And the 2008 Horse of the year award goes to...
by Patricia Woo | Nov 5 2008
The Eclipse Awards are the Oscars of the
horse racing world, voted on by members of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the Daily Racing Form (DRF) and the National Turf Writers Association, and awarded annually to the year's best performers.
Members will vote for three finalists in each of 18 categories before voting on a winner. Horse of the Year is the Eclipse's most prestigious award. Last year, Curlin earned top honors, a nod to his fantastic 2007 campaign which included top three finishes in each of the
Triple Crown races and the
Breeders' Cup Classic title. This year, a case can be made for Curlin as well. After winning the $6M Dubai World Cup, Curlin was victorious in all but one of his next four starts. He surpassed the $10M earnings mark with his win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. His 2008 campaign ended with an attempt to defend his Classic title, but he finished fourth, one of only two blemishes on an otherwise stellar record. But Curlin is facing stiff competition for Horse of the Year in the form of a 4-year-old filly, Zenyatta, who is unbeaten in her career.
Standing at an enormous 17 hands, Zenyatta made her 2008 debut with a win in the El Encino Stakes at Santa Anita Park in January. She then claimed five more consecutive titles, including the Apple Blossom Handicap in April and the Lady's Secret Stakes in September. She then turned in a last-to-first place performance in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in October, capping off an outstanding campaign. What may dampen Zenyatta's chances for Horse of the Year is the fact that she hasn't beaten male rivals. And in the history of the Eclipse Awards, no female horse has won top honors in a year that a male horse has raced spectacularly… and no one will argue that Curlin hasn't turned in an impressive year.
And who will be named the third finalist for Horse of the Year? Venerable 7-year-old Commentator is deserving of mention – 2008 has been his best year of racing. He scored noteworthy wins in four of six starts including two Grade 1 titles and a runaway victory in the Massachusetts Handicap. Will he win 2008 Horse of the Year? Probably not. But in a sport where racing careers are getting shorter and shorter, Commentator's combination of success and longevity is indeed special.
Stardom Bound is the clear favorite for champion 2-year-old filly while Midshipman and Vineyard Haven will be in the forefront of voters' minds for best 2-year-old colt. Champion 3-year-old male horse should go to Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Big Brown, while the field for best 3-year-old filly is wide open - Indian Blessing, Music Note and Proud Spell all had excellent years. Curlin and Commentator should dominate the votes for champion older male horse; Zenyatta should top the champion older female horse category. Retired champ Benny the Bull and Indian Blessing are frontrunners for their respective sprint categories, as are Mauralakana and Daytona for turf. The Eclipse Special Award, which will honor an individual achievement or contribution to horse racing, as well as outstanding steeplechase horse, owner, breeder, trainer, jockey and apprentice jockey round out the remaining categories which members will vote for.
Racing fans will have a chance to voice their opinion for the NTRA Moment of the Year, which will recognize a single moment in 2008 that defined the year of racing – perhaps Big Brown's astonishing performance or Eight Belles' tragic breakdown in the Kentucky Derby will be among the top 12.
The winners for the 2008 Eclipse Awards will be announced in January.
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