Entering Oct. 11 with 10,997 career victories, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen made quick work of achieving his 11,000th career win by taking three races on the evening card at Remington Park.
The milestone victory came in the night's eighth race as Beau Soleil, a 4-year-old Alternation filly owned by Clark Brewster, was piloted to a neck victory over allowance company by Asmussen's son, Erik, who was aboard all three winners that evening.
Video: Race 8 (ALW) at RP on 10/11/25
At Keeneland the following day, Asmussen was quick to thank all the members of his staff that have aided in reaching a win total that was formerly considered impossible.
"I'm extremely proud of it; the help and all that they've done," Asmussen said. "I think it highlights the importance of every single race, how significant they actually are. We're blessed with a tremendous opportunity from the greatest owners in the game and wonderful horses."
Inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2016, Asmussen broke Dale Baird's all-time win record with his 9,446th victory in the summer of 2021. He then became the first trainer to reach a five-digit win total with his 10,000th victory in February 2023.
Now clearly established as the winningest trainer in North American history by a large margin, the chase for each milestone victory does not lose any importance in Asmussen's mind. In fact, it acts more as motivation in a sport where it's easier to fall in a slump than go on a hot streak.
"It puts an added emphasis on right now," Asmussen said of chasing milestones. "(There are) peaks and valleys. You'll have a great run, and then things will back off. Whenever you're nearing a milestone, you're looking for one of those peaks."
Peaks in Asmussen's career include his 2008 and 2009 Eclipse Awards for outstanding trainer, as well as the 14 years he's led all North American trainers by wins and three years he led by earnings.
Asmussen has won three Triple Crown races—the Preakness Stakes (G1) with Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009, and the Belmont Stakes (G1) with Creator—and eight Breeders' Cup races. Asmussen trained Curlin (2007-08), Rachel Alexandra (2009), and Gun Runner to Horse of the Year honors—all three being inducted to the Hall of Fame—in addition to seven other champions.
Recently, Asmussen's victories have become even more special as his sons, Keith and Erik, have begun their careers as jockeys and ride regularly for their father.
Asmussen takes pride in his family's involvement. Asmussen's father, Keith, was a jockey, and his mother, Marilyn, was a trainer. Both are still involved with the early development of Asmussen's horses at their El Primero Training Center in Laredo, Texas.
Asmussen himself rode 63 winners as a jockey before transitioning to training, while his brother, Cash, was the Eclipse Award winner for outstanding apprentice in 1979 before becoming a five-time champion in France. Erik followed in his uncle's footsteps by winning the 2024 Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice.
"My racing stable from day 1 has been a family thing," Asmussen said. "I've had four different Asmussens win races for me through my training career. For what Keith and Erik bring to the mornings and the afternoons, it continues to allow us to get better. I think in everything, you have to get better continuously or become irrelevant."
It doesn't appear that Asmussen will become irrelevant anytime soon.
"We've accumulated quite a resume," Asmussen said, "but we feel like we're in the middle somewhere.
"We've got a lot left to do."
