Amoss, Asmussen share trainer title at Fair Grounds

Tom Amoss and Steve Asmussen finished in a tie for leading trainer

honors as Fair Grounds' 141st Thoroughbred racing season concluded on Sunday with 42 wins apiece.

By the end of closing day, the top two trainers had won half the races on the

card.

Asmussen extended his record number of leading trainer

titles to 12, while Amoss tied Jack Van Berg for second in Fair Grounds trainer

titles with 10.

For Asmussen, his sixth consecutive leading trainer crown

was one more milestone in a career that seems to result in new records set at

every turn, at Fair Grounds and across the country. Last week, the horseman became

the second-leading trainer in history, eclipsing Van Berg.

Last Fair Grounds

season, he bested Van Berg's long-held record for local titles. In 2009 he

surpassed his own record for wins in a calendar year with 623 and he also holds

an Eclipse Award for outstanding trainer in 2008.

Amoss, meanwhile, notched his first leading trainer title

since 2006-2007. He and Asmussen also shared a meet title in 2000-2001.

"It's been a while," Amoss said. "It's good to know the

stable had one left in them! But truly, every once in a while the horse gods

give you a magical day and today was truly a magical day. Four wins is almost

gluttonous, but we'll take it, for sure. I'm proud of the stable and I'm proud

of everyone that works for the barn."

The last time a trainer other than Amoss or Asmussen led

the standings here was the 1998-1999 meet, when Al Stall Jr. tied with Amoss.

Amoss now has 922 career Fair Grounds, second behind Van

Berg's 1,210 (estimated), while Asmussen is third with 863.

For the third straight season, jockey Rosie Napravnik and

owner Maggi Moss led all horsemen in their respective categories.

Napravnik cruised to her third consecutive leading jockey

title with 125 wins, her highest total at the New Orleans venue. She finished 43 wins ahead of James

Graham (82), who was runner-up here for the fifth time.

"My husband and I have made this our home and we love this city and the

racing here at Fair Grounds, so it was great to be back this year," Napravnik said.

"It's great to have all of the supporters -- the owners and

trainers -- helping rack up the wins. We'll be back next year and we're looking

forward to it already. I hate to leave."

In another race that came down to the final day, Maggi Moss

earned her third straight leading owner title with 19 wins, one more than

Asmussen. The Des Moines, Iowa-based attorney finished third in

the national owner standings the past three calendar years.

Thoroughbred racing will return to Fair Grounds in November, but prior to

that live racing will resume with the sixth summer Quarter Horse meet, opening

August 16. That 14-day season will run through September 7.

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