Keeneland Continues

Although it seems we have only just begun,  Keeneland initiates its final week of the Fall meet today.  The meet is brief but jam packed with quality racing.  Thoroughbreds took to the track for live racing on October 7th and will continue to race there until the 28th.  I will be present for the final two days of action.  There have been several stand out horses, trainers, jockeys and owners involved in this October racing season.  I met and had my picture made with one of  my long time favorite jockeys, Big Money Mike Smith.  A stand out trainer I have been following this Fall, at Keeneland, is Steve Asmussen.

Steven Mark Asmussen was born to train Thoroughbreds.  His parents and his brother are trainers too.  He was born in South Dakota in 1965 and he got his start as a jockey when he was a teenager.  By 1986 he was training horses.  He has earned many awards and records for his work with both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds.  In 2008 and 2009 he received the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer.  Five times since 2002 he has been honored for U.S. Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by Wins.  Asmussen is pretty easy to spot at the track or the sales in part to his large and long poof of grey hair.

Keenland posted their last Fall Meet Leaders story on 10/19/17.  At the time Mike Maker led with 28 starts while Asmussen had 19.  That was a mid-point evaluation.  Asmussen has continued to race there every day since.  Even today you can catch him with his entries in the 2nd and 7th race.

Asmussen is known on a national scale for his Thoroughbreds like Curlin, Rachel Alexandra, Gun Runner, Creator and several more champions.  Gun Runner is currently prepping for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and then he will point to The Pegasus World Cup.  I enjoy watching the maidens Asmussen trains for the Keeneland races because I always wonder who his next star will be.  I have watched him race Shakedown, Bee Jersey, Crawford, Justa Lady, Cause to Action and Zing Zang so far this October.  Please, enjoy photos of each of these horses throughout this post.

I have a lot of anticipation built up for these last 5 days of Keeneland’s Fall Meet.  I hope Asmussen and all of the connections of the fine bloodstock at Keeneland have a safe and successful finish.  I can not wait to spy the next big champion Thoroughbred right at my home track.  Who do you expect that to be?  Who do you think will take the title for the most wins per jockey, trainer and owner?  There is a lot to still speculate about as we enjoy the end of October.  Stay tuned for more pictures and stories as the meet wraps.