North America’s all-time winningest trainer Steve Asmussen has added to his list of endless accolades and awards, winning an unprecedented 18th Chuck Taliaferro training title at Remington Park. The 2023 Thoroughbred Season came to a close Dec. 16.
Asmussen’s colleague in the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Donnie Von Hemel, is the closest to him with 12 training titles at Remington Park. Asmussen’s first training title came in the fall of 1991 at Remington. He added this season’s title when he won 43 times, 16 more than runner-up Karl Broberg. Broberg is the only reason Asmussen hasn’t won 17 training titles in a row at Remington Park. He has won 15 of the past 17 and Broberg has edged him out in the other two in 2022 and 2015. Asmussen has won every other title since 2007.
Asmussen also was top conditioner there in the fall of 1995, the fall of 1992, and the fall of 1991. Asmussen has trained there since the track opened in 1988.
“All the credit goes to (assistant trainer at Remington Park) Pablo (Ocampo),” Asmussen said Dec. 15 as he witnessed one of the two biggest wins of the meet, Otto the Conqueror getting 10 Kentucky Derby points by winning the $300,000 Springboard Mile. Asmussen also won the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) with How Did He Do That Sept. 24.
“Pablo deserves it for all 18 titles,” Asmussen continued. “It has been a great association with him all these years. I’ve worked with him here since 1989 and I am extra fortunate to have had him. Winning the first one is one of my fondest memories and I love coming here.”
In the early years, Remington Park ran Spring and Fall thoroughbred meets and consequently, they were shorter. Hence, the fewer wins it took to win the title. Asmussen set the record in 2018 when his horses made 104 trips to the winner’s circle.
Rounding out the top five for trainers this meet behind Asmussen and Broberg were Ronnie Cravens III (26 wins) with Ray Ashford and Mindy Willis tied for fourth (20).
Elliott Wins First Remington Title
In the jockey’s standings race this meet, Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Stewart Elliott won his first title at Remington Park in runaway fashion, capturing the Pat Steinberg Award.
Stewart Elliott wins his first riding title at Remington Park
Elliott posted 74 wins, 29 more than runner-up Lindey Wade at 45. Elliott made Remington Park his regular fall stop in 2019. He won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness aboard Smarty Jones in 2004.
Elliott’s 74 victories were three more than last year’s top rider Cristian Torres’ 71. Torres did not ride regularly at Remington Park this Fall. The high mark historically at Remington Park is 126 wins by Tim Doocy in 1997.
“I’m thankful I’ve had a lot of support here at Remington with Steve (Asmussen) loading me up with live horses and all the other trainers,” said Elliott. “I’m fortunate I have had such good business here and my agent Scott Hare gets a lot of the credit.”
Among the top winners Elliott brought back to the winner’s circle this meet were How Did He Do That (Oklahoma Derby), Run Slewpy Run (Bob Barry Memorial Stakes, Oklahoma Classics Distaff Turf), Fly to the Bank (Silver Goblin Stakes), Tap the Dot (Red Earth Stakes), Medalla Match (Ricks Memorial Stakes, and Sunlit Song (Remington Green Stakes).
End Zone Athletics Gains Third Owner Title
In the owners’ standings, Broberg’s outfit End Zone Athletics, won its second title in a row and third in the last five years. End Zone was responsible for 18 wins this meet, five more than runner-up L and G Racing Stables (Silvia Castillo) at 13. Following the top two were George A. Sharp and Bryan Hawk tied with 12 and Asmussen rounded out the five in fifth with 11.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
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