Report: Trainer McLaughlin leaving New York, maybe for good

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, fined more than $300,000 last month by New York for violating minimum wage requirements, will move his operation out of the Empire State by mid-January, the Daily Racing Form's David Grening reported Thursday.

According to DRF, the 59-year-old McLaughlin, who winters in Florida, won't leave horses in New York this winter, a departure from his past practices.

“Basically, I’m regrouping to Florida and consolidating to one outfit and figure it out by April,” McLaughlin told DRF. “The Department of Labor issues are here, and they are hard to deal with and comply. I’m trying to comply. Workers’ compensation is expensive, and basically just doing business (in New York) is expensive.”

New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced last month the recovery of approximately $1 million in stolen wages, damages and penalties on behalf of nearly 350 workers following state Department of Labor investigations of backstretch employers.

Trainers McLaughlin, Chad Brown, Jimmy Jerkens, Leo O’Brien, Linda Rice and Doodnauth Shivmangal were all named in the state’s report.

New York accused McLaughlin of violating minimum wage requirements, affecting 89 employees who acted as grooms and hot walkers. He was set to pay $304,646.82 in wages due, liquidated damages and penalties. 

McLaughlin denied that he underpaid his employees and told DRF that New York’s penalties “broke my spirit.” The trainer pointed to difficulties complying with different labor department rules and to his track record of maintaining long-term working relationships with his employees.

“It’s really hard,” McLaughlin told DRF. “It just hurt financially and more probably emotionally.

“We take good care of our help. We wouldn’t have them if we didn’t.”

McLaughlin’s options going forward after the winter include relocating to his native Kentucky or New Jersey’s Monmouth Park.

McLaughlin’s runners, among them the 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor, have earned nearly $120 million during his training career. He’s saddled A Thread of Blue, Dream Pauline, Haikal, Lucullan and Qurbaan for graded stakes victories in 2019.