Cash Asmussen facts for kids
Cash Asmussen (born March 15, 1962, in Agar, South Dakota) is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. His birth name was Brian Keith Asmussen. In 1977, he officially changed his name to "Cash."
Cash comes from a family deeply involved in horse racing in Texas. His parents, Keith and Marilyn "Sis" Asmussen, own and run a ranch in Laredo, Webb County, Texas. His brother, Steve Asmussen, is also very successful as a horse trainer in American racing. Cash currently lives in Laredo, Texas, with his wife, Erica Asmussen, and their three daughters.
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Cash Asmussen's Amazing Career in Horse Racing
Cash Asmussen started his professional racing career with a bang. He won his first big graded stakes race at the Beldame Stakes in 1979. That same year, he earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. This award goes to the best new jockey.
Early Success and International Wins
In 1981, Cash rode a horse named Wayward Lass to victory in the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park. He also traveled to Japan and won the important Japan Cup race. The next year, he won the Washington, D.C. International Stakes. He also won his first of two Turf Classic Invitational Stakes.
Cash found a lot of success racing in France. He moved there to ride horses for a rich stable owner named Stavros Niarchos.
Winning Big Races Across Europe
While living in Chantilly, France, Cash won many major races in other countries too. In England, he won the 1988 July Cup, the 1989 Coronation Stakes, and the 1990 Coronation Cup. He also won the 1993 St. James's Palace Stakes.
In Ireland, he won the 1987 Irish St. Leger and the 1988 National Stakes. Cash also returned to the U.S. for big races. He won his second "Washington, D.C., International" in 1984. He also won the Arlington Million in Chicago in both 1988 and 1992.
Cash's international wins continued. He won the 1993 Canadian International Stakes and the 1997 Hong Kong Cup.
Champion Jockey in France
Cash Asmussen was the first jockey from another country to win the French riding title. From 1985 to 1990, he was the Champion jockey in France every year. The only exception was 1987, when he raced in Ireland.
In 1991, he rode Suave Dancer to victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. This is France's most famous horse race. In 1998, riding Dream Well, Cash won both the Irish and French Derby races. These are two very important races for young horses. During his time in France, he won many other top-level races called Group 1 races.
Cash Asmussen stopped riding horses professionally in 2001. Throughout his amazing career, he rode more than 3,000 winners!
Some of Cash Asmussen's Major Race Wins
Cash Asmussen won many important races around the world. Here are some of his biggest victories:
Wins in North America
Canada
- Canadian International Stakes: 1993 with Husband
United States
- Beldame Stakes: 1979 with Waya
- Coaching Club American Oaks: 1981 with Wayward Lass
- Turf Classic Invitational Stakes: 1982 with April Run, 1994 with Tikkanen
- Washington, D.C. International Stakes: 1982 with April Run, 1984 with Seattle Song
- Arlington Million: 1988 with Mill Native, 1992 with Dear Doctor
- Breeders' Cup Mile: 1997 with Spinning World
Wins in France
France
- Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: 1991 with Suave Dancer
- Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby): 1991 with Suave Dancer, 1993 with Hernando, 1998 with Dream Well, 1999 with Montjeu
- Prix de Diane (French Oaks): 1984 with Northern Trick, 1994 with East of the Moon, 1996 with Sil Sila
- Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud: 1988 with Village Star, 1990 with In the Wings, 1997 with Helissio, 2000 with Montjeu
- Prix Jacques Le Marois: 1989 with Polish Precedent, 1992 with Exit to Nowhere, 1994 with East of the Moon, 1996 & 1997 with Spinning World
Wins in Asia and Ireland
Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Cup: 1997 with Val's Prince
Ireland
- Irish St. Leger: 1987 with Eurobird
- Irish Derby: 1998 with Dream Well, 1999 with Montjeu
- Irish Champion Stakes: 1991 with Suave Dancer
Japan
- Japan Cup: 1981 with Mairzy Doates
Wins in Great Britain
Great Britain
- July Cup: 1988 with Soviet Star
- Coronation Stakes: 1989 with Golden Opinion
- Coronation Cup: 1990 with In the Wings
- St. James's Palace Stakes: 1993 with Kingmambo
