Keith J. Asmussen

Keith Asmussen is carrying on a successful family tradition in the horse industry by building his own career as a jockey. He’s the son of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, the all-time winningest trainer in North America, the nephew of Eclipse Award-winning rider Cash Asmussen, and the grandson of quarter horse jockey Keith Asmussen.

The younger Keith briefly rode in 2020, snagging six wins, but after he earned a Master’s degree in business from the University of Texas, he focused full-time on the profession during winter 2022-23, based at Oaklawn Park. Over the next year, he established a foothold in the competitive jockey colonies in Arkansas, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Asmussen won his first graded stakes Feb. 24, 2024, at Oaklawn Park aboard D. Wayne Lukas-trained Lemon Muffin in the Honeybee Stakes. His younger brother Erik is also pursuing a riding career.