoroughbred foals born a year, you get an idea of how few good horses there are, and how tough it is to get a good one, let alone a great one. The great horse will pay for the good ones, the bad ones and the mediocre ones. Ask our clients and they'll tell you the great ones bring an enjoyment that all the money in the world couldn't buy.

We find horses for our clients privately and at auction... as weanlings, as yearlings and as two-year-olds. We are looking to buy a racehorse. Experience tells us what to look for and what we can live with. When we like a horse, we try to find a way to buy it. A lot of people will pass on a horse because they don't understand well enough what you can live with.  Training 100 yearlings on the farm each year, 40 of which we will have selected,  gives us an accelerated learning curve. It is vital to put the whole risk/reward picture into its proper perspective when buying an unproven racehorse.

At a two-year-old sale,  for example, we'll spend hours reviewing the videos and narrow 200 horses down to 20. When we bid on a horse, we know that he moves efficiently, we know that we love his balance, we know that he's fast and we know if he has any vet issues. What we don't know is if he has desire. That you can't find out until you put him in the starting gate.  However, when they've met our criteria, and the will to win is there, chances are you've got a special horse.