Asmussen Becomes All-Time Leading Trainer at Churchill

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen surpassed Dale Romans as the all-time leading trainer in Churchill Downs history when Drop Dead Gorgeous cruised to an 8 1/2-length victory in the first race June 12 for his 738th win beneath the historic Twin Spires.

"If anyone knows American horse racing, they know what Churchill Downs means to the sport," Asmussen said. "This is a very significant honor. I know the people who have been in this spot before, and been here consistently, and for us to have won the most races is a very proud accomplishment."

Asmussen, 54, tied Romans for the lead June 11. Romans was the record-holder since Nov. 12, 2017, when he surpassed Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who was Churchill Downs' all-time leader for more than 31 years. 

Asmussen also won Friday's second race with 2-year-old colt Hulen for win No. 739 at the Louisville track.

Born Nov. 18, 1965 in Gettysburg, S.D., Asmussen was destined for horse racing. His mother Marilyn was a trainer and his father Keith was a jockey and trainer. For more than 50 years, they've managed Asmussen Horse Center and El Primero Training Center in Laredo, Texas.

Asmussen's older brother Cash was the 1979 Eclipse Award-winning apprentice and became a champion jockey in France. He won more than 3,000 races before his retirement in 2001.

Asmussen helped his parents around the stable by mucking stalls and walking horses at an early age. He'd later follow in his brother's footsteps as a jockey and won his first race on April 4, 1982. He rode in New Mexico, California, and New York and won 63 races and $687,224 before he was forced to retire from riding because he grew too big. (He now stands over 6-feet in height and is about twice his former riding weight.)

Asmussen began training in 1986 and saddled his first winner on July 19, 1986, at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico at age 20. 

According to track publicity, he won his first race at Churchill Downs when 3-year-old gelding Snake Eyes won an allowance on May 16, 1993. His first stakes win at Churchill Downs came with Valid Expectations, winner of the Derby Trial Stakes (G3) on April 27, 1996.

The trainer, inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2016, operates a vast stable and employs numerous assistants, one of whom is Scott Blasi, who began working for him in 1996 and oversees his Churchill Downs string.

He has bee stabled annually at the Louisville track since the fall of 1997, according to Churchill Downs publicity, and has won a record 22 meet titles locally, the first in 2001.

Asmussen is a two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer and two-time national leader in money won: 2008-09. He has trained North America's Horse of the Year four times: Curlin  (2007-08), Rachel Alexandra (2009), and Gun Runner  (2017).

His current top horse is Midnight Bisou, the champion older dirt mare of 2019.

Asmussen also is a nine-time winner of the national training title in races won (2002, '04-05, '07-11 and '13), including a record 650 wins in 2009. 

His biggest wins include the Preakness Stakes (G1) twice (Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009), the Belmont Stakes (G1) (Creator in 2016), the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) twice (Curlin in 2007 and Gun Runner in 2017) and Dubai World Cup (G1) (Curlin in 2008).

At Churchill Downs, Asmussen seeks his first Kentucky Derby win—he's finished second twice with Nehro (2011) and Lookin At Lee (2017) in 20 starts—but has won the Longines Kentucky Oaks twice with Summerly (2005) and Untapable (2014). Overall, he's won 79 stakes races at Churchill Downs, which ranks second to Mott's 95. 

Asmussen is closing on another significant career milestone. Heading into Friday, Asmussen had 8,867 career wins, which ranked second and was 578 victories behind all-time North American win-leader Dale Baird's 9,445.