Ya Think

(November 15, 2008) – Trainer Mike Maker equaled the Churchill Downs record for most victories at a Fall Meet when Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Ya Think won the seventh race.

            The victory was the 20th from 48 starters after 16 days of the 26-day meet. The 20 victories tie the record established by Dale Romans during the 27-day meet of 2003.

            Maker will have a chance to break the record Sunday when he saddles two starters on the 10-race card that begins at 12:40 p.m. ET.

            “It’s great for this to happen in my hometown makes it better,” Maker said. “I’ve been a fan of Churchill Downs since I was a kid and it means a lot. To be honest, I didn’t really think about it (the record) until I saw an article in the paper. I thought it would be a great accomplishment.

            “It is great and they (Ken and Sarah Ramsey) have supported me so well, so it is even more special to do it with one of their horses.”

            The victory gave the Ramseys their 16th win of the meet, breaking a 43-year-old record established by T. Alie Grissom during the 23-day Fall Meet of 1965.

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(November 15, 2008) – Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey of Nicholasville, Ky., notched their 16th victory of the Fall Meet on Saturday when Ya Think won the seventh race. The victory, on the 16th day of the 26-day meet, broke the Fall Meet record established in 1965 by T. Alie Grissom over a 23-day meet.

“I’m on top of the world,” said Ken Ramsey, who was not at Churchill Downs, but watched the races from home.

The Ramseys are well on their way to a 14th owners’ title at Churchill Downs, most in track history. The Ramseys won Spring Meet titles in 2000-04, 2006 and 2008, and Fall Meet titles in 2000-03, 2005 and 2007.

The Ramseys will have a chance to build on their record Sunday with three runners entered on the day’s 10-race card and another five entered on Wednesday.

The all-time record for wins by an owner at a single meet at Churchill Downs is 27, held by A.J. Foyt Jr. over the 93-day Spring Meet in 1984.

“I didn’t know how many the record was,” Ramsey said. “Actually we started on this little rampage at Turfway Park last fall, winter and spring (winning the owners title) and didn’t even try in September because we were holding back for Churchill Downs and Keeneland and we still tied the Kleins with eight. That worked out great.

“Also one of our goals this fall was to make Mike (Maker) the leading trainer at Keeneland and we did that. I also understand he tied the record for most wins (at a Fall Meet) today and I can say with utmost confidence that we have enough bullets in the gun to break that record. I’m a betting man and I’d say it’s 1-to-1,000 he breaks the record. I’d bet that with both hands.

“I do plan on coming up for the final day because I think the fat lady has sung (on the owners race) and Donnie (Senior Vice President, Racing Donnie Richardson) can start shopping for whatever he wants to present me.

“I’d also like to congratulate Steve Bass, the agent for Julien Leparoux. It is guys like Steve who build a good relationship with Mike and me to get the mounts that make Julien look good. Bass is the guy that does the handicapping man behind scenes who can call an owner and say my jock fits this horse and you ought to give him a shot. It is a total team effort. It is not just Ramsey-Maker and Leparoux but people like Steve Bass and the exercise riders that make this such a good team.”

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