David McKellar, who notched his first Cal-Expo victory last week, is a 45-year-old Toronto native who is making his first venture to California.
“I’m really enjoying myself,” he related.
For McKellar, a love for the trotters and pacers came when he was eight years old, and he knew then he wanted to make it his career.
“My step-dad owned some horses and once I got the chance to see the backstretch and jog one or two, I was hooked.”
McKellar got his first real hands-on experience while working with top trainer Keith Linton in British Columbia, then spent 11 years in Alberta under the wing of another fine conditioner, Keith Clark.
“I went out on my own in the mid ‘90s, and then in 2007 I got a great opportunity when I trained for the late Robert Murphy,” McKellar said. “I had 26 horses for him, including Duca, who set a couple of track records, and Regal Beauty, who won quite a few top races for the mares.”
When Murphy passed away last year, his stable was dispersed and McKellar pretty much found himself back to square one.
“I basically had to start over, and I had a choice of going to Alberta or trying California. I figured my horses would fit better out here, and so far I’m loving it.”
(Cal-Expo)