Kentucky Downs Meet Off to 'Sharp' Start

The lucrative purses offered by Kentucky Downs have done the job in attracting top horsemen from around the country to participate. Through opening weekend, 133 individual trainers have started at least one horse for 283 unique owners/partnerships.

Yet, there is one name that has separated from the pack: trainer Joe Sharp.

Winning at 35% to start the meet, Sharp picked up two wins on each of the first three days, tallying him at six to lead the trainer standings by double the amount of Wesley Ward and Steve Asmussen. His $659,963 in purse earnings ranks fifth overall, but the highest among trainers without winning or finishing second in a stakes.

"We'll try pretty much anything down here," Sharp said. "I think the best way to have a good meet down here is to run a lot of horses, give it a lot of chances."

Those chances have been plentiful for the Kentucky-based trainer, who leads the meet with 17 starters.

The success comes on the heels of a frustrating few weeks for the barn. In his 17 starts before the Aug. 29 start of the Kentucky Downs meet, Sharp-trained runners finished second seven times while only picking up one victory. Three of Sharp's six opening weekend winners were entering off a runner-up performance.

"When those seconds turn to wins at a time like Kentucky Downs for this kind of purse structure, it definitely eases the seconditis you experienced," Sharp said.

The timing of his success also comes with added importance due to Churchill Downs shelving its turf racing due to maintenance during a three-week September meet that begins Sept. 12. Kentucky Downs' last day is Sept. 11, so turf racing in the Bluegrass State returns when Keeneland opens Oct. 4.

KING: Churchill Decides to Scrap Turf Racing in September

"It definitely makes you run a little more down here knowing that you don't have turf the rest of September," Sharp said. "We're grateful for Churchill having the foresight to do something about the turf issue, and we look forward to when it is healthy again. We'll be there to support them whether it's dirt or turf."

For now, Sharp and his owners are celebrating on the Franklin, Ky., lawn. Sharp brought the joy of winners' circle visits to four different owners opening weekend, crediting the track's purse structure, unique design, and owner-friendly hospitality as reasons his clients were easily convinced to take a shot.

"The (owners) that we work for have always been giving us the ability to guide them in whatever direction we choose," Sharp said. "We get a lot of owners who actually come to the races here, they do a good job of making it owner-friendly and people-friendly in general. It's like a two-week vacation coming out of Saratoga."

Of course that vacation still includes plenty of work. Sharp turns his sights to week two where he already has seven entries on the Sept. 5 card across five different races.

"We have live horses to run every day of the meet," Sharp said. "It's about having everybody ready, in good condition, and racing luck is everything. We've been on the other side of that so many times, you just have to enjoy it."

Of course, it's not just Sharp's horses who have been running well over the Kentucky Downs surface, but also Sharp himself. Each morning, the trainer runs several laps around the track.

When asked if he believes the morning runs give him an advantage over the competition, Sharp laughed and said, "I do, it gives me good peace of mind."

Trainer ⁦@mjsharp75_joe⁩ getting his miles in before the ⁦@KYDownsRacing⁩ Saturday card. Joe, who runs between 9-10 miles at least 4 times a week, was heading for his second lap around the track. pic.twitter.com/sYlnxRPcsQ

— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) August 31, 2024