Top Five Horse Racing Moments of 2008

by Patricia Woo | Dec 30 2008

On Jan. 26, 2009, the NTRA will announce the winner of the Eclipse Award for "Moment of the Year." Here are our top five picks.

2008 is only just in our rearview mirrors, and for the 10th year in a row, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association is soliciting votes for the Eclipse Award for "NTRA Moment of the Year" from a group of 12. Here are our picks for the top five moments of the year in horse racing.

5. On Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, Peppers Pride set a new North American record for most consecutive wins at 17. In a six-furlong allowance race at Zia Park, the New Mexico-bred 5-year-old mare surged past the two frontrunners to a three-length victory. She has gone on to win two more consecutive races and earn more than $1M. Owner Joe Allen and trainer Joel Marr plan to retire the undefeated mare – though a date has yet to be set.

4. 2008 Horse of the Year candidate Curlin continued his outstanding racing career in Dubai in Dubai with an astounding win in the $6M Dubai World Cup in March. With his powerful trademark closing kick, Curlin defeated an international field of 11 highly regarded rivals at Nad al Sheba racetrack. With this win, Curlin solidified his position as one of North America's premier racehorses in one of the highlights of his career.

3. Undefeated in 2008 going into the Kentucky Derby, but never having faced male rivals before, Eight Belles was an unknown factor in the May 3 race. She was the Kentucky Oaks favorite but trainer Larry Jones scratched her in favor of the Kentucky Derby, confident in his charge's abilities. And Eight Belles did not disappoint, finishing a strong second only to Big Brown. But the 3-year-old filly broke down while galloping out after the race, breaking both front ankles, and she was euthanized on the track. Eight Belles will be remembered not only for her outstanding racing career but for the reforms to equine health and safety in the horse racing industry that are being implemented as a result of her tragic death.

2. Unbeaten in 2008 and top candidate for Horse of the Year, Zenyatta showed the world just how good she is in her last-to-first win in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic in October. The 4-year-old trailed the field early in the race but could not be denied as she powered to victory. Reports are that she could make her debut as a 5-year-old as late as April… but this champion filly will be worth waiting for.

1. Our pick for 2008's most iconic moment in horse racing is Big Brown barreling down the home stretch of the 139th Kentucky Derby and hitting the wire 4 3/4 lengths ahead of his closest competitor. The big chestnut lived up to trainer Rick Dutrow's lofty billings in his romp at the Preakness Stakes too but was beaten by longshot Da'Tara in the Belmont Stakes. Big Brown went on to win two more graded stakes before suffering a hoof injury before the Breeders' Cup Classic; the champion colt has now been retired to stud at Three Chimneys.

The winner of the Eclipse Award for "Moment of the Year" will be announced at an awards ceremony in Miami on Jan. 26, 2009.

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