Keith Asmussen Follows Family's Riding Tradition

When Steve Asmussen speaks to his 21-year-old son, Keith, on June 15, he will say the same thing parents have uttered to their children countless times: "Be safe."

The young man isn't going out that night or doing one of the typical things that cause parents anxiety. He's climbing aboard Senor Jobim, his first career mount, in the featured ninth race at Lone Star Park. His father owns and trains the 6-year-old gelding in the $35,000 allowance race.

It's new for Keith, but not his family. Long before his father embarked on a training career that landed him in the Hall of Fame, he rode for three years, and both Keith's grandfather, also named Keith, and uncle, Cash, rode. Cash was an Eclipse Award-winning apprentice and later a five-time champion rider in France.

Cash's first ride came in April 1978 at Sunland Park on Pirate Island, a horse trained by his mother, Marilyn. He won.

Now it is Keith's turn to ride, though he knows it won't be for the length of time his grandfather, uncle, or even his father experienced. This is more of a fulfillment of a lifelong dream, more so than a long-lasting career move, meant only to last through the Lone Star meet that goes until Aug. 10.

Five-foot-10 and weighing 125 pounds with his riding tack, he isn't quite as tall as his father, who grew to 6 feet and had to give up riding after a growth spurt late in his teenage years, but Keith is still oversized for a jockey. As a consequence, he can't take advantage of the weight break afforded to horses ridden by apprentice riders.

"I never really imagined it would get to this point. It's always been a dream of mine, but it never really seemed possible," Keith said.

His riding talent and Senor Jobim's ability will have to carry the day for success Monday. It could. The son of Distorted Humor  is a contender at 4-1 on the morning line in a field of 10, coming off a second-place finish in an allowance race at the meet. 

Leading up to Monday's race, Keith has watched race replays, hoping to be as prepared as possible, though he knows he is at a disadvantage riding with veteran jockeys. He will have to trust instinct and the tutelage he has received.

Growing up in a racing family, he initially worked as a hot-walker and groom for his father before starting galloping as a teenager, first doing so for his grandfather and grandmother at their El Primero Training Center in Laredo, Texas. There, he had the chance to gallop horses alongside Cash, who retired from race-riding in 2001.

"He's unbelievably knowledgeable, one of the most knowledgeable horsemen I know," Keith said of his uncle. "You tell him two words and he knows exactly what you're thinking. It's like he's reading your mind. He knows the problems you have and how to address them and how to work on them."

The respect is mutual. Cash, who assists his parents in Laredo, was struck by how Keith would travel to the family's training center during Easter and Christmas breaks from school for the opportunity to learn. 

"The Asmussen family is proud, and team Asmussen is proud," Cash said of Keith.

Eventually, Keith made his way to the racetrack and has been galloping for his father since age 16, mostly during the summer. He just completed his third year of schooling toward a five-year degree in accounting at the University of Texas at Austin.

Last summer, he galloped champion sprinter Mitole  on a couple of occasions at Saratoga Race Course and breezed graded stakes winner Engage. Keith's morning galloping opportunities increased this spring, making him one of the few people whose workload increased from COVID-19.

"When the world exploded, I got the opportunity," he said.

His on-campus classes in college were canceled, and when teaching moved to an online format, he decided to pack up and head to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., where he could work for his father as an exercise rider in the mornings while still pursuing his education online.

The galloping routine left Keith fit for the summer. His father also noticed something else about his son, who typically weighs about 135 pounds.

"Towards the end of the meet, you could tell something was on his mind because he was a little lighter every day. His choices for his dinner started to change a bit," he said with a laugh.

Still, Steve and his wife, Julie, needed some convincing. Keith joked that he had to request the chance to ride "about 200 times."

"I am a bit surprised that he got his mom talked into it being OK," Steve said of their conversations. "Obviously, you want to let your kids live out their dreams."

Steve fondly recalls his first ride nearly 40 years ago at Sunland Park in which his mount was outrun. He said the post parade was memorable, though the race itself was a blur, lost in the speed and adrenaline of the moment.

"I know that I rode, with some limited success, if any, but I'm very glad that I did. I have those memories," he said. "And for me to deny him those memories (would be) me being selfish out of fear."

Steve, who became the winningest trainer in Churchill Downs history June 12 and is on pace to pass Dale Baird as North America's all-time leading trainer next year, resides in the Dallas area, not far from Lone Star. He and Julie have two other sons, Keith's younger brothers Darren and Eric. 

If Keith is nervous about riding Monday, it was not apparent during a Saturday telephone interview, though he is looking forward to the race and the rest of the meet.

Cash expects that he and Keith's grandparents will watch Monday's race from Laredo while trying to keep their excitement in check.

"I want to make the most of this experience," Keith said. "I got to give it all I can because there is a timeline on this, and it expires at the end of the summer. I go back to school in the fall."