Kevin Flanery To Be Honored With Warner L. Jones Horseman Of The Year Award This Saturday

Kevin Flanery, who retired as the 13th Churchill Downs Racetrack President last December, will be honored Saturday with the Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award at the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners' 33rd annual awards gala at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Cocktails begin at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $125, which include dinner and drinks, by contacting Marlene Meyer at (502) 458-5820.

The award recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to Kentucky racing and sharing the passion exemplified by Jones, who spent 50 years on the Churchill Downs board, including eight as chairman during the iconic track's resurgence. Warner Jones – the first, and so far only breeder of a Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup winner – was the inaugural award winner in 1988, six years before his death.

Steve Asmussen, the 2020 recipient, will also be honored since last year's event was not able to be staged.

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Kevin Flanery Honored As Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners’ Warner Jones Award Winner

Kevin Flanery is the 2021 recipient of the Louisville-based Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners' Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award. Flanery will be honored at the KTO's 33rd annual awards gala Saturday, Nov. 13 at the Kentucky Derby Museum, 704 Central Avenue adjacent to Churchill Downs. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m. ET, with dinner at 7. Tickets are available for $125, including dinner and drinks, by contacting Marlene Meyer at 502-458-5820.

The award recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to Kentucky racing and sharing the passion exemplified by Jones, who spent 50 years on the Churchill Downs board, including eight as chairman during the iconic track's resurgence. Warner Jones — the first, and so far only breeder of a Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup winner — was the inaugural award winner in 1988, six years before his death.

“I am so grateful for this acknowledgement, and I'm especially honored to be recognized by horsemen. Having grown up in the area surrounding Churchill Downs Racetrack, I have a deep appreciation for all the men and women who invest their whole lives into racing. I have always strived to put them first as they are the essence of what is best about this industry,” said Flanery. “I'm genuinely a fan of racing and I love horses. I will be forever thankful for being a part of the history of Churchill Downs. Witnessing the joy of winner's circle triumphs at all levels of the game will always be cherished.”

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners is an educational and social organization dedicated to the betterment of racing in the state. Membership is open not only to owners, but anyone interested in the sport, including prospective owners.

“Kevin may have left the helm at Churchill Downs, but he will always be a part of the racing family,” said Loren Hebel-Osborne, KTO President. “We are grateful for Kevin's leadership for so many years, and Kevin always provided a welcoming bridge between the frontside and backside. As changes were made on a macro level at the track, Kevin made sure that what was good for horses was always the first consideration.”

Because of the COVID-19 health crisis, the KTO was forced to cancel its traditional November awards gala last year. Steve Asmussen, the 2020 recipient, will also be presented his award at this year's event.

“We want to celebrate, elevate and honor the accomplishments of both men – we've got a particularly solid 1 and 1A entry to recognize this year,” added Hebel-Osborne.

Flanery's 15-year tenure at CDI began in December 2005 as vice president of national public affairs. He was named senior vice president of national public affairs and communications in March 2008 before being named the 13th President of Churchill Downs Racetrack and a Senior Vice President of CDI in July 2009. As President of Churchill Downs Racetrack, Flanery led several significant capital investments that greatly improved the live racing experience including permanent track lighting and the Big Board. He also spearheaded major expansion projects including the Paddock Plaza, The Mansion, the Starting Gate Suites and Rooftop Lounge, the Colonnade, the new Infield Gate and, most recently in 2020, the completion of the equine medical center and Matt Winn's Steakhouse.

Flanery came to Churchill Downs following several key positions in government and private business, including secretary of the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, deputy secretary of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and president of Hagan Properties.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen recently broke the North American record for wins by a trainer, passing Dale Baird's record of 9,445. Asmussen stands at 9,499 wins over his thirty-five-year career.

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Steve Asmussen Named 2020 Recipient Of KTO Warner L. Jones Horseman Of The Year Award

Steve Asmussen — who this year became Churchill Downs' all-time win leader and only the second trainer to achieve 9,000 career victories — is the 2020 recipient of the Louisville-based Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners' Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award.

The award recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to Kentucky racing and sharing the passion exemplified by Jones, who spent 50 years on the Churchill Downs board, including eight as chairman during the iconic track's resurgence. Warner Jones — the first and so far only breeder of a Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup winner — was the inaugural award winner in 1988, six years before his death.

“Everything my whole family has is because of horse racing,” Asmussen said upon being informed he was the award recipient. “I won the Warner L. Jones Horseman of the Year Award – that has a beautiful ring to it. For anybody to be involved in horse racing, I think the greatest compliment you can be given is to be considered a horseman. It is what we strive for. It is something I, as well as my whole family, would be proud to be acknowledged as. The list of past recipients is beyond impressive and a group that I'm very proud to be a part of. That is cool.”

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners is an educational and social organization dedicated to the betterment of racing in the state. Membership is open not only to owners but anyone interested in the sport, including prospective owners.

Because of the COVID-19 health crisis, the KTO was forced to cancel its traditional November awards gala, with Asmussen and the other 2020 KTO award winners to be feted when circumstances permit an in-person event in 2021. KTO president Loren Hebel-Osborne said it was important to still recognize an individual for exceptional work in horse racing.

“As we all know this racing game ebbs and flows; we do not want Covid-19 to further penalize any members or racing entities who may otherwise be having a banner year in racing,” Hebel-Osborne said. “We weren't about to let Covid-19 cancel one more thing. In fact, I would say to win an award under these circumstances really shows extraordinary skill! We want to celebrate, elevate and honor these accomplishments especially in this most challenging environment.

“Steve is the embodiment of what the Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award was created to recognize. Not just his record-setting numbers while playing at all levels of the game but just passing the eyeball test with how his horses always seem to glow good health and being well-cared for.”

Born into a horse-racing family as the younger son of Keith and Marilyn Asmussen, Steve spent parts of three seasons as a jockey before he returned from an injury too big to ride. He worked as an assistant trainer to his mother before starting his own stable with a handful of horses in 1986, winning with his 12th starter: Victory's Halo in a $2,600 maiden race at New Mexico's Ruidoso Downs.

Through Dec. 2, Asmussen had won 9,104 races, trailing only the late Dale Baird's 9,445. Those victories include training Horses of the Year Curlin (2007-2008), Rachel Alexandra (2009) and Gun Runner (2017), as well as winning the 2007 (Curlin) and 2009 (Rachel Alexandra) Preakness and the 2016 Belmont Stakes (Creator). His seven Breeders' Cup triumphs include the Classic with Curlin in 2007 and Gun Runner in 2017, with Curlin also taking the $5 million Dubai World Cup in 2008 and Gun Runner the $16 million Pegasus World Cup to cap his career in 2018. Rachel Alexandra became the only 3-year-old filly to beat older males in winning Saratoga's historic Whitney Handicap in 2009.

Asmussen's more than $342.7 million in career purse earnings are second all-time to Todd Pletcher's $397 million, according to Equibase statistics. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2016. Racing secretaries everywhere appreciate how much he comes to run — no one comes close to his more than 44,000 career starts.

Asmussen's 650 victories in 2009 are a record and mark one of four years in which he's surpassed 500 wins. He is the all-time win-leader at Lone Star Park and Remington Park in addition to Churchill Downs, where he replaced former Warner Jones recipient Dale Romans with the track record with victory No. 738 under the Twin Spires on June 12 this year. At Kentucky tracks, Asmussen has won a record 24 meet training titles at Churchill Downs as well as three apiece at Keeneland and Ellis Park.

On top of it, Asmussen is also an owner of note, his horses having won almost 1,200 races and more than $18.7 million dating to 2000, according to Equibase.

Past Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award recipients

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