Herb McCauley
Herb McCauley (born May 2, 1957) is an American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He was born in Durham, North Carolina, and as a boy rode horses on his grandfather’s farm. He began a professional riding career at 16, breaking yearlings at Tartan Farms in Florida, and later moved north to ride at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. He won his first race in October 1975 at Keystone Racetrack in Philadelphia, and over the next two decades became one of the sport’s top riders in the Northeast. Notably, he won five races from five mounts on a single card at Meadowlands in 1985.
McCauley finished with more than 3,000 career wins and captured many major races, including the Haskell Invitational, Travers Stakes, and other important stakes.
On July 10, 1998, he suffered a serious leg injury in an accident at Monmouth Park, requiring multiple surgeries and a long rehab. The setback contributed to personal struggles, including alcohol use and bulimia, a condition he had battled since his teens. He spoke publicly about his weight and eating issues in May 1999.
After more than eight years away, McCauley attempted a comeback, returning to racing in September 2007. He notched his first win in nine years a few weeks later at Meadowlands. In 2007 he was nominated for induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:05 (CET).