Asmussen, Elliott Lead Remington Meet Standings Again

Forget about Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen building a new wing in his home for all his awards in racing; he will eventually need another house just for his trophies from Remington Park.

Asmussen won his unprecedented 19th training title in the recently concluded season and his first-call rider, Stewart Elliott, won his second Remington Park title in a row.

"I'm fortunate really to win this at this stage of my career," said Elliott, who will turn 60 years old on March 1, 2025. "Hey, when you ride for Steve Asmussen, you always have a chance to win."

What makes Elliott's 37-win victory margin (91-54) over runner-up Floyd Wethey Jr. so impressive this year is that he was coming off a three-month layoff after fracturing a bone in his pelvis earlier in the summer.

Elliott began his riding career in 1981 and he won the 2004 Kentucky Derby (G1) aboard Smarty Jones.

"I'm grateful that I get to ride for Steve Asmussen," said Elliott. "My agent, Scott Hare, does a great job getting me on all these horses. It's all good. I love it."

Remington Park's leading jockey award is named after the late Pat Steinberg, who dominated the colony here from 1989 until his death after the 1993 spring season.

Asmussen always gives credit to his assistant Pablo Ocampo, who handles his string of horses at Remington Park. Asmussen and Ocampo didn't have to look over their shoulders much this meet as that barn won the training title in wins, 60-28, over runner-up and Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Famer Joe Offolter.

Here's a look at Asmussen's Remington Park training titles: (2024) 60 wins, (2023) 43, (2021) 42, (2020) 73, (2019) 83, (2018) 104, (2017) 81, (2016) 63, (2014) 49, (2013) 38, (2012) 47, (2011) 50, (2010) 47, (2009) 102, (2008) 57, (2007) 48, (Fall 1995) 20, (Fall 1992) 21 and (Fall 1991) 20.

That's 16 of the past 18 years that Asmussen has brought home the trophy.

Asmussen also has won more races in this sport than any other trainer in North American racing history -- 10,740 through Dec. 15, 2024, according to Equibase statistics. Asmussen passed the 1,300-win mark at Remington Park on the final night of the season on Dec. 13, ending with 1,302.

In the owners' race a new face emerged with Bryan Hawk of Shawnee, Okla., winning the Ran Ricks Jr. Award for the first time in his career as an owner and breeder in Oklahoma.

"That's the easy part, winning it," said Hawk. "Staying there is a different story. I need to thank Joe Offolter (Hawk's trainer) and just a lot of people who are behind me, everybody. I couldn't be happier."

Hawk won 24 wins to 18 over runner-up owner-trainer-breeder Dick Cappellucci. Hawk started 110 horses with Cappellucci starting only 26 that he owned. Hawk posted numerous stakes victories, capping the meet with C W Prize winning the Jeffrey Hawk Memorial, a race named in honor of Bryan's brother who passed in 2017.

Remington Park has provided more than $370 million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 American Quarter Horse Season will begin on March 6. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.