Degree of Risk winning under Luis Saez Thursday at Kentucky Downs. (Coady Media)
By Jennie Rees
FRANKLIN, Ky. – Career win #48 for owner Ken Ramsey at Kentucky Downs; career win #1 for his grandson Nolan.
Nolan Ramsey won his first race at not just Kentucky Downs but in Kentucky as a trainer Thursday as Degree of Risk captured the fourth race, a $190,000 allowance, with jockey Luis Saez.
After years of being an assistant trainer to Mike Maker — Kentucky Downs’ all-time win leader — Nolan Ramsey went out on his own this spring and so far, has won 15 races.
“These are my first starts (in Kentucky) this meet, and we had a second on opening day,” Nolan Ramsey said. “Kentucky is the greatest state in the country, and it’s great to come here and win. It’s unique. I’ve been in Florida and Maryland for most of the summer. I’m looking to take a small string on to Kentucky, definitely through the fall. We’ll see about this winter, but I’ll definitively be in Florida and Kentucky.”
While Nolan Ramsey was in the winner’s circle many times with Maker horses, he acknowledged it was different having his own name down as trainer.
“You put in a lot of work, a lot of responsibility,” he said. “I think I’ve got a really good crew behind me, too. To get a win with your name on the program, especially a big meet like this, it’s different.”
Ken Ramsey is Kentucky Downs and Kentucky’s all-time win leader, with the vast majority of those in partnership with his late wife, Sarah. The 88-year-old Ken Ramsey — who is at his summer home in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. recovering from a kidney transplant — brought his Kentucky Downs record to 49 wins with the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Implementation taking the eighth race, a $200,000 allowance.
Degree of Risk was one of the horses Ken Ramsey said he purchased with Kentucky Downs in mind and to help his grandson’s stable get started. The 5-year-old gelding sold for $120,000 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky’s July Horses of Racing Age sale. This was his first start for the Ramseys.
“The horse had excellent form early on, had run some good races,” Nolan Ramsey said. “I thought he’d be the type that would fit Kentucky Downs. I went to the sale, picked him out, gave (his grandfather) a call. He said as long as I can get a win here, then we can take him. If not, it’s on me. Just glad we could get it done. Rare that plans work out so well, so to get it done here is nice.”
