Tom Amoss and Steve Asmussen finished in a tie for leading trainer
honors as Fair Grounds’ 141st Thoroughbred racing season concluded on Sunday with 42 wins apiece.
By the end of closing day, the top two trainers had won half the races on the
card.
Asmussen extended his record number of leading trainer
titles to 12, while Amoss tied Jack Van Berg for second in Fair Grounds trainer
titles with 10.
For Asmussen, his sixth consecutive leading trainer crown
was one more milestone in a career that seems to result in new records set at
every turn, at Fair Grounds and across the country. Last week, the horseman became
the second-leading trainer in history, eclipsing Van Berg.
Last Fair Grounds
season, he bested Van Berg’s long-held record for local titles. In 2009 he
surpassed his own record for wins in a calendar year with 623 and he also holds
an Eclipse Award for outstanding trainer in 2008.
Amoss, meanwhile, notched his first leading trainer title
since 2006-2007. He and Asmussen also shared a meet title in 2000-2001.
“It’s been a while,” Amoss said. “It’s good to know the
stable had one left in them! But truly, every once in a while the horse gods
give you a magical day and today was truly a magical day. Four wins is almost
gluttonous, but we’ll take it, for sure. I’m proud of the stable and I’m proud
of everyone that works for the barn.”
The last time a trainer other than Amoss or Asmussen led
the standings here was the 1998-1999 meet, when Al Stall Jr. tied with Amoss.
Amoss now has 922 career Fair Grounds, second behind Van
Berg’s 1,210 (estimated), while Asmussen is third with 863.
For the third straight season, jockey Rosie Napravnik and
owner Maggi Moss led all horsemen in their respective categories.
Napravnik cruised to her third consecutive leading jockey
title with 125 wins, her highest total at the New Orleans venue. She finished 43 wins ahead of James
Graham (82), who was runner-up here for the fifth time.
“My husband and I have made this our home and we love this city and the
racing here at Fair Grounds, so it was great to be back this year,” Napravnik said.
“It’s great to have all of the supporters — the owners and
trainers — helping rack up the wins. We’ll be back next year and we’re looking
forward to it already. I hate to leave.”
In another race that came down to the final day, Maggi Moss
earned her third straight leading owner title with 19 wins, one more than
Asmussen. The Des Moines, Iowa-based attorney finished third in
the national owner standings the past three calendar years.
Thoroughbred racing will return to Fair Grounds in November, but prior to
that live racing will resume with the sixth summer Quarter Horse meet, opening
August 16. That 14-day season will run through September 7.
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