Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is now North America’s most Victorious trainer.

In the 5th race at Saratoga on Saturday Asmussen surpassed Dale Baird’s old record of 9,445 Wins.

The record, which was a foregone conclusion the past few weeks, became reality on Saturday as Asmussen climbed all the way to the top of the training mountain.

The 55-year-old trainer now owns the record for most Wins by a thoroughbred horse trainer in North America 9,446 career Wins- and counting.

It was 2-year-old colt STELLAR TAP with Asmussen’s go-to jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. aboard that gave Asmussen the record breaking Win.

The son of trainers Keith and Marilyn Asmussen, Steve started his career as a jockey at age 16, switching to training after growing too large for professional riding.

As a trainer, he Won his first race with VICTORY’S HALO at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico in 1986. Asmussen’s first Grade 1 Win came in 1999 with DREAMS GALLORE in the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park.

The trainer steadily grew his stable over the first decade of his career, logging his first 100-Win season in 1995. In 2009, Asmussen posted the single-season Win record of 650, also Winning the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer that year.

With a stable that spans multiple racetracks, the Texas native has won races at all levels, from Saratoga to Lone Star Park to Ellis Park and beyond.

“To be surrounded by people you love and who love you, and you have a common goal, it’s impossible to put into words what horse racing means to me and my whole family and to all the employees. They’re family and they know so and are treated as such.” Said Asmussen after the race.

He went on to say: “I’m very proud of where I came from and don’t ever want to forget it. It makes you who you are. I love to be able to share this with my parents.”

Asmussen was elected to the National Museum Of Racing & Hall Of Fame in 2016.

Congratulations to Steve Asmussen for this tremendous feat, and continued success in a career that is far from over.