Churchill Downs Spring Meet Ends

The Churchill Downs 2013 Spring Meet came to a close on Sunday after 38 days of racing, and it was right down to the wire for the title of leading trainer, while there was a new face claiming the jockey title, and a forgone conclusion sealing the deal in the owners' standings. All-in-all, it was a fitting end to a great spring of racing in Louisville, highlighted, of course with Orb’s dominating performance in the running of the signature event under the Twin Spires, the Kentucky Derby.

Maker and Asmussen tie for trainer title

On the trainer’s side, it was a battle all the way between Mike Maker and Steve Asmussen, and so it was only fitting the two would go head-to-head on the very last race of the meet. When the field for the closer hit the wire, it was Maker’s 4-5 favorite Buzzin’ At Midnight who took the win, giving the trainer 35 wins and a tie with Asmussen for the title. For Maker, it was his first Spring Meet trainer crown, for Asmussen it was number 12.   It marked the second time two had tied, turning the same trick in the Fall of 2011.

Bridgmohan claims top jockey award

On the jockey side of things, Shaun Bridgmohan finished the meet in first with 53 wins, the first time the 32-year-old Jamaican has claimed a Churchill riding title outright.  He now ranks number 11 all-time for wins at Churchill with 489. Meanwhile, Rosie Napravnik won the closing day feature aboard Awesome Flower to notch win number 45 and second place in the final standings, the highest ever for a female jockey at Churchill. The victory was number 32 of the meet for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, a meet record. Live racing will resume at Churchill Downs on September 6, 2013.