Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners' Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award

Marty Maline, the former executive director of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, is the recipient of the 2023 Warner L. Jones Jr. Horsemen's of the Year Award presented by the Louisville-based Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners, the organization said in a release Friday morning.

The Warner Jones award recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to Kentucky racing and sharing the passion exemplified by its namesake. Maline, who ranked among the country's most-respected executive directors of any racing organization, will be feted at the KTO's annual awards dinner, Saturday Nov. 18 at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

“The biggest part is that with the people I have known and respected who have received that award, it was very touching to me and I'm really honored that they would even consider me,” Maline said. “Many, many years ago somebody told me 'This isn't your position; this is your life.' And he was right.”

For more information on the event, contact Marlene Meyer at 502-458-5820 and click here for a list of past winners.

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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. “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.”

Through Dec. 2, Asmussen has 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).

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.

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