Steven Mark Asmussen is a thoroughbred horse trainer. Coming from a deeply embedded racing family, Asmussen’s path to becoming one of North America’s most successful trainers was almost predestined. His father Keith is a retired jockey, and his mother Marilyn became the first woman to win a major quarter horse race with Vespero in the 1978 Kansas Futurity. The family now operates El Primero Training Center and the Asmussen Horse Center in Laredo. His older brother, Cash Asmussen, is a retired Eclipse Award-winning jockey who won five national riding championships in France.
Asmussen began his career as a jockey at age sixteen, riding for two years at racetracks in New Mexico, California, and New York. However, his riding career was cut short when he outgrew the saddle, eventually reaching over six feet in height despite his parents being 5’5″ and 5’2″. He managed only 63 wins as a jockey between 1982 and 1984 before transitioning to training.
His training career began inauspiciously in 1986 at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico, where he won only one race in 15 starts during his first year—a maiden special weight race with Victory’s Help. From these humble beginnings, Asmussen has built an extraordinary career, becoming the all-time winningest trainer in North America with over 9,000 wins. He surpassed this milestone when he sent out Stellar Tap to win at Saratoga on August 7, 2021.
Methodical Approach and Attention to Detail
Asmussen’s success stems from his meticulous attention to detail and patient approach to horse development. One observer noted watching him school three young Thoroughbreds in the paddock for over half an hour, demonstrating remarkable patience and systematic preparation. When asked about this schooling session, Asmussen explained his philosophy simply: “I’m just covering the bases”.
Strategic Workout Scheduling
Asmussen follows a distinctive workout pattern, putting significant work into his horses 12 days before a race. However, he is notably not a trainer who “drills his horses” or subjects them to overly demanding training regimens. This balanced approach allows horses to maintain fitness while avoiding the burnout that can come from excessive training pressure.
Versatile Training Philosophy
Unlike many trainers who specialize in specific types of races or distances, Asmussen has demonstrated remarkable versatility across different racing surfaces, distances, and competition levels. His horses have won everything from sprint races to classic distances, on dirt and synthetic surfaces, indicating an adaptable training methodology that can be tailored to individual horses’ strengths.
Volume-Based Success Model
Asmussen operates multiple training divisions across various racetracks simultaneously, often leading trainer standings at Churchill Downs, Lone Star Park, Remington Park, and Louisiana Downs concurrently. This high-volume approach, managed through trusted assistant trainers like Scott Blasi, allows him to maximize opportunities while maintaining quality care across his large stable.
At Remington Park alone, Asmussen has won an unprecedented 18 Chuck Taliaferro training titles, including 15 of the past 17 seasons. His dominance there demonstrates his ability to consistently identify and develop talent across different competition levels.
Tactical Race Planning
Asmussen shows sophisticated understanding of pace dynamics and race setup. In discussing his 2025 Kentucky Derby contenders Tiztastic and Publisher, he demonstrated keen awareness of pace scenarios, noting concerns about “a lot of pace in the race” while worrying that “everybody sees the same thing and don’t want them overly conservative”. This shows his ability to adjust tactics based on likely race flow rather than relying on rigid pre-race plans.
Systematic Preparation Routines
His preparation for major races follows established patterns. For the Kentucky Derby, his routine included light half-mile works, walk-the-shed-row sessions, and “light mile and a quarter gallops,” combined with gate schooling sessions. This systematic approach ensures horses arrive at major races both physically and mentally prepared.
Family Operation and Delegation
Asmussen’s success is built on a family-based operation with trusted lieutenants managing different divisions. Assistant trainers like Scott Blasi oversee horses at various tracks, allowing Asmussen to maintain oversight while focusing on major races and overall stable management. This delegation model has proven crucial to managing his vast operation effectively.
Long-term Development Focus
Rather than rushing horses, Asmussen demonstrates patience in horse development. His willingness to give horses time to mature and find their best distance and surface has contributed to developing multiple champions and grade one winners across different disciplines.
Late-Running/Closing Tactics
Asmussen frequently employs stalking and closing strategies when facing strong early pace scenarios. His approach with Tiztastic in the 2025 Louisiana Derby exemplifies this tactical type—positioning the horse to sit ninth in a field of ten after a half-mile before unleashing a sustained rally to win by just over two lengths. Asmussen specifically referenced successful Derby upset patterns, noting how Rich Strike was 18th of 20 runners through the first six furlongs and Mage was 16th of 18 after a half-mile before their victories.
Front-Running/Speed Tactics
When conditions favor early speed, Asmussen deploys aggressive gate-to-wire strategies. Gun Runner’s 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic perfectly demonstrates this tactical type, where the horse “shot out of the starting gate, recording the fastest opening quarter-mile by any Classic winner in history with a blistering :22.50” before successfully repelling all challengers.
Pre-Race Pace Analysis Tactics
Asmussen conducts sophisticated scenario-based tactical planning, analyzing likely pace setups before determining race strategy. When discussing his 2025 Kentucky Derby contenders, he demonstrated this approach by expressing concern about “a lot of pace in the race” while worrying that “everybody sees the same thing and don’t want them overly conservative”. This shows he adjusts tactics based on anticipated race flow.
Track Bias Recognition Tactics
Asmussen adapts his tactical approach based on surface conditions and track biases. His comment about Gun Runner’s Breeders’ Cup Classic—”under the circumstances with the way the track was playing, was probably the strongest race I’ve ever had”—indicates he factors track playing characteristics into tactical decisions.
Route vs. Sprint Positioning
Asmussen employs different positioning tactics based on race distance. For longer races, he’s more willing to place horses farther back early, as demonstrated with Tiztastic, whom he noted “needed more distance” and positioned accordingly in the 9½-furlong Louisiana Derby.
Opportunistic Tactical Adjustments
Rather than rigid systematic approaches, Asmussen deploys situational flexibility tactics, reading each race scenario individually. His concern about being “overly conservative” when everyone expects pace pressure shows he makes tactical adjustments based on what other trainers might be thinking.
Jockey-Partnership Tactics
Asmussen provides clear tactical communication to jockeys, including new partnerships. His successful first-time collaboration with Joel Rosario on Tiztastic suggests well-communicated tactical blueprints that allow partnerships to execute effectively.
Track-Specific Tactical Deployment
Through his multi-track stable operation, Asmussen deploys different tactical approaches based on local competition and track characteristics. His ability to “oversee stables across North America, at multiple tracks at the same time” enables tactical variety based on venue-specific conditions.
Strategic Race Placement Tactics
Asmussen employs selective tactical race placement, bringing horses to tracks where tactical advantages exist. His decision to bring Tiztastic back to Fair Grounds demonstrates tactical flexibility in race selection based on familiarity and past success.