Ramseys end relationship with trainer Chuck Simon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who have won or shared the last five owner titles at Churchill Downs and were the leading owners at the 2002 Keeneland spring meet, have parted ways with trainer Chuck Simon, who trained most of the couple's horses for the last several years.

Fourteen of the Ramsey horses were being disseminated among several trainers Wednesday at Churchill, where Simon is based.

Simon said he asked Ken Ramsey to remove all of his horses after being informed that D. Wayne Lukas would be the new trainer of Nothing to Lose, a 2-year-old Sky Classic colt who won his career debut for Simon on closing weekend at Saratoga.

Several other trainers will be getting horses from the Ramseys, including Dale Romans, Steve Margolis, and Ronny Werner.

Simon, a former longtime assistant to Allen Jerkens, had his solo training career jump-started with his association with the Ramseys in 1999. He will continue to operate a public stable.

The Ramseys, who oversee their sizable stable from their farm just south of Lexington, Ky., have a longstanding practice of employing as many as 10 trainers at a time.

Ramsey said the decision to give Nothing to Lose to Lukas "was the straw that broke the camel's back in our divorce. I try to be very, very loyal to my trainers. I've been associated with Chuck for several years and I thought it was a win-win situation for both of us.

"This is nothing personal, but strictly a business decision on my part."