(Brad Cox, on the left, and Steve Asmussen are in a race for the Trainer’s Title at Churchill Downs / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

Now, we have a horse race at Churchill Downs.

I know that does not sound strange. That’s what normally happens at Churchill Downs, right?

But we have a, err, human horse race going on there, too.

After Sunday’s race card was completed and heading into Wednesday’s action, Louisville-native Brad Cox and Louisville-based Steve Asmussen are nearly dead-locked for the meet’s leading trainer.

And, with just a couple of weeks to go in the Churchill Downs’ Fall Meet, it surely figures to be a race to the wire. Things are starting to heat up, despite the cool temperatures. For sure.

So far, Asmussen has inched ahead by a head-bob. So far, he has saddled 54 horses at the meet. He has made 11 trips to the winner’s circle a few minutes later, and has added 10 seconds and 5 thirds.

Nipping at his heels, though, is Cox. In just 36 saddle jobs so far, Cox has a record of 10-7-5, and he has inched ahead in the race for the most purse money.

So far, Cox’s horses have earned $786,730, while Asmussen’s steeds have collected $703,136.

While it figures to be a tight race the rest of the way between these two, don’t overlook the jobs that trainers Ian Wilkes, Peter Miller and Tom Amoss continue to do under the Twin Spires.

In just 28 starts so far, Wilkes has amassed 6 wins, 2 seconds and 4 thirds.

In 19 starts, Amoss has a record of 6-2-1.

And, then there is Miller — the California transplant. With just 9 starters, Miller has a record of 6-1-1. His win percentage sits at an amazing .67%, and his horses have hit the board a whopping .89% of the time.

Let the races begin.

Here’s a closer look at the top trainers this meet:

1 Brad H. Cox 36 — 10 7 5 $786,730 28% 61% —
2 Steven M. Asmussen 54 — 11 10 5 $703,136 20% 48% —
3 Ian R. Wilkes 28 — 6 2 4 $433,392 21% 43% —
4 Michael J. Maker 33 — 3 3 6 $307,144 9% 36% —
5 Peter Miller 9 — 6 1 1 $257,536 67% 89% —
6 Thomas M. Amoss 19 — 6 2 1 $252,074 32% 47% —
7 Ben Colebrook 20 — 4 1 2 $246,459 20% 35% —
8 Dale L. Romans 22 — 3 1 2 $220,142 14% 27% —
9 Brian A. Lynch 14 — 3 2 2 $218,362 21% 50% —
10 Stanley M. Hough 6 — 3 2 0 $211,808 50% 83% —
11 Victoria H. Oliver 16 — 3 2 1 $209,884 19% 38% —
12 Kenneth G. McPeek 32 — 2 6 7 $207,561 6% 47% —
13 John Alexander Ortiz 14 — 3 2 4 $197,264 21% 64% —
14 Brendan P. Walsh 15 — 2 4 2 $194,633 13% 53% —
15 Dallas Stewart 33 — 2 3 7 $184,836 6% 36% —
16 Rodolphe Brisset 11 — 2 2 1 $177,530 18% 45% —
17 Albert M. Stall, Jr. 12 — 2 2 0 $162,371 17% 33% —
18 Eddie Kenneally 21 — 2 4 3 $160,168 10% 43% —
19 Joe Sharp 19 — 2 4 0 $153,558 11% 32% —
20 William I. Mott 15 — 1 2 3 $143,152 7% 40% —
21 George R. Arnold, II 16 — 1 2 4 $140,168 6% 44% —
22 David R. Vance 15 — 2 2 1 $122,410 13% 33% —
23 Chris M. Block 6 — 2 0 0 $116,637 33% 33% —
24 David Fawkes 10 — 2 2 0 $116,623 20% 40% —
25 Gregory D. Foley 13 — 2 2 0 $108,795 15% 31% —

(Statistics Compiled by Equibase)