Gulfstream Park: McGaughey and longtime assistant Tenney part ways

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Shug McGaughey and his longtime assistant Buzz Tenney, lifelong friends since attending grade school together in Lexington, Ky., have parted ways following a 29 1/2-year association on the racetrack.

“It came as a surprise, no doubt, when I got the news earlier this week,” Tenney said on Saturday. “It’s been a good go. I always wanted to work around good horses, and by being with Shug, I certainly was given an opportunity to do that.”

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Tenney, 63, said he intends to take things easy and work on his golf game for the next couple of weeks in south Florida.

“I’ll have a life now, instead of spending all my time at the barn,” said Tenney. “I don’t have anything in the works nor am I in a hurry to get anything going. I’ve always wanted to do some kind of volunteer work, if I had the time, to help make somebody’s life better who has not been as fortunate as I’ve been.

“I also enjoy golf, so the First Tee program, which helps kids become better golfers and better people, could also be an option.”

Tenney called Personal Ensign’s victory in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs the highlight of his long tenure with the McGaughey barn.

“Just everything about Personal Ensign winning the Distaff that year, both leading up to the race and the race itself, were special,” said Tenney. “I’d make that the number one highlight even over Easy Goer winning the Belmont or Orb’s victory last year in the Kentucky Derby.”