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earned $17,529,375. He is currently ranked the 15th all-time leading trainer of Quarter Horse money-earners.
The many top stakes winners trained by Danley include Gotta Get ($972,834); Romeos Wilson (TB) ($868,883); Rustys Miracle ($762,565); Namehimastreaker ($627,649); Shemoveslikeaghost (TB) ($582,486); and Gun Battle ($668,781).
GARY SUMPTER
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Gary Sumpter was widely recognized as one of the leading jockeys at Ruidoso Downs and throughout the Southwest regional racing circuit. In 1979, he was the leading rider of the meet at Ruidoso Downs. During this period, he was the leading rider at Sunland Park four times.
Born in Cheyenne, Oklahoma, Sumpter enjoyed success riding both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds.
During his active years as a race rider from 1973 to 1991, his Quarter Horse mounts won 739 races and more than $9,978,000, while his Thoroughbred starters earned more than $1,380,000.
In 1976, Sumpter won the All
American Futurity riding Real Wind. In 1977, he won the All American Derby and the Kansas Derby riding My Easy Credit. In 1990, he won the same two derbies aboard Special Project. Other memorable stakes
winners ridden by Sumpter during his long career include Sail On Bunny, Real Easy Jet, Nevada Phil, Bartonville, Jet Comanche, Copper Case, Native Creek, and Sages Belle Star.
STEVE ASMUSSEN
Born in 1965 to Keith and Marilyn Asmus- sen, Steve grew up on the backside of race tracks, including Ruidoso Downs. His parents were both well-known as a jockey and trainer, respectively. At Ruidoso Downs in the summer of 1986 (a year after graduating high school), Asmussen won his first race as a trainer. A year later, he won his first stakes race. Ten years later, he won his first Grade 1 stakes race.
Today, Asmussen is recognized as the all- time leading trainer of Thoroughbreds, hav- ing won 9,592 races from 46,825 starts. The combined earnings of all the racehorses he has trained total in excess of $375,311,400. He has been honored in the National Museum
of Racing and Hall of Fame. He has trained three different Horse of the Year recipients, including Gun Runner ($15,900,00),
Curlin ($10,500,000) and Rachel Alexander ($3,500,000). Additionally, he has trained many champions, including Midnight Bisou ($7,400,000), Untappable ($3,900,000) and Mitole ($3,100,000).
Ruidoso Downs is proud of Steve’s career achievements and that his career path in the horse racing industry started locally.
WALT WIGGINS SR.
The late Walt Wiggins Sr. was an integral part of the staff and management of Ruidoso Downs during its formative years, between 1959 and 1969. He was hired by Ruidoso Downs owner Gene Hensley in the fall of 1959, following the first running of the All American Futurity and which Wiggins covered for Sports Illustrated. At the time, Wiggins was recognized worldwide as one of the leading photojournalists of that era.
It was during Wiggins’ tenure that the Kansas Futurity was relocated to Ruidoso Downs and the Rainbow Futurity was conceived, resulting in the creation of the now-famous Ruidoso Downs Triple Crown racing series. The All American Yearling Sale was also established in these years, with Wiggins serving as one of the original direc- tors of the sale company. By 1966, the fast-grow- ing All American Futurity was the world’s richest horse race, receiving worldwide coverage on the major networks of NBC, ABC and CBS, plus coverage in countless newspapers and magazines.
In 1969, Wiggins left Ruidoso Downs to establish the Quarter Racing World publica- tion, which later became Speedhorse Magazine. He authored several books, including “The Great American Speedhorse,” “Cockleburs and Cow Chips,” “Go Man Go” and “Fifteen Years of Adventure.” At the time of his passing in 1992, Walt operated Wiggins Fine Art Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife Roynel and son Kim.
Photo by Robert Edwards
Champion First Moonflash
Steve Asmussen
Fred Danley
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