Erik Asmussen

In many respects, especially on the racetrack, it was a good year for the sport of horse racing. Controversies weren't the thorny issue they normally are and on the racetrack there were dozens of races that were memorable, some of the best we've seen in some time. That was the theme Thursday night at the 54th Eclipse Awards ceremony. The winners, the losers, and those who were there just to take in the show, made sure this would be a feel-good night about people who loved the sport and their...

Only a courageous runner-up effort behind 'TDN Rising Star' and 3-year-old male Eclipse finalist Fierceness (City of Light) in the GI Travers Stakes this past August stood between Brookdale Racing Inc, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) and a perfect season in 2024. But the enormously talented dark bay filly was utterly dominant against her own sex in 2024 and became the first female since Havre de Grace (Saint Liam) in 2011 to take home the coveted Horse of the Year statuette...

Riding professionally since late 2023, Erik Asmussen took home the Eclipse as the nation's leading apprentice in 2024. The young rider collected his first jockey's title at the Grand Prairie, Texas track where he topped the standings with 48 wins. In his early twenties, Erik is the younger brother of fellow Oaklawn-based rider Keith J. Asmussen, but lest we forget that their father Steve rode and so did their grandfather Keith. Cash Asmussen had a celebrated career himself during the 1980s and 1990s, which included being named a five-time champion...

It's an interesting year when it comes to the Eclipse Awards, which will be announced next week. As always, there are the categories that are no-brainers where the winners should be unanimous. But there are several divisions this year that aren't so clear-cut, which will make for an interesting ceremony come Jan. 23. Here's a look at my ballot: Two-Year-Old Male: Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) Became the obvious pick after winning the 2024 GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Scary thing is that he might be no better than the third...

4th-Churchill Downs, $118,875, Msw, 9-26, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:03.98, ft, 2 lengths. PERFECT MAGIC (c, 2, Maclean's Music--You Asked {MGSP, $245,934}, by Yes It's True) made the most of his first spin on the dirt here at overlaid odds. Off at 10-1 from a 3-1 morning line, the bay colt veered in sharply from gate seven, bothering each of the rivals to his inside to varying degrees, but ultimately set up shop outside of Troubleshooting (Not This Time) through an opening couple of furlongs in :22.38. Narrowly in front passing...

Young jockeys Keith and Erik Asmussen, both sons of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, were each injured Saturday in separate races at Churchill Downs and Lone Star Park, respectively. Keith Asmussen was injured at about 12:47 p.m. ET in the 1st race at Churchill, a $10,000 claimer for fillies and mares three and up. The Equibase chart said his mount, Singsational (Audible) "was jostled between horses and squeezed back at the start, clipped a rival's hind heels and fell at the eleven sixteenths pole, then walked off." Singsational, who...

2nd-Lone Star, $33,000, Msw, 5-12, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :52.58, sy, 5 1/2 lengths. GLEE (f, 2, Honor A. P.--Red Tabby, by Bluegrass Cat), sent off at 9-2 for this soggy unveiling, pressed 2-1choice Big Rasee (Clearly Now) through a :22.36 opening quarter. Edging ahead of that rival after a :46.20 half, the Texas-bred filly gave the boys an education in humility as she rolled home a 5 1/2-length winner over the favorite. Firster Game Runner (Game Winner) was third. With the victory, Glee becomes the second winner for her freshman...

Jockey Keith Asmussen recorded his 64th career victory in Saturday's opener at Oaklawn, eclipsing the total of his father, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, during his riding career. Keith Asmussen, fittingly, reached the milestone on a horse trained by his father, Hern, who won the 1 1/16-mile claiming race. "Couldn't be more excited for today and the rest of the meet," Keith Asmussen said. Steve Asmussen rode 63 winners in 1982-1984, according to Equibase. Asmussen turned to training after he became too heavy to ride. Keith Asmussen, 25, launched...