Erik Asmussen Continues Winning Ways as Journeyman

Jockey Erik Asmussen's two victories Jan. 31 at Oaklawn Park were noteworthy because they not only represented his first career riding double at Hot Springs, Ark., track but also his first victories as a journeyman. Just eight days earlier, Asmussen was in Palm Beach, Fla., accepting an Eclipse Award as North America's champion apprentice jockey of 2024. Asmussen, 22, is the youngest son of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and the nephew of retired jockey Cash Asmussen, the 1979 Eclipse Award-winning apprentice. "(The trophy) sleeps with me," Erik Asmussen, jokingly, said earlier this month. "It's just at home with me. You know, you stare at it when you have a bad day, stare at it when you have a good day. It just always puts you in a good mood." Asmussen was one of three finalists for the award and the runaway winner after leading all North American apprentice riders in victories (127) and purse earnings ($5,078,150) in 2024. Asmussen thanked his family, owners, trainers, horses, grooms and hot walkers during an emotional acceptance speech. "I had no idea what I was going to say," Asmussen said. "I just went up there and started talking. The game means so much to me and it's what I'm passionate about. It's from the heart." Asmussen's first two mounts of 2024 came at Oaklawn before he moved his tack to Sam Houston Race Park, where he recorded his first career victory Jan. 5, 2024, aboard Cleat for Steve Asmussen, the jockey's biggest supporter. Erik Asmussen finished eighth in the Sam Houston standings with 25 victories. Asmussen then landed his first career riding title last summer at Lone Star Park. Asmussen rode 48 winners and led all jockeys in purse earnings with $1,199,518. Asmussen was scheduled to ride at Remington Park after Lone Star closed in mid-July, but he shifted his tack to the more lucrative Kentucky circuit. That door opened, unexpectedly, after Asmussen's older brother, jockey Keith Asmussen, suffered leg and rib injuries in a June 1 spill at Churchill Downs and was sidelined for approximately 3 1/2 months. Erik Asmussen rode one winner at the Churchill Downs spring meeting (June 12) and began riding regularly at Ellis Park in late July. "There was a break between Lone Star Park and Remington and I went up to Kentucky to ride," Erik Asmussen said. "I actually had good success up there, so I kind of just stayed up there throughout the meet. I kept having success, so there was no point to leave." Asmussen rode 10 winners at Ellis Park, three winners at the Churchill Downs September meeting and 12 winners at the Churchill Downs fall meeting to finish sixth in the standings. On dark days in Kentucky, Asmussen rode at Horseshoe Indianapolis and recorded 19 victories at the Indiana venue. Asmussen's Churchill Downs fall meeting was highlighted by his biggest career victory to date aboard the Steve Asmussen-trained Gulfport in the Bet on Sunshine Stakes Nov. 2. Erik Asmussen said he'll "most likely" be based this summer in Kentucky. "It is going to be hard not to go back to Texas after being leading rider there," said Asmussen, who grew up minutes away from Lone Star in suburban Dallas. "I won 48 races there at the meet, so that will be tough not to go back to. Ultimately, I'll talk to my dad, who is my main supporter, and see where he wants me and just do whatever's best for the horse." Steve Asmussen, North America's all-time winningest trainer, was honored with an Eclipse Award as North America's outstanding trainer in 2008 and 2009. Asmussen is Oaklawn's all-time leading trainer. Erik Asmussen rode two winners last season at Oaklawn and has eight victories at the 2024-25 meeting that began Dec. 6. Asmussen rode his first race Nov. 22, 2023, at Churchill Downs. Asmussen's last day as an apprentice was Jan. 25, according to James Lages, state steward at Oaklawn. He is 5-for-23 since.