Trainers

Steve Asmussen

Midwest

Steve was helping his parents walk horses and muck stalls by the time he was five. He took out his jockey’s license at age 16 and rode for three years in New Mexico, California and New York before being forced to retire when he grew too big. Steve began training Thoroughbreds in New Mexico in 1986. His first major Thoroughbred star was Valid Expectations, owned by the Ackerley Brothers Farm, and winner of seven stakes races from 1995-97. Steve’s first grade 1 victory of his career came in 1999 with Dreams Galore in the Mother Goose at Belmont Park. Steve trains for some of the largest owners in horse racing including George Bolton, Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, George McCarty, Padua Stables, just to name a few.

Steve has won training titles at Lone Star Park, Keeneland, Fair Grounds, Churchill Downs, Remington Park, Sam Houston Park, Ellis Park and Retama Park. He was leading trainer by wins in North America in 2002 and 2004. His 407 victories in 2002 enabled him to become only the third trainer in racing history to reach the 400 single-season win plateau. In 2003, he ranked second with 452 wins and third in earnings of $11.7 million. In 2004, Asmussen shattered Jack Van Berg’s record of 496 victories in a single year, set in 1976, when he won 555 races. He was an Eclipse Award finalist in 2004 and 2005. In 2005, his filly, Summerly, captured the prestigious Grade I Kentucky Oaks. Other stakes winners trained include Cuvee, Real Dandy, He’s Got Grit, Quintons Gold Rush, Private Emblem, Posse, Effectual, Lunarpal, Bwana Charlie, Chace City and Private Vow. The current star of Steve’s barn is Curlin. Steve trained Curlin through an amazing 2007 Triple Crown campaign, running third in the Kentucky Derby, winning the Preakness and coming up short in the Belmont by just a nose.