STEVE ASMUSSEN wins 4000th Race

Steve Asmussen (cnn) Trainer Steve Asmussen, an Eclipse Award finalist for leading trainer in 2007, notched his 4,000th win in yesterday’s third race at Oaklawn Park. He hit the milestone with a three-year-old gelding named J J’s Bud, only six minutes after he saddled career winner number 3,999 in Fair Grounds’ fifth race with Far East Gold. Asmussen at just 42 already ranks eighth on the all-time leading trainers list by wins. In 2004, Asmussen won 555 races, shattering Jack Van Berg’s 1976 single-year record of 496. Asmussen was again the USA’s leading trainer by wins in 2005 with 474 victories to his credit and added another title in 2007 with 488 wins. Asmussen conditioned last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike) and could be sitting on a big 2008 with the likes of Pyro (Pulpit), Kodiak Cowboy (Posse) and J Be K (Silver Deputy) in his barn.

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News 18.02.08