General Quarters (foaled March 7, 2006 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was a contender for the 2009 U.S. Triple Crown. He was sired by Sky Mesa, winner of the 2002 Grade I Hopeful Stakes, a son of the 1997 Blue Grass Stakes winner, Pulpit. His dam is Ecology, a daughter of the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, Unbridled's Song. He is owned and trained by 75-year-old Tom McCarthy, a retired high school teacher and principal. On May 30, 2008, McCarthy claimed General Quarters, his only horse, for $20,000 out of a maiden race at Churchill Downs. Racing career Two year old season:General Quarters made seven starts as a two-year-old. He won a maiden claiming race his first time out and was claimed by 75-year-old owner-trainer Tom McCarthy, a retired high school teacher and principal from Louisville, Kentucky. After that, the colt showed limited promise until his last race of 2008 when he earned his best stakes race result with a second-place finish in the Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.Three year old season:On February 14, 2009, General Quarters won the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs . At Keeneland Race Course on April 11, the colt won the most important race of his career: the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes. His win qualified him for the May 2 Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the U.S. Triple Crown. Ridden by French jockey, Julien Leparoux, he finished tenth. He was then entered into the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Downs, again with Leparoux aboard, and finished ninth. Following the race General Quarters underwent surgery to remove a bone chip, and returned to the races seven months later to finish second in an allowance race.Four year old season:On May 1, 2010, General Quarters won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, beating Court Vision, before running third in the Stephen Foster Handicap and then unplaced in two starts at Arlington Park. Five year old season General Quarters started six times in 2011 without a win, though he did place second in the Grade II Kentucky Cup Stakes at Turfway. He was retired at the end of the year with a total record of 27 starts, four wins, nine seconds, and two thirds, and total winnings of $1,226,655. Retirement General Quarters began his stud career at HallMarc Stallions in Florida in 2012 before moving to Crestwood farm in Kentucky in 2014.