If it’s an early summer morning at Saratoga, it’s a pretty sure bet you’ll find Kiaran McLaughlin making his rounds on the backstretch.

“I love to come out. We weren’t able to come out every day last year, so it’s great to be able to be out here and see people,” McLaughlin said as he navigated his golf cart through the track’s historic barn area.

McLaughlin has been a fixture at Saratoga for the better part of three decades. Midway through the morning’s training hours, he parks his golf cart at a key crossroads along the rail.

“I’m here because several trainers watch from here, so that’s what’s important to me, is to catch up with the trainers,” he said.

McLaughlin is the agent for jockey Luis Saez, which makes networking a key part of his job. By catching up with top trainers like Todd Pletcher, who was already watching a few of his horses train by the time McLaughlin pulled up, he aims to earn rides for his client in the afternoon’s races.

“That’s important, and I try to ride for people and I don’t really worry so much about a loser here or there. You ride for certain people that win and that you have good relationships with,” said McLaughlin, whose relationship with Pletcher goes back to the days when they were both assistants for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

After a half hour holding court at this uniquely picturesque office setting, McLaughlin secured a few races for his rider, allowing him to continue his journey through the barn area to drum up more business.

“The last couple mornings, I’ve been driving around to see who’s here just to check in with them,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin worked as an agent in the early part of his career, but only got back into it in early 2020. For 26 years before that, he was one of racing’s top trainers, famously being one of the two winners in the 2012 Travers dead heat. His colt, Alpha, caught up with the front-running Golden Ticket right at the wire.

“I’ve always wanted to train horses since I was 12 years old, and I’m living my dream,” McLaughlin said.

Despite his success on the racetrack, McLaughlin said he knew the time was right to walk away.

“It was a great opportunity,” he said. “I felt like [Saez] was a great jockey, a great person. It was a great opportunity, and it has worked out very well.”

Saez’s ascension in racing has continued with McLaughlin booking his mounts. Currently one of Saratoga’s leading riders, he finished third in national earnings in 2020 and won this year’s Belmont Stakes aboard Essential Quality, giving him his first victory in a Triple Crown race.

The colt also won this summer’s Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, making him among the favorites for the prestigious Travers Stakes.

“We're doing pretty good. He’s like my dad, really,” Saez said of McLaughlin. “We love him, we love his family and we’re very glad to be a part of it.”

On a recent morning, McLaughlin watched from along the rail as Saez worked out a horse for trainer Christoph Clement. Saratoga’s apron and clubhouse were well attended with fans who were eager to watch the horses train while enjoying their breakfast.

“There’s no place like it in terms of people coming out in the morning to see the horses train and go to the races,” McLaughlin said. “There’s just nothing like it in American racing or probably worldwide.”

He says he views working with Saez as a chance to follow his passion and keep competing in the sport he loves.

“He’s in demand, so it makes my job a bit easier,” McLaughlin said. “I just hopefully have to choose the right horses to ride, and I love what I’m doing.”