Keith Asmussen gets first shot at race ride

Keith James Asmussen will be continuing a rich family tradition Monday, when he makes his riding debut in the featured ninth race at Lone Star Park near Dallas.

His grandfather Keith Asmussen was a longtime jockey. His uncle Cash Asmussen was an Eclipse Award-winning apprentice turned five-time champion jockey in France. And his father, Steve Asmussen, rode for a few years before outgrowing the saddle and launching a training career that has landed him in the Hall of Fame.

“I’m super-excited,” the young Keith Asmussen said.

His first mount comes aboard Senor Jobim, a Steve Asmussen-owned and -trained runner who is part of a 10-horse field for a first-level allowance at six furlongs. The group includes top Louisiana-bred sprinter Monte Man.

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Keith Asmussen’s journey to the starting gate is a tad unconventional, despite the fact that he’s been galloping for his father since he was 16. The 21-year-old actually just completed his third year as an accounting student at the University of Texas at Austin.

“Classes went online in March,” he said, “and as soon as we went remote I went to work for my father in Arkansas, galloping all spring in Hot Springs then coming to Lone Star.”

In the past, Asmussen would just be able to gallop during short periods of time, like over spring break. But the coronavirus pandemic led to more time in the saddle.

“He’s been able to continuously get on horses,” Steve Asmussen said. “The last three, four years, it was never over a sustained-enough period of time to basically be this fit.”

It’s led to the unexpected fulfillment of a dream.

“I feel blessed to have this opportunity,” Keith Asmussen said. “It’s a dream I’ve always had and circumstances are making it possible. I’ve always galloped for my dad, but this never seemed feasible.

“I have no intention of being a journeyman. This is kind of a summer ordeal. Dad made me promise I’d be done after that.”

Keith Asmussen will not be able to claim the apprentice allowance Monday because he stands 5 feet, 10 inches and tacks 125 pounds. As such, he’s been teamed up with Senor Jobim.

“He’s a huge, strong horse,” Keith Asmussen said. “He’s over 1,200 pounds.”

Keith is the oldest of the three sons of Steve Asmussen and his wife, Julie.

“I was trying to measure if I’d ever been this wound up running a horse,” Steve Asmussen said. “I’m about twice as anxious as when we ran Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness against the boys 10 days after acquiring her.

“And it’s the last race. Why couldn’t it have been the first?”