Norman sets mark

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Cole Norman won his 96th race of the Lone Star Park meeting Friday night, breaking the track record for wins in a meet by a trainer. The meeting was to close Sunday.

The previous record of 95 wins was set last year by Steve Asmussen, who has won the past four training titles at Lone Star.

This year, Norman will win his first title at the track. He led Asmussen, who is serving a seven-day suspension for a medication infraction, 96 wins to 80 at the close of racing Friday.

"I'm speechless," Norman said after Tex Maring won the 10th race Friday and gave him the record. "This is for Gene Norman, my dad, who passed away in 1994. This is for him."

Earlier this year, Norman, 34, set the record for trainer wins in a meet at Oaklawn Park, and he also holds the record at Louisiana Downs. He ranks as the nation's third-leading trainer in wins this year behind Scott Lake and Asmussen.

Through Friday, Norman had started 382 horses at the Lone Star meet.