Ramseys Take Churchill September Meet Title

Churchill Downs concluded its 12-day meeting Sept. 28 with ties for the jockey and trainer titles and Ken and Sarah Ramsey extending their record as leading owners.

 

The track paid total purses of $3,864,487during the meet for daily average purses of $322,041. The average field for the 122 races race during the meet consisted of 7.7 horses. The average number of horses per race in 2013, also through 122 races, was 8.07.

 

The Ramseys, who have a record 22 owner titles, enjoyed seven winners at the meet and have 398 career wins overall at Churchill Downs, more than any other owner in track history.

 

The couple edged Gary and Mary West and Maggi Moss, each of whom finished with six victories.

 

"All I have to say is, 'Wow'," Ken Ramsey said. "We've had a great time here at Churchill Downs over the years; we've had our picture taken in this winner's circle almost 400 times, but we've still got one thing on our bucket list and that's to get our picture made on the inside of that (infield) fence in the (Kentucky) Derby."

 

The battle for leading trainer ended in a tie as Steve Asmussen and Wayne Catalano each saddled seven winners. Asmussen extended his record total of Churchill Downs training crowns to 15, but Catalano's crown was his first. Catalano's title was special because it was another indication that he has rebounded from a recent pneumonia bout that resulted in a hospital stay of 22 days.

 

Jockey Corey Lanerie, the defending September meet win leader, and Ricardo Santana Jr. tied at 13 wins each. The shared title was Lanerie's sixth leading rider title at Churchill Downs, while Santana earned his first.

 

A total of 73 horses were claimed during the September meet, and the claims totaled $1,216,500. The claims resulted in sales tax revenue of $72,990 to Kentucky's state treasury.

 

Racing at Churchill Downs will resume following a brief break with its 25-date fall meet, which will run from Oct. 26-Nov. 30.