Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen could saddled his first Quarter Horse starter since 2014 during the Sandy Ridge at Red Mile meet set for March 17 thru 26 in Lexington, Kentucky.

© Coady Photography

LEXINGTON, KY–FEBRUARY 28, 2024–Sandy Ridge at Red Mile announced today that Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has indicated an interest in saddling a starter at at the second Sandy Ridge at Red Mile Quarter Horse Meet.

The 2024 meet, with average purse totals of $200,000 per day on an 8-race card, will be held March 17 thru 26 at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky. Stall applications are due Thursday, February 29.

Sandy Ridge Racing Manager Terry Oliver was instrumental in getting Asmussen interested in participating in the Sandy Ridge at Red Mile meet from his love Quarter Horse racing and desire to support the origins of where he came from.

Asmussen is still working on how many horses he will have to start at the meet but is excited about making his first start with a Quarter Horse since 2014.

"Quarter Horse racing is and always has been extremely important to me and my family's origins in the sport of horse racing," said Asmussen. "To have the opportunity to run Quarter Horses at the Red Mile is something that I am looking forward to doing, as I am all for supporting the industry.  Both Wayne (Lukas) and I do not forget where we came from, and we are both proud of our backgrounds in running Quarter Horses that has been so instrumental with making us the horsemen we are today."

A love of horses runs deep in the Asmussen family and those roots in racing start with his parents, Marilyn and Keith Asmussen. They have been involved in Quarter Horse racing dating back in the early 1970’s. Their sons Steve and Cash are both Eclipse Award winners and are considered legends of the sport. Steve’s sons, Keith and Eric, are two currently successful Thoroughbred jockeys racing in the southwest. 

Keith and Marilyn transitioned from Quarter Horses to Thoroughbreds decades ago producing some of the industry's brightest Thoroughbred superstars at their El Primero Training Center in Laredo, Texas.

Steve Asmussen, the all-time winningest Thoroughbred trainer, has more than 10,400 wins and earnings over $435 million in his illustrious career.  He is a two time-winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic(G1), two-time winner of the Preakness Stakes(G1), winner of the Dubai World Cup(G1), and Pegasus World Cup(G1).  

Asmussen has saddled such Thoroughbred greats as Gun Runner, Curlin and Rachel Alexandra to mention only a few.