McKee sets Churchill record

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - John McKee broke Steve Cauthen's track record for most victories by an apprentice when he rode four winners on the closing-day program Saturday at Churchill Downs.

McKee, 21, won with Broad Breadth ($6.40) in the third race, Bluegrass Spirit ($25.20) in the fifth, Dancer Cielo ($10.60) in the 10th, and Elusive Gentleman ($22.60) in the 12th. He finished the meet with 27 winners, surpassing the total of 24 that Cauthen, an eventual Hall of Fame jockey, compiled as an apprentice at the 1976 fall meet.

McKee, who won meet titles earlier this year at River Downs and Turfway Park, finished tied for second with Calvin Borel in the final Churchill standings behind Pat Day, who rode 50 winners for his 33rd Churchill crown. McKee is scheduled to begin riding Wednesday at Aqueduct in New York.