Howard Returns To Keeneland Winner's Circle In New Role

Neil Howard was back in the Keeneland winner’s circle after the seventh race Thursday with Emory Hamilton’s homebred Flanigan’s Cove, this time in his new role as the Kentucky assistant for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. Flanigan’s Cove was the first horse Howard saddled for McGaughey.

Howard, who sent out the final starter of his 43-year career Monday, Oct. 11 at Indiana Grand, had his final Keeneland starter Oct. 8 when Wing Commander ran fifth in an allowance race.

“I am officially done,” Howard said Thursday afternoon. “I had a couple of horses that Shug graciously took over and I put them in his name. I’m just an assistant trainer now.”

Howard is eighth all-time in Keeneland victories with 166 and is 13^th in stakes wins with 20. His first stakes victory came in the 1990 Blue Grass (G2) with Summer Squall. He won the Ben Ali (G3) five times, including in 2003 with Horse of the Year Mineshaft. Howard also won the race in 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2016.