MacKenzie Miller

Biography

During his 46-year career, MacKenzie "Mack" Miller trained 72 stakes winners, including four champions.

A native of Versailles, Kentucky, Mack Miller attended Keeneland’s inaugural meeting in 1936 and inherited a love of the sport from his father. He began working for Calumet Farm in 1945 and took out his trainer’s license in 1949.

Miller became the first trainer to have three different horses become grass champions: Assagai (1966), Hawaii (1969), and Snow Knight (1975). Assagai and Hawaii were owned by the Cragwood Stable of Charles W. Engelhard, while Snow Knight raced for Hall of Famer E. P. Taylor’s Windfields Farm.

In addition to his success on turf, Miller developed numerous top dirt horses, including Charlton Clay’s Leallah, the 1956 champion 2-year-old filly. Miller also trained Fit to Fight, winner of New York’s Handicap Triple Crown, and Winter’s Tale, winner of the Marlboro Cup, Suburban Handicap, and Brooklyn Handicap. Fit to Fight and Winter’s Tale raced for Hall of Famer Paul Mellon’s Rokeby Stable, as did Sea Hero, who gave Miller victories in the 1993 Kentucky Derby and Travers Stakes. Miller had previously won the Travers for Rokeby with Java Gold in 1987.

Miller-trained horses won the Bernard Baruch Handicap seven times, the United Nations and Long Island handicaps five times each, and the Suburban Handicap, Diana Handicap, and Man o’ War four times each.

Overall, Miller won 1,104 races.

Achievements

Triple Crown Highlights 

Won the 1993 Kentucky Derby — Sea Hero

Other Highlights

Won the Bernard Baruch Handicap — 1966, 1969 (won both divisions), 1971, 1973 (Won both divisions), 1990
Won the United Nations Handicap — 1968, 1969, 1974, 1981, 1984
Won the Long Island Handicap — 1967, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1976
Won the Man o' War Stakes — 1966, 1969, 1975, 1986
Won the Suburban Handicap — 1978, 1980, 1983, 1984