Remington Park article by Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – October 28, 2026 — Erik Asmussen and his father, Steve, dominated the competition at Remington Park during the racing week of Oct. 21-24 to sweep the honors of Lip Chip Jockey and Trainer of the Week.
Erik won at an amazing clip, making it to the winner’s circle with 11-of-26 mounts for a 46-percent win rate. If that weren’t enough, he also ran second on seven other starters. Erik’s in-the-money rate was an incredible 85 percent for the week.
His father Steve’s barn was almost as impressive, sending out 36 horses and winning with 11 of them for a 31-percent win rate. Steve also had 10 other starters that were runners-up in their races. Steve’s in-the-money rate was 72 percent for the week.
Only jockey Belen Quinonez had a higher win rate for the week in the jockeys’ race at 50 percent, making it to the winner’s circle with three-of-six starters. Quinonez did receive votes for the honor to finish second in the voting. Shawn Davis also received votes in the trainers’ race, winning with two of only three starters for the week. He was the runner-up in that category.
Among Erik’s wins were bookend four-baggers on the week. He won with four horses on Wednesday and four more on Saturday, the final racing day of the week. His quad on Wednesday included the featured allowance winner Spring in Paris, two maiden breakers – T Red and Attack Now – and one claimer, Lebowski. His foursome on Saturday were the featured allowance winner Perfect Magic, two starter allowance horses – Get Her Number and Maddienlizzyshonor – and claimer, Armet. All eight of these horses are trained by Steve.
The fantastic week allowed Erik to move into a commanding lead in the jockeys’ race with 54 wins for the meet, compared to 43 for second-place David Cabrera.
Erik has never won the riding title at Remington Park, but the 22-year-old rider was the top jock at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, with 48 wins in the spring-summer season of 2024. He won his first career victory on Jan. 5 that year at Sam Houston Race Park. He was awarded the Eclipse Award as top apprentice rider of 2024, taking the most trips to the winner’s circle, 127, than any other bug boy.
For his career, Erik’s marks are 2,277 mounts, 385 wins, 332 seconds and 326 thirds for horses’ earnings of $17,099,973. He currently sits 21st in for most North American wins for a jockey this year with 134, tied with Erik Barbaran, according to Equibase statistics.
Steve, 60, is the all-time winningest trainer in the history of North American thoroughbred racing with 11,393 winners, well ahead of all other conditioners. Dale Baird is in second with 9,445 and the closest trainer still active is Jerry Hollendorfer in third with 7,777 victories, according to Equibase.
Among Steve’s other accolades are awards as two-time Eclipse winner for top trainer in the country, a member of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2016) and stakes winners in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Preakness, Belmont, Travers, Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Kentucky Oaks and Dubai World Cup.
Steve Asmussen is a 20-time top trainer title holder at Remington Park, working on his 21st. He holds a 58-14 lead over second-place Scott Young after last week.
Steve also is the 13-time top trainer in the country by wins in the United States and has been the champion trainer by earnings three times. Among Asmussen’s top horses he trained were two-time Champion Horse of the Year, Curlin (2007-08), Rachel Alexandra, Gun Runner, Midnight Bisou, Mitole, Epicenter, Jackie’s Warrior, Cogburn and Echo Zulu.
Remington Park racing continues Wednesday through Saturday, Oct. 28-31. The first race nightly is at 6:30pm-Central.
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Remington Park has provided more than $429 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. Remington Park’s marquee event for 2-year-old Thoroughbreds is the Springboard Mile. A qualifying points race for the 2027 Kentucky Derby, the Springboard will be contested on Saturday, Dec. 19. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
