Jockey Bryan McNeil

Born: 03/07/1984  Resides: Edmond, Oklahoma  Family: Unmarried

Bryan McNeil, 23 and a natural lightweight, is riding on a regular basis at Oaklawn for the first time. He is son of Tony McNeil, a jockey so proficient that he has been riding 20 years, handling both quarter horses and thoroughbreds.

"I started out with Jack Brooks, one of the greatest trainers of quarter horses ever," recalled McNeil.

McNeil said he rode quarter horses for a year and a half, then when Brooks retired from training, switched to thoroughbreds.

"I started out riding in New Mexico and Oklahoma.I rode Dashing Uno when he qualified for the Oklahoma Futurity, "said McNeil.

Now the jockey's regular circuit will be Oaklawn, Lone Star and Remington.

McNeil's agent is Larry Spraker, a leading rider at Oaklawn in the 1960s, the champion here in 1962. Spraker pulled off a rare double by winning the 1965 Arkansas Derby on Swift Ruler, then taking the 1966 Oaklawn Handicap on the same horse.

"In those days there were not a lot of stakes' races at Oaklawn," recalled Spraker. "A number of races that are now stakes were run back then as overnight handicaps."