Steve Asmussen Joins the TDN Writers' Room

Early in the Saratoga meeting, Steve Asmussen broke the all-time record of number of winners for a North American trainer. It was a remarkable achievement in a remarkable career, and comes at the age of just 55 years old.It turns out he was just warming up. In a remarkable closing rush to the meeting, Asmussen won nine Grade I races in five days, including one a day in each of the last three days of the week when he sent out Echo Zulu to win the Spinaway, Gunite to win the Hopeful, and Max Player in The Jockey Club Gold Cup–two of which were sired by his own Gun Runner.Asmussen rejoins the Writers' Room as the Green Group Guest of the Week for the second time in as many months, and proves to be every bit as funny, gracious and grateful as he was on his last visit.So much of his success at the meet came by way of his longstanding connections. “To think that this record you're aiming at for so long happens on Whitney Day with a son of Tapit for the Winchells,” he said. “The level of class of the Winchells is impossible to measure. Everybody is well aware of what the criticism I went through, I feel unjustly and for whatever reason. But sticking true to who he was, how he handled that, and proving our innocence and just going about our business, how could you ask for more?”You don't want to miss the interview,The writers also recap closing weekend at Saratoga on this week's Writers' Room presented by Keeneland, Elsewhere on the show, which is also sponsored by West Point Thoroughbreds, Spendthrift Farm, Woodford Thoroughbreds and Legacy Bloodstock, we discuss the passing of Dr. David Richardson, the Kentucky Downs meeting, and the weekend's upcoming races.