Asmussen Leads 2022 Hall of Fame Class at Ruidoso Downs

Steve Asmussen, the winningest Thoroughbred trainer in North American racing history, leads five individuals and one racehorse in the 2022 Hall of Fame Class at Ruidoso Downs.

Asmussen won his first race as a trainer at Ruidoso in the summer of 1986 before eventually moving eastward and vaulting up the ranks of his profession. Asmussen entered racing Feb. 1 with 9,616 career victories with stable earnings of more than $376 million. The son of two accomplished horse people, he is a member of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, having trained Horse of the Year recipients Gun Runner  , Curlin  , and Rachel Alexandra . 

The lone horse in the Hall of Fame class is First Moonflash, a Quarter Horse who won 14 of 25 starts and 10 major stakes races.

Individuals honored include late owner-breeder Gwendolyn Eaves, trainer Fred Danley, jockey Gary Sumpter, and late track executive Walt Wiggins Sr. 

"The list of new inductees is incredibly strong," said Walt Wiggins Jr., a board member of the All American Ruidoso Downs Foundation. "These new members of the Hall of Fame that will be inducted this summer each deserve their recognition and honor. Our board is very proud of this year's class and each individual selection."

A full press release with statistical and biographical information on the honorees can be found online.