Tuscan Evening 6-6-0-0 is the only one to rival Proviso...

Blind Luck is absolutely my favorite horse to watch all year...what a racehorse.

I agree with the other Rachel.  What about Tuscan Evening.  She was on her way to a heck of a career and would get my vote above Proviso and Goldikova for this award.

Had one of our grass horses shipped to France and won the Arc, I wouldn't expect them to give us a Cartier Award based on that one win. Goldikova's win in the Breeder's Cup, as impressive as it was, isn't enough to be awarded an Eclipse Award. I've never understood how Euros can win one race and be given an award as champion American such-and-such. It would make more sense had they shipped earlier in the year and won a bunch of races leading up to the Breeder's Cup. Arcangues, though not European bred, shipped in from Europe and beat Bertrando fair and square in the Breeder's Cup Classic. He wasn't even given an award as champion older horse let alone horse of the year. American Eclipse awards should be reserved for horses who campaigned in America.

Tuscan Evening won one grade I race.

Please don't let your east coast bias show...John Shirreffs should win trainer of the years as Zenyatta should win horse of the year.

Why is Gio considered a foregone conclusion for turf male? His stablemate Winchester also has 2 G1 wins and won their only head to head meeting.

Regarding the leading jockey award. The earnings on the DRF Leaderboard show this:

1 Dominguez-$16,685,271

2 Gomez    -$16,568,201

3 Velazquez-$16,528,647.

These figures appear to be wrong but they have been running them all week.

Equibase shows a different set of numbers:

1 Velasquez $16,528,647

2 Dominguez $16,185,271

3 Gomez     $15,368,201

I believe Equibase is the right one.

I just believe in getting the numbers right.

Good point Ian. You can make a case for him.

I wonder who will get horse of the year...  Shirreffs is a lock for trainer, but HOTY???  It HAS to be either Zenyatta or Blame.  Any thoughts?

JASON

Will Big Drama be back next yr? Do you think A. Feather has the potential to be a "Superhorse" ? Thanks!

Good one Ted. Mike, I believe Big Drama is coming back.

I'm glad people remember Tuscan Evening. She never had the chance to put together an entire campaign, so she won't win the Eclipse, but she should definitely be nominated. I also don't like awarding horses for one race, so it's too bad Goldikova will win.

On the male sprinter topic, when in doubt, always go with the Breeders' Cup winner. It's obvious there's a bias in the voting.

5 posts Jason, just 5 is all it took. You even begged, said please, and asked nicely. Just a little tip on Geograpghy Zipsecret.

Lexington, where Jason lives now, is in Kentucky. It is not NY, NJ, Florida or Delaware. So stop with this east coast bias crap. I bet it really makes you mad to think  that Zenyatta is retiring on the east coast.

You write a blog about the Eclipse awards and then beg people not to start a HOY debate? Hahaha, good luck!

Personally, since the rules state that in order to be eligible for an Eclipse award, a horse must only have raced once in North America during the year, I have no problem with Goldikova getting the award. She was better than Proviso (her main competition for the award), and she fulfilled the requirement of racing once in N.A. during 2010. I don't like the idea of giving the award to a horse who only races once on this continent, but as long as the rules are the way they are, I guess I can't fault anyone for giving Goldikova the award. (I would like to see the rule changed so that a horse has to at least make multiple starts in North America during the year in order to be eligible for an Eclipse.)

As much as I like Goldikova I don't think she should win the

Eclipse award. One race in the US isn't enough.

Big Drama is my choice for sprint.

 And John Sherriffs should be trainer---- enough said

Anita, John Sherriffs is a trainer, just not one that will win the Eclipse Award.

While I believe that either Goldikova or Proviso will win the Eclipse, I hope Tuscan Evening is at least nominated. To me, at the very least, her performances were the most impressive that I saw on the turf for females this year, barring Goldikova's BC Mile

Much though it grieves me, I have to agree that Goldi really can't qualify for the awards. In my opinion, she is Horse of the World - but she really should have started more than once this year in North America. She's a champion's champion and she's recognized in Europe, where she does most of her running. So regrettably I have to vote for Proviso instead.

BILLY'S EMPIRE

I'm not even gonna sink to your level to adress your latest "brilliant" comment.

I feel very strongly about horses not being based in the U.S. winning Eclipse awards.  These are our awards for American based horses, period.  Although Goldikova is a great horse she shouldn't be allowed to get an Eclipse Award for one race and deny American horses that have won multiple graded stakes a chance for an award also.  Since there is so much money in the breeding shed, an award can go along way in  establishing a career.  To give it to a horse whose offspring we probably will never see anyway is not fair.  Plus to a mare who more than likely won't even be bred to any American sire.

Dominguez deserves his first Eclipse award. Last year he led the colony until BC's day when Leparoux had that fantastic performance. This year, the same story Dominguez led until BC's day again where the turn was Velasquez'. This award should go to the top individual during a whole year, and not in a single or couple of days, and for the past two years it has been Dominguez. BC's mounts depend more on an agent's ability rather than other factors. It's Dominguez's time  

Shirreffs is a lock for trainer?  Let's see, he didn't earn it last year off of two BC wins.  But they're going to give it to him this year off of NO BC wins?

Uh yeah, sure Ted.

I certainly give Big Drama a lot of credit for his year and winning the BC but Majesticperfection was one of those horses that makes your jaw drop at their ability. The ease that he beat Big Drama at Saratoga and everyother horse that faced the challenge of running against him was amazing. He had that buzz about him and I just hate for his connections that he got injured but no rival on the sprint scene this year could beat him.

Big Drama should (and better) win Sprinter. And yes he is coming back next year. I mean my God - what more does he have to prove for the industry to recognize he is one of the great sprinters.  And yes I am a bit biased as I have followed him for quite some time. I just love him and feel he deserves it. Majesticperfection is done and did not last very long. To win one race where he ran incredibly fast and broke a record is great - but then his career ended right after that race so that is not a sprinter. Discreetly Mine well, no because he did not make it to the Breeders Cup. It belongs to Big Drama!

I do think Lookin at Lucky was the best 3 year old in the county.  His worst performance was the Derby where he had an excuse.  It's too bad Fly Down nailed him at the wire as the Derby would have been his only off the board performance.

If nothing else Blind Luck won the Kentucky Oaks and who knew the little filly could scoot a 1 1/4 in the Eastern sandbox?  Hollendorfer took it right to them.  

Zenyatta.  Well a no brainer for the 3 time Lady Secret winner.  She's owned the west for a very very long time.  Can't remember a time where she wasn't taking all the west coast filly/mare action.  Hollendorfer and Saddler are going to be there just to make sure she gets on the plane this time December 6th.  

Little tip on spelling Billy, it's "geography" and yes California is the "West Coast", it is also west of the Mississippi River, however Kentucky is not, Kentucky is east of the Mississippi river.  I am also not sad at all that Zenyatta is retiring to Kentucky, I think it is beautiful there and her being there only enhances the reasons to visit it.

What about Paddy O'Prado (hate his name) for turf male? How many G1's did he win?

goldikova ran 3 times in america and won all three times and her first bc mile win she didn't win a award, but she won it last yr because of forever together losing the bc fm turf, it would be different if she was 1-0 but she's 3-0 in america

I agree with Anna.  Goldi has a history in the U.S.  She runs around the world, ducking nothing, and thus having the toughest of all campaigns and should not be penalized for that.  She was by far the best grass horse, male or female, to run in the U.S in 2010.  A case can be made that she was the best horse period.   That she  came to the U.S. should be encouraged -- we want the best racing in the U.S.  

Thank goodness for the sporting attitudes of Mr. Head and the Wertheimers.  I look forward to another Gold run next fall!!

Stir the pot, Ted! Love it.

Billy's Empire: are you Jason's mom? If not, why do you always go all mama bear on his blogs?

Livesoutwest: Good point. Shirreffs should have won last year. But until the Eclipse award for trainer recognizes something other than money won, the good guys who actually lay their hands on all the horses in their care don't stand a chance.

John Shirreffs could win the award for "nice guy of the year" if there was one. But trainer OTY? I don't think so. That has to go to whoever has the best winning record. Goldikova should win HOTY if it's an international award but the Eclipse is a North American award should be for North American horses only. Time to encourage our own breeders, owners, trainers etc. Do you think Americain will win horse of the year in Australia because he won the Geelong Cup and went on to win the Melbourne Cup? Not likely. I don't want to even get started on HOTY. There's been enough said about this already. No matter which one wins it, somebody is going to be disappointed and the blogs will be full of vitriol once again. I don't know about you but I'm getting totally over the whole thing. Time to grow up people. Uncle Mo is awesome. Let's get behind those that are still racing and hope they see out their careers uninjured. 2010 has been full of high drama with Rachel, Blame and Zenyatta but if racing is to survive here and go ahead in the future things have got to change and change quickly. If we could do this with the energy we use in some of these "best horse" debates then racing will be the big winner. Here's to 2011 being all about the horses.

It's supposed to be the year you had in America.  Not the three years you had.   And if I may say, Buena Vista is the best grass horse in the world.  She runs 8 furlongs-12 furlongs and is going even longer next race.  She runs against males.  There are some people in the world who think Goldikova not running in the QE2 and not running in Japan or Hong Kong and opting for the US and inferior opposition instead is ducking the best tests for her.  She is a wonderful mare, but I think Buena Vista is every bit her equal and more versatile.  Goldikova may have run the best race, but she only had one race this year.

John Sherriffs should be voted Trainer of the year hands down!

He has displayed Sportsmanship-Integrity- Class- ALWAYS. He has been a fantastic ambassador for the sport- He is a TOP horseman who is the most deserving for this years award.

Mr. Sherriff has generously shared his time for the ZENYATTA fans & has done a great deal for the Thoroughbred.He has most certainly earned this 2010 award and I hope that he receives this . Men like Mr. Sherriff do what is right and he LOVES his horses in his care.

His past is imppecable & I applaud Mr. Sherriffs !!! "Go win John" !!!

But didn't Gomez cost Looking At Lucky the Derby?

Wasn't Pletcher not only a MAJOR player in that Life At Ten travesty but also  Quality Road's trainer when he came in dead last in the Classic after what many feel was an unreasonably long layoff?

Aren't Eclipse Award supposed to go to the best horse. so in that case Proviso doesn't hold a candle to Goldikova. If I'm not mistaken I'm pretty sure Goldikova is a much better horse than Proviso and the Awards are supposed to go to the best horse for that year so in case and point Goldikova deserves the award one start or not

as for the champion sprinter, that should go to majesticperfection, because he ran a 117 beyer when he won the iowa sprint handicap in 1:07 and change and a 115 beyer in the alfred vanderbilt handicap at saratog and destroying big drama, bribon, gayego. all top class sprinter miler horses

While she probably would not win, Tuscan Evening should be nominated for older turf female. She showed amazing versatility in winning stakes races at a huge variety of distances before her career (and life) was cut tragically short.

Gee anna

Haven't you emphatically stated in the past that it's supposed to be about this year, NOT THE PAST THREE YEARS?

Majestic Perfection for top sprinter. Prior to injury, he was by far the best sprinter in the land, and he dominated Big Drama in their only meeting. Discreetly Mine 3rd as he never beat older horses. And for protector of the year, I will go with John Sherriffs; he is a lock!

Graham Motion gets a look from me for trainer, so does JH...

Pletcher???? Has everyone forgot what he did to Life at Ten at the Bc???His license should be pulled,but,Of course it won't be......it is that's wrong with the sport,very sad.

There are four main factors which go into trainer of the year, in the eyes of most voters.  Most money won, most races won, BC races won, Triple Crown races one.  

Last year, Asmussen creamed Sherriffs by a near three to one margin, and with two BC wins, John had the strongest resume for the award that he will likely ever have.  Like it or not, voters held him responsible for Zenyatta's tame campaign and for not agreeing to face Rachel Alexandra at the time when Jackson indicated he would send her to the Beldame.  Sherriffs & Moss finally expressed their willingness to face her later, but that ship had sailed.

And this year?  Pletcher has by far the most earnings, the second most wins, three BC wins and a Triple Crown win.  Asmussen has by far the most wins, though none of the biggies.  Baffert is third in earnings and has a Triple Crown victory.

And Shirreffs?  He excelled in none of these categories.  No BC wins, no TC wins, a meager 14 victories and all of $3,000,000 in earnings, almost all of it earned by Zenyatta.  

The most telling statistic though is winning percentage. Pletcher, Baffert and Asmussen's win % is 25, 24 and 21% respectively.  Now if there's one category Sherriffs should beat the others, it's this one right?  He runs a much smaller barn, and has the time to give personalized care to his horses that the other mega-stable trainers who are really just "managers" whose assistants do all the work don't give to their horses, right?

WRONG.  Despite having all this time to focus on his barn, which he almost never leaves, Sherriffs winning percentage is LOWER than all the top trainers, only 18%, despite having Zenyatta who almost never lost. His winning percentage in non-Zenyatta races was only TWELVE percent.

Pletcher should win this award by a landslide, and deservedly so.  

And for those who say, "But John is so great, he cares for his horses SO much, and he trained Zenyatta and she's the Queen, and they cheated him the last two years, it's SO unfair, so he should get it THIS year to make up for it."

Please people, you're embarrassing yourselves.

I thought LAL lost the Derby because of his post position not the jockey.  Goldikova is HOY! Big Drama is Sprint Champion, Gomez is jockey of the Year, Pletcher is trainer of the year, Winstar is owners of the year, breeder of the year and Jason is  blogger of the year!  HA!

The criteria say 1 race is good enough, hence, till the criteria is changed, Goldikova.

Sprint, Big Drama consistently in tougher races.

Jockey, while John Velazquez and Ramon Dominguez dominated the East and yes they went around the country for big races, Garrett Gomez is simply the best in big races; he won big races with horses that appeared a step slower, that’s how good he is.

The fact that Goldikova took this race 3 years in a row, gives her the Eclipse for the turf.  Male sprinter...of course...Big Drama. (Plus..he's so handsome). Sometimes it is one race that makes all the difference.

The award should always be for the best horse not the best publicist or wine merchant. Goldikova and Zenyata were the best, showed the most class, showed rare ability and were the greatest ambasadors for the sport, sportsmanship and the darlings of the fans. Either would be a horse of the decade and having both at the same time was a marvelous treat. If there is a contest for HOY based on quality it should be between these two.

Tuscan Evening did more than enough to become female turf champion. I don't care that she didn't win a bunch of phony G1s - she dominated her competition as no other North American turf mare has managed to this year. The mares who were second and third behind her in the Modesty, the prep race, ran first and second in the Beverley D, demonstrating her superiority to that field.

Ever since the beginning of BC raiders, I have been opposed to hit-and-run winners being given a North American award. One race can be decided by luck, as demonstrated by Midday's Turf Distaff this year. Only with a decent campaign can we determine who is best.

The 'best horse to have raced in the division' argument has been rejected from the beginning of Eclipse awards: Hoist the Flag was without doubt the best 3yo to run in 1971, but he only ran twice before his injury, with one stakes win, so he didn't get the Eclipse.

TO; LIVE SOUTHWEST;

Mr. Sherriff excelled in INTEGRITY & SPORTSMANSHIP. He & his Z-Team INVITED the fans & public in. A lot more money was made by the industry due to thier efforts.

I can't recall when thier was so much excitement in racing & so much re-newed interest.

Frankly , after watching LIFE AT TEN STAGGER before the race and be made to run , which IS the trainers responsibility & seeing that video of a sick mare led back to the barn with no rug upon her, and no post-race testing done, I hardly think Pletcher deserves an major award. I have also read that this trainer has tests for ''positives''in the past.

Is THIS what we will be rewarding ?

Further more, The Z-Team DID accept the challenge at Oaklawn- the other horse bowed out -twice- leaving Arkansas to dangle at the wire.  You have one thing right though, Sherriff IS a TRAINER and the other is just a MANAGER in a suit.I used to admire Todd Pletcher very much but after this Breeders Cup, not at all !

Trainer of the year should be about TRAINING & INTEGRITY in the sport as well as wins and money, with the former taking priority.

The Z-Team built up racing. The LIFE AT TEN incident sure tore it down FAST.If we are to reward this behavior then many think they need to take thier horses to another sport and bet thier money elsewhere, at least from all I have read and heard. I VOTE FOR INTEGRITY IN RACING & OLD FASHIONED HARD WORK.

Jason,

Great blog and impeccable reasoning behind your possible choices! In my opinion,though, I would have to vote for Goldikova to get her eclipse in her turf category. She is truly a great worldwide star. She is also one of only three possible nominees for Horse of the Year consideration along with Zenyatta and Blame. While I don't believe she will be Horse of the Year, just being considered with Zenyatta and Blame should be a strong case for giving Goldikova the Eclipse for Turf Female.

As for Sprinter of the Year, I would love to see Big Drama win it. His Breeders' Cup victory was one of the highlights of the event for me. I,too, have always loved watching this horse run!

In any case, I don't believe there are any wrong votes among the nominees mentioned in this discussion. I am curious to find out what horses and people actually get their Eclipses. Good luck to all of them and Thanks for an exciting year of racing!

DEBI

You comments are with foundation. Hopefully action will be taken for ALL parties involved.

Sprinter should go to Smiling Tiger. Won 2 G1's this year against older horses as a 3yo. Game 3rd in BC Sprint.

I could go with Baffert, too.

It's not the horse that wins one American race 3 years in a row that earns the year-end award for the division...that's what earns you a legacy for the ages.

The top 2 USA turf fillies that dominated American filly turf racing were Proviso and Tuscan Evening.

If Proviso won one Euro race she would never earn their year-end award for the year.

Pletcher may have pulled in the big bucks and all that, but isn't it fair to say he was ALSO directly involved in two of the three  biggest embarrassments and black eyes the Breeders Cup faced this year?

That his two star horses came in dead last in the biggest races of their lives?

With the sport under fire like never before and massive interest in the E. awards by non racing fans for the first time in history, does the horse racing community really want to send THAT kind of signal?

Sadly, the answer is probably "yes".

Blame HOY

Hello, Single in LA.  I am Ted.  Ted from LA. Do you come to this blog often?  Billy's Empire is not Jason's mom.  She's Sarah Palin.

I have to agree that the LAT issue should be something that is considered when voting.  Sending an ailing horse into a race set on one of thoroughbred racing's biggest stages should at least raise an eyebrow.  Keep in mind that this was also watched by an international audience, along with our nation's racing fans.

I Personally thing T. Pletcher doesnt deserve the award. for his poor lack of judgement w/ Life At Ten and the Breeder's Cup Ladies Classic. im sorry but i think the award should go to Bob Baffert, Blind Luck's trainer, or j. shierffs. JMO

If Trainer of the Year is based on nothing but money and races won, no wonder the industry is in trouble.  But, yes, sadly it does reflect the values of our culture, win at all costs.  I agree with those who have written that the Life at Ten debacle should disqualify TP this year.  How about voting for the Integrity of the Sport for a change, voting for a trainer who puts the welfare of his horses first.  I vote for John Shirreffs on the subjective criteria that he had the most positive influence on racing and attendance this year by how he handled Zenyatta.  And that opinion along with $1.75 will get me a cup of coffee!

To Sunny Farm - I liked and agree with your post.  

I think Goldikova wins HOY as even though the rules state one race makes a horse eligable for the award she has won the race three times, has been electrifying EVERY time and is coming back for more next year. The connections deserve great credit for making that public and let's hope she turns up and does the business again

Sunny,

The award is Trainer of the Year, not Miss Congeniality.  You and the other Z-fanatics need to stop looking at everything connected to Zenyatta as the greatest thing since sliced bread.  SHE herself may have been the greatest thing since sliced bread.  But just because she is arguably the greatest race mare of all time, doesn't mean that Shirreffs is the greatest trainer, Moss is the greatest owner, her opponents were all the second coming of Ruffian, etc.  Because none of those things are true.

Zenyatta could have been a deserving HOY any of the last three years, and hopefully she'll get hers this year.

SHERRIFFS however, would have been a deserving winner last year but not this year.  His record is mediocre and unworthy of the award for the year 2010.  And if voters want to penalize Pletcher for not knowing what was going on with Life At Ten, then Baffert accomplished far more than Shirreffs did THIS year.

Either way, it's not even close.

I believe that Goldikova should win female turf because she is the best and she would beat proviso and tuscan evening anyday. Also the toughest for me is the sprint, Big Drama win the BC sprint but Majestic Perfection was the top sprinter prior to injury. You do not have to run in breeders cup to be eclipse award winner( Rachel and Mineshaft). Majestic did beat Big Drama and he dominated everyone oon Breeders Cup day. I would go with Majestic.

Shirreffs and the Mosses, and of course Zenyatta for HOTY.

SINGLE IN LA

Agree with your comments regarding Billy,although I thought of it more as a pit bull. lol

I don't think Todd Pletcher deserves any award in the Eclipse ceremonies.  What he did to Life At Ten has just turned me off to racing... the one that should get it is John Sheriffs... you keep on voting for the same people that are doing racing in.. look at the results.. also small breeders and trainers deserve a break..

Your Kentucky bias is killing racing and if Zenyatta does not win horse of the year a lot of people worldwide are going to be very unhappy.  Because of Zenyatta racing has been succesful, but if she does not win, I won't go to the track any more... and many feel that way... snobbery is way out of style now.. you don't like California and that is too bad..

Its all about earnings and not integrity and honor.. Pletcher's earnings do not show any graciousness just a pocket full of money and in these days it is not important.. there are changes coming and the horse racing business is going to be hit even harder for the lack of integrity and honesty...

At the risk of drawing all kinds of criticism.... I thought the Eclipse Awards were decided based on voting on the current race year and said candidate's accomplishments therein.

If that is correct, then despite the amazing campaign of Goldikova----her one and only win here and the fact that she is not a NA based horse, should prevent her from winning, when compared to the other mares in that category.  She is sure breathtaking to watch but we simply didn't get to watch her more than once this year.

As for Trainer.... Todd Pletcher's sheer volume of horses elevates him into contention.  Just because he finally won the KY Derby should not shoot him to the top of the list and the BC wins certainly didn't hurt.  But as others mention, there are other trainers who have a greater winning percentage -- and that debacle over Life At Ten should hopefully have some voters thinking twice because unlike the humans, who have the power to make decisions, the horse doesn't.  His recklessness in that situation has to be factored in.  I think trainers should be held to a different standard -- if your horse appears unfit for competition it is the trainer's job and obligation to withdraw that animal.  This speaks volumes.

And for HOTY --- I will first say that I am as much a Zenyatta fan as every other one of her loyal following.  But Blame had much stiffer competition and a more challenging campaign.  In their only meeting, she fell short. (heartbreakingly so!) She did not win 19 races this year.  She again had a pretty easy and carefully handled series of races -- races she was expected to win.  Yes, she has done so much to raise awareness of the sport and became a household name in the process.  Plus she is surrounded by a team of people who are approachable, likable and willing to share her with the world and media.  (unlike someone else) But the fact of the matter is that -- if you had a blind ballot in which only the horses' races and records were listed and the strength/weakness of opposition was noted.... the logical choice is Blame.   If Quality Road would have won the Classic, I would be inserting his name here.  

It is indeed sad that there is not a "good will ambassador" type award to be given as Zenyatta would win hands down.   But those crying out over her being "robbed" last year can't seek for retribution simply because she is who she is.   I'm quite certain we will never see the likes of her again in this generation but another horse should not be similarly "robbed" because the knee-jerk reaction to the celebrity that is Zenyatta.

Despite all that, I have a feeling Z will be awarded HOTY but not for all the right reasons.  

GOLDIKOVA!!!!!!

All of you people campaigning against Pletcher for Eclipse Award trainer are wasting your time. He's going to win in a landslide and deservedly so. It's not even close.

I'llgetalong: "Because of Zenyatta racing has been successful..." Really? Thanks for sharing that information with us. You learn something new every day. We'll miss you at the racetrack next year.

Livesoutwest:  Last year, John Shirreffs won both the Ladies Classic with Life Is Sweet, and the Classic with Zenyatta.  And yet that didn't earn him the Eclipse last year, so perhaps your criteria is askew. For a small stable of 50 horses, he's had some amazing stand-outs including Giacomo, Tiago, Bertrando, Neko Bay, AP Warrior, Hook and Ladder, Zardana, ..etc, etc.  I'm not at all embarrassed to support him.

In fact, I'm quite proud of that. However much $$ Pletcher brought in, will he ever overcome the Life At Ten debacle?  Somehow, I don't think so..not this year..even though I think highly of him.  

But, silly me, I thought this was a discussion of female turf and the male sprint awards.  I'm grateful to Freddie Head for consistently running the best Euro turf miler in the world, 3 years in a row. (and they'll run her again next year). I was dazzled by Goldikova's electrifying speed and turn of foot.  I don't think there's any better, and I believe she has earned an Eclipse for the turf.  I think we in the USA owe her that honor just to thank her for coming and having the privilege of watching her run.

And Big Drama proved his standing by his win in the BC Sprint.

JASON

Agreed,Pletcher wins next month.

If I had a good race horse and was selecting a trainer it would not be

Todd Pletcher, there is NO EXCUSE for what happened to Life at Ten. An amateur horseman could tell the mare was off, racing is lucky that the mare didn't suffer permanent damage. If I were her owner that situation would call for a law suit. Yes, I would choose someone like John Sheriffs who takes time with his horses to bring them along. His laid back temperment is great for the hyper nervous horses.

There are HORSEMEN  and peoploe who train horses John Sheriffs is a HORSEMAN.

Eclipse, what an interesting name for an award. Looking at what this word means, one can take what they want from the award winners. One definition,  the total or partial obscuring of one celestial body by another, reminds that the moon can eclipse the sun, but which really is the more important celestial body, surely the sun, so let the moon have its moment, while we warm in the glow of the sun the rest of the time. And so it is with Goldikova, what a beautiful, celestial body, obscuring all in here path, doesn't matter if she is here all year or not, as she eclipsed all others when she was here.

Or we can take another meaning of the word,  a falling into obscurity or decline; also : the state of being eclipsed <his reputation has fallen into eclipse> , which is the meaning I'll hold when Prince Pletcher wins his eclipse. I am not forgiving of what occurred with Life at Ten, and can only hope that owners can see from this what they get with Pletcher, and hope they run to the smaller more hands on trainers who really have the integrity they deserve.

Yeah, we certainly wouldn't want thoroughbred racing to base its awards on meaningless stuff like wins and money earned.

Come on, this is allegedly a major sport and it shouldn't be run like a kid's soccer tournament where everyone eventually gets a trophy.

Give the awards to those who've earned them.  When there's more than one worthy contender, then you have a legitimate argument.

This year there are three legit contenders for Best Trainer, Pletcher, Baffert and Asmussen in that order.  Everyone else's record, Shirreffs included, pales in comparison.  You don't earn this award for exhibiting "great sportsmanship".

The NBA has an award called the Joe Dumars Trophy, given since the 1995–96 NBA season, to the player who most "exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court—ethical behavior, fair play and integrity".  If horseracing wanted to create an award like this, a trainer's equivalent of the George Woolf award for jockeys and give it to Sherriffs as its inaugural winner, I would certainly have no argument.

But only in the minds of the most delusional Zenyatta fanatics does he qualify as Trainer of the Year for 2010.

Amen Livesouthwest. You are one of the ones that get it. This is supposed to be a professional sport but I sometimes feel like we are in the little leagues because of the way fans act. NFL and MLB fans laugh at some of these boards.

I will remind all of those on the Shirreffs bandwagon who also want to have Pletcher banned, penalized and maybe executed for the Life at Ten "debacle", that there is an ongoing investigation regarding the matter, and no one has been found guilty of any wrongdoing as of yet. It would be wise to wait until the final findings are revealed, before anyone is crucified.

A 12% winning-percentage trainer winning the Eclipse award for best trainer because of one horse...?

Let's see...If Billy Turner did not win the Eclipse award the year Seattle Slew won the TC and won HOTY...(it went to Laz Barrera in 1977)...Shirreffs' chances for Zenyatta's 5 G1 wins vs fillies & mares in SoCal & Arkansas are ZERO, ZILCH, NONE...

SPRINTER 2010 Eclipse Awards: Should go to Smiling Tiger he Won two G1's (Ancient Title and the Bing Crosby) this year against older horses as a 3yr old. Game, troubled stumble 3rd in BC Sprint on a dead rail. Smiling Tiger will run next in the Malibu at Santa Anita and then on to Dubai for The 2011 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1)

Jason, you cannot control your hostility for Zenyatta, her connections and her supporters -- I have been in the business for 10 years and have read the historical accounts.  You are so biased -- what a shame -- you should not be a turfwriter if you cannot be objective.

Jason, to say that NFL and MLB fans laugh at these boards is disrespectful to the people who blog on them. Secondly, who are you kidding? The same sports with people like Michael Vick and and steroids, illegal gambling and drugs abuse? Please don't make me laugh.

On the subject at hand, I agree that Goldikova should get the Eclipse for Turf. I could care less that she raced once here. She dominates, period. Three in a row should be rewarded. I also agree that bringing her back next year is wonderful for the sport. I think I know of another group of people who did likewise with their horse this year, for her fans and the sport. It was also wonderful of them to do the same.

As for Todd Pletcher, he will get the Eclipse for trainer. But ITA with those that think it should go to John Sherriffs. Livesouthwest, when you have a situation like John Sherriffs, who runs a small stable and isn't likely to rack up the same number of wins or amts of money, you have to factor in other things. It's not an equal playing field and you can't just use criteria you would use for larger stables. Otherwise people like John Sherriffs would never win it. Again, the criteria isn't set. It's made up as you go along by the individual voters. How's that for a "professional sport" Jason?  

I think we are om the little leagues because of the way that some turfwriters react.  It is all so political and your fans are now on to you.

Paula: I have many NFL and MLB friends that tell me that; not my words. It's not because of the athletes, its the way fans react to the athletes, so Im told. Let's leave it at that.

As for the awards, I will say it one more time: In every major pro sport the writers vote on the postseason awards, not just horse racing. There is no set criteria with those sports either. Some of it will always be subjective.

Thanks for your support Carole.

LEON

Don't over generalize. Do you honestly believe it's only  just a certain group of supporters that don't care for Pletcher? Please.

JASON

I get what you're saying,but as for Michael Vick and many others I wouldn't walk across the street to meet them. Why? Besides one that's a convicted dog killer,most of them are spoiled crybabies that have a sense of entitlement. Up until few years ago I was as big a football fan as any,until I realized most are a dime a dozen. Haven't watched an entire game in four years.

Leon , J.S & Live Southwest,HELLO !

I, for one don't have to be on a "Sherriffs bandwagon " I have never had the honor to have met him. I know of his race records though and that he is trainer with honor in excellent standing in the racing world.

nor am I a "Z-Fanatic'' , though I do think she IS one of the greatest ever & I do love her so !

I don't think the awards are "Miss Congeniality''(Either)

I wrote what I wrote because this is what I believe . Just like Paula Higgins said, the voting criteria is not set in stone.

Honor and integrity should be taken into account, far above total monies won. As Paula said, otherwise only the very few would ever win it, those with 200 hundred horses in thier barns.A business man is not always a true trainer or horseman. All the Eclispe voters need to do is shake hands with the contenders for Trainer of the year. The real trainers & horseman will have callouses.They will have full respect of those involved in racing AND be above reproach in all matters of racing.

Nothing fanatical about it.

Now onto GOLDIKOVA ; of course she should win. We invite the foreign horses here, we are invited to thier races. Some shuttle breeding stallions to and from. It (racing) is very intertwined globally. GOLDIKOVA deserves to win - she has earned it !Look at her record and record of breaking records, her three consecutive Breeders Cup wins, and everything that GOLDIKOVA has done.(Is it okay if I am a fanatic about THIS mare-and trainer Freddie Head ?)

AWESOME FEATHER for the two year old fillies !

Have a very good evening !

Tuscan Evening & Discreetly Mine. Love to see Gio Ponti is favored to pick up another Eclipse. Maybe 2011 will be his turn to win it all.

p.s. Maryann727 :

I'll be glad to buy you that cup of coffee for your personal opinion you wrote ! Even though people do have different opinions, I am happy that we all have a voice via these "blogs"- otherwise there would be no changes made and no out-cry heard.

Jason, I get all that. But give me a sport with horses anytime over a sport where overpaid babies plan to go out on strike in March (NFL). Considering that there are millions of unemployed people in this country, I think it is pretty much indecent.

Unlike Carole, I don't think your opinions are political Jason. I will give you that. It's about hard numbers. There are no intangibles involved.

Ted from LA you are hilarious!!! You are also obsessed with Sarah Palin. I am beginning to think you secretly like her. Is that possible?

Way off subject......Jason, would you like me to get one of your bobbleheads signed by Mike Smith tomorrow at Hollywood Park?

Thank you for the 'cup of coffee' Sunny Farm.  You made me smile.

I agree that a difference of opinion is what gives this blog energy. IMO, Emotion adds zest.

Jason, I don't agree that having an opinion that favors putting the welfare of the horse first is naive or laughable.  I know money rules but I like my heart to express itself here even though you seem to prefer an emotion free zone.

One last thing.  The word 'fanatic' is used, so often derisively, to refer to Zenyatta's fans. I don't understand the scorn.  According to Webster's, fanatic is marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion.  Sounds a lot like being in LOVE and love is a good thing.  

Jason,

After the Eclipse Awards, can we have the Triple Crown blogs back?  I'm wondering if we've seen the Kentucky Derby winner yet?  I always think of Alysheba coming 4th in the Juvenile, and Spend A Buck--I think he was 3rd.

All these arguments are moot because the voters will have their own perception on the awards.  As Paula argued, Todd trains billions and billions of horses, a quarter of his stable would win the money earned category without even trying.  It doesn't make him the best trainer, it doesn't even make him a trainer.  He manages a bunch of people who actually does the training.  At this point, Todd is probably just doing the scheduling of the races.  If he does train the horse himself, it'll be the top horses in his barn.  I'm just saying...

I don't agree that Goldikova should win the Eclipse.  She's not an american horse, she already won the HOTY in Europe where she is based and rightly so.  I don't think it's fair for the american horses to lose the eclipse to a horse that raced here once regardless of how great she is.  It doesn't take anything away from her, in fact, I don't think her connections are expecting anything close to a championship.  They showcased her and won the race.  The eclipse is the least of their worry, they own the best mare in the planet right now.

Billy Billy Billy : I don't think Jason needs you hanging on to his coattail.  How about you post your opinions instead of defending Jason and Draynay and criticizing bloggers ??  Do you have one ? LOL

Paula, I don't disagree with you that a trainer like Sherriffs who runs a small barn should not be expected to achieve the same amount of wins or money earned as the larger stables.

But with so much extra time to give his horses personal attention, his winning PERCENTAGE should at least be as good as the major stables, right?

But it's not, it's significantly lower.  And subtract Zenyatta's record from the equation and you have a 12% trainer  (HALF of Pletcher's win %) who won all of nine races for the year.  NINE!  As in you can count all his non-Zenyatta wins on your fingers and still have one left over.  Even including Zenyatta, dude won all of 14 races for the year.  That's less than a month's work for Pletcher or Asmussen.

Sherriffs and Zenyatta both deserved to be considered for top awards last year.  But THIS year, the big girl is on her own.  By no statistical measurement in the pari-mutuel universe is Sherriffs even in the conversation for 2010 awards.

Livesoutwest and Jason...so racing is a professional sport, and the Eclipse should go to the most $$ earned.  Hmmmm.   In 2009, Zenyatta was the highest money earner in the US....but I don't believe she got the Hoy.  Your criteria remains skewed.  You keep changing it with each blog, depending on whom you choose to support.  It sounds quite ambiguous to me, and more than a little biased.  

I will not discuss some of the awards. One that I have a strong opinion on is that Todd Pletcher should not get the Eclipse for trainer. If he was the top trainer for 2010 his two big guns of Life is Ten and Quality Road would of showed up on BC day. As a horse loving person I cannot excuse his attitude towards Life is Ten when she wasnt right in the barn or during warmups. He should of notified the stewards to have the vets keep a close eye on her when she warmed up. It smelled like if they could load her in the gate she was a go no matter how her health is. I was always a fan of Todd but I cant excuse that behavior. To me that is never how 2010 top trainer would act. Im not sure if John Sherriffs should get the award because of the size of his stable and there 2010 accomplishments. He is a person that has done some great things as a trainer so im OK with him getting it or almost anyone else without the name of Pletcher.

I'm a little perplexed that this has become so vehement?  Whether you like it or not, he is the premier trainer in the country.  How could you think that he would not get the Eclipse award.  Is he my favorite trainer?  No.  Does he deserve the Eclipse award?  Yes.  What happened with Life at Ten and the performance of Quality Road does not overshadow his year.  The only other trainer I could logically see is Mr Baffert.  But Mr Pletcher had a better year.

Aluminaut- I too like looking for those types.  The problem is that when we have two year olds who are only running two or three times before given a break, it's hard to find them.  Onward to the TC!

the thing that happened to quality road, is that haynesfield happened to him along with the japanese horse, both of which glued themselves to quality road and he pitched a fit. because of how fast they went quick early on, so he did it all to himself, by refusing to drop the bit and relax.

Some thoughts:

Bloggers and probably those in the biz seem pretty divided on the one-race-in-America rule and whether Goldikova, plainly the best turf female, should get an Eclipse. I think she should, but next year the powers that be ought to look at switching to the Canadian model, where the horses have to make three starts there to qualify for that country's awards.

Another divisive issue is what to do with the injured horses who won a big race or two but didn't get to run a complete campaign.  In general, I think a nomination is the best and fairest honor for these unfortunate horses and connections.  But in some cases, like if the horse completed MOST of the year and had more G1 wins than his/her rivals, then they should get the award.  This year, I think Majestic Perfection, Discreetly Mine and Tuscan Evening get nominations only.

So Goldi and Big Drama get the nod from me, and the fact they'll both be back next year makes me favor them even more.  Must point out, Goldi gets NO consideration for her three-year "history" -- unless Zenyatta does too in the HOY voting.

For trainer, I disagree Pletcher wins in a landslide.  I expressed my feelings on this in the earlier blog -- he has won the Eclipse in the past and he surely will in the future, but I would NOT reward him in the year in which there is an ongoing investigation into the Life at Ten situation, for which, like it or not, he is ultimately responsible.  I don't really have a pick in this category but would favor someone who has no "black clouds" hanging over them.  The BC needs positive press.  Zenyatta provided it; Pletcher, despite his predictable victories with juveniles, did not.

Ted From LA,

No, I don't blog here often. I am an intelligent, sensitive soul (an Aquarius) and my psyche is battered when I spend too much time in the presence of bitter, self-righteous blowhards.  But I do stop by now & again to see if you're around. (I'm not a stalker; it's just that you make me laugh.)

Now, for clarification, are you saying that Sarah Palin is the real identity of Billy's Empire, or that she's Jason's mom?

Livesoutwest wrote: "You don't earn this award for exhibiting "great sportsmanship".

THAT may very well be the saddest comment I've ever seen on this blog. It may also be the most insightful into the state of the sport.

The hardcore bettors/handicappers will never understand this. For this sport to truly thrive, it has to attract the common fan, the people who watch because they love horses, and who might bet a $2 show bet because they like the color of the silks or a horse's pretty head. The only way to get and keep those people, is for the sport to have trainers & owners who, while with being successful at the highest, most widely publicized level, are also likable & responsible, and for horses to stick around, running sound.  When the human connections in the sport are irresponsible or crooked, and the young equine stars are broken down or whisked away to the breeding shed, the "common fans" will leave and the sport will eventually die. Handicappers may disdain them, but the sport needs them. Without "common fans", you'll all just be left with football & basketball for your wagering jollies.

maryann727: prepare to be skewered for your "in love" comment. That kind of sentimental claptrap is not tolerated here.  ; )

No jockey had to endure the stress of Mike Smith--to keep a horse un beaten--from way behind--heck, there are many ways for a horse to lose a race--Mike Smith had the weight of the racing world on his shoulders, and should get a vote or three for best jock--remember Bejarano's ride on Rail Trip in the Hollywood Gold Cup--even great riders can ride a bummer race--Smith handled the pressure like, well, a champ....

LIVESOUTHWEST

So Pletcher wins the award. So what!

JASON

Wanna say that although we've had our disagreements regarding Zenyatta and her connections and we aren't going to change our viewpoints, I know you don't hate Zenyatta,rather you didn't didn't agree with how she was managed. Think you would admit what a impact she's made on racing and fans perceptions. Will say it's sad that RA wasn't able to finish the year due to mistakes her connections made. They got greedy. BTW,it's not fair or accurate when fans label you a "Zenyatta hater".

People, Pletcher wasn't the only one who could've scratched LAT. The vet could've scratched her and they didn't. She could've been checked at the gate and wasn't. After she left the paddock it was up to everyone but Pletcher to scratch her. They heard Johny V's concerns out on the track and did nothing, so honestly if you want to blame Pletcher then Blame the vets and stewards who refused to check or scratch LAT aswell. On QR, he got a rail position and if anyone didn't notice the rail was DEAD. The horse was stuck down on the rail, never able to get off of it and was burning up the track with the rest of the speedsters. I believe the only horses to win from the post 1 on the main track on Sat were Apart and Big Drama. Both of them managed to get off of the rail.

I read your column occasionally but don't post often.  In fact I'm not sure if I've ever posted here.

Anyways, I agree with you 100% about Proviso and that the US Eclipse Awards should go to horses based here.  Or at least horses who run most of the season here.    

I know this is blasphemy to the Blame and Zenyatta fans but I seriously think Gio Ponti deserves HOY.

Gio had a longer and tougher campaign than either of them and finished first or second in 7 of the 8 races he ran this year.    He finished first or second at 4 different distances and at 5 tracks in 4 states.  Plus he raced in Dubai to boot.

He didn't win as many as the other two but they had cupcake campaigns in comparison to Gio.

TRADING PLACES

I've stated in the past several weeks on different blog sites that ANY and ALL parties that had a part in the LAT  situation should be punished. As for QR he wasn't going to win anyway regardless of the post.

SINGLE IN LA

We share the same sign. lol

I imagine that you got most things correct Jason.  I am sorry that I do not believe that Pletcher should get traienr of the year no matter what the numbers say.  I am sure he was in a no win situation, same as the jockey that day.  But, it is a black eye.  

Can't help myself, Zenyatta HOY.

Sunny Farm thanks for your support. Dakota you too. But I suspect we are in the monority here.

Livesouthwest, I get your point about percentages. I just believe other things should be factored in. Sigh. I have nothing against Todd Pletcher at all. It's just that he has won it and will win it again. He is a great trainer and a nice person. But this is probably John Sherriff's best chance to win it for obvious reasons. Zenyattas don't come along more than once in a lifetime and he doesn't have the number of horses to make it in the future. They would have to factor in intagibles such as keeping a horse healthy and on top of her game for 3 years or he won't get it. Yes, I know it's an award for 1 year but since there are no alternative awards, and since there are no set criteria, I would vote for John Sherriffs. Just my opinion.

Bob baffert just won his 2000th race. Congratulations to a really nice man and a great trainer.

Single in LA,

I don't mind internet stalkers, but the real ones aren't much fun.  I liked your post.  It made me have impure thoughts.

Whether she wins HOY or not, Zenyatta gave most of us the time of our lives.

Bob Baffert just said on TVG, about Zenyatta, "They should give her HOTY." You just have to love that man.

Baffert also said before the BCC that whoever wins the race should be HOY. Im guessing he wouldnt be now changing his tune if it was LAL that nosed her. Get my point?

Only because its my birthday will I take the time to post on a Sunday but here goes.

Let’s look at things objectively, Todd Pletcher has 266 wins, $22 Million in earnings and a 25% win percentage.  Steve Asmussen has 487 wins, $15 million in earnings and a 21% win percentage. And Bob Baffert has 115 wins and $10 million in earnings, and then Jerry Hollendorfer has 261 wins and $8 million earnings.  These 4 trainers are 1-4 in the standings.  Where oh where is John Sheriffs, at 29th place in earnings and 99th with wins all of 14 for the year.  I for the life of me can’t understand how anyone with even the semblance of a brain could make the statement that John Sheriffs deserves anything. Does he get the award because he’s a nice guy.  I just don’t get it, because of the horse there is no objectivity when it comes to horse racing as a whole and awards that you want to give to connections of a horse that aren’t deserving.  

As for the issue with Goldikova and the awards that she is deserving of, she should get HOY votes, she should win best turf horse period. If you remember what occurred last year with Zenyatta, just as this year she won no races of consequence on the national level, and when she won a BC race that was all people could talk about.  If we as Americans want an award when it comes to the biggest day of racing which is supposed to hold so much weight, send out a horse Male or Female that can beat Goldikova, Until then keep your mouths closed when this fantastic mare comes over here and shows that she is the best horse in the WORLD. Either beat her or keep the mouths closed.

Livesouthwest hit the nail on the head at 7:38 AM when he said that Sheriffs and Moss were scared to face the 3 year old monster in the name of Rachel Alexandra in 2009, even after saying in drf that they were shipping east to face her then after her Mother Goose win in 1:46.33 they get scared and the very next day state they are staying on the West coast.  Here is the question, and make sure that you think about this.  If you have an undefeated 5 year old, and there is a 3 year old running “Why in the world would you be scared to face this horse any and everywhere” it seems like a joke to me that they were scared to face Rachel when she was peaking.  Well I guess not, It was more important to face Anabaa’s Creation and Lethal Heat, they really needed to prove she was better than Optional claimers and Allowance horses out west right. Lol

Last let me say to Sunny Farm, I would have to agree with you 100% on your thoughts to LIVESOUTHWEST, Mr Sheriffs should win the Eclipse award for trainer not due to stats or winning races but because he’s a very nice guy, all of the integrity and sportsmanship he showed by never really challenging Zenyatta in actual grade 1 competitive races.  Whoops, can you see the Sarcasm dripping off my statement.  You are right though team Z built up racing for 2 weeks prior to the BC, when people finally knew who she was, looks like they built up racing in Cali for sure, remember the 12,000 that showed up for her Vanity race, again do you see the Sarcasm that I’ve shown in this post.  I vote for people that won races and fulfilled the normal criteria for eclipse awards, not for the nicest trainer or the horse that dances but loses the biggest race of the year.

I understand the sportmanship that John Sheriffs shows on the track but i feel he did a small disservice to Zenyatta in the summer. I was on Zenyatta as the best horse when she went to the Apple Blossom to race Rachel. She won and proved she was ready to take her on. Her next logical step should have been the Hollywood Gold Cup or Pacific Classic. She needed to go against the boys and prove her worth. Running in the Lady's secret and Vanity does not prove anything. He didn't not challenge her until the Classic and she lost. If she would have had that campaign instead of the one she had. She might be a lock for HOY and then Sheriffs could be trainer of the year for at least taking risks with a small stable. Is Mike Smith the eclipse jockey of the year for being on Zenyatta, proviso and Richard's Kid. he also won the Belmont with Drosselmeyer. Of course not, because we take everything into account with Jockeys.

You might want to do the same for John Sheriffs. Good Trainer but not the eclipse award winner.

Mike,

Point is people need to quit condeming just Pletcher. He made a mistake, but so did everyone there who looked at her. The vet, Pletcher, the stewards. JV made it clear that she wasn't right and wasn't warming up like she normally did. I personally think the guess of tying up is right, since, IMO she looked stiff warming up.

QR may not have won, but any post but the 1 post would have helped him greatly. I didn't think he looked like he "pitched a fit" as somebody else put it, but being on the rail with the pressure of one horse is enough, he had about 3 or four and the rail was dead. However the point again, that performance was not Pletchers fault. If ppl want to blame him for under training then why not Baffert who could run Lucky in the Goodwood at 9 furlongs instead of shipping all the way to Indiana to face a weak feild going 8.5 furlongs when he knew Lucky would be going 10 furlongs against the strongest horses he'd ever faced? If anyone wants to say that was the best way to get him ready with the short time he was allowed, then why rush a young colt, who was just coming back from an illness, for a race like the Classic? Other than greed, what was the reason to rush to the Classic instead of wait, for maybe the Clark and continue on as a 4yr?

Who was the horse of this year? Who will be remembered for what they did?

The answers are obvious- Zenyatta will be remembered as a great, great, all-time great horse. Blame is a nice horse. Not as good as Curlin. Not remotely close to Ghostzapper. Not even worth mentioning in comparison with Seattle Slew, Spectacular Bid and Sunday Silence. Forget Secretariat   He will be remembered for one thing: beating Zenyatta. Period. By two inches. On his favorite track. When she was a SIX year old mare and arguably not at her peak. Etc. etc. etc. Personally, I'll take the opinion of Allen Jerkens (and the vast majority of horsemen) over that of Mr. Shandler.

AfleetAlexForever: (God, it pains me to write the name of that wonderful horse to address you....)

I didn't even have to scroll down to know it was your post. Zenyatta's connections too scared to face Rachel last year? Give me a break. They nominated her to the Beldame. Problem was, Jackson played things so close to the vest, he nominated Rachel to several different races and didn't declare where she was going until a short time before. HE may have known where she was going, but for the rest of the racing world (and the Zenyatta team), it was a crap shoot. Rachel had a terrific year. Period. End of story. Let it go. Your contempt for Zenyatta and her people is nothing more than thinly veiled jealousy that she has deservedly received more attention than your favorite filly has. And while you sneer at Zenyatta's campaign, take a peek at the races Rachel ran in this year....and mostly did not win.

AFLEETALEXFOREVER :

I don't generally post on Sunday either , how-ever,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!

Correction : Goldikova's connections owns the best TURF mare in the planet right now.  We all know who the best mare in the planet right (and if she had run on turf, I have no doubt she would dominate also.)

I don't know what LOW and AAF are drinking to think that Zenyatta's connections ducked her in the Beldame.  That's hilarious, ignorant rant like these is what makes the bashers look..well, ignorant.  I don't know how they came up with that notion but it's pretty laughable LOL.  Yeah, Zenyatta ducked Rachel ... that post pretty much shows how much you know about horse racing.

Too funny.

ZENYATTA didn't just dance. She rocked peoples world. Her 2009 Breeders Cup Classic win started the fire, that and the fact that she was 16-16 & 17-17 & 18-18 then 19-19. This is quite an accomplishment.UNDEFEATED untill 2010. This takes the skill of a trainer and good horsemanship, no matter where or how often you race. How many of us have such a horse who has done this. PEPPERS PRIDE is the only one I can think of at the moment.

The recipient of a trainers award like the Eclispe should only be given to a true horseman and one who is above reproach. This is the main fact I have tried to bring up. This should narrow it down, earnings aside. John Sherriffs also took a big part as so many in the industry made millions from ZENYATTA and this includes charities...earnings aside that is.

Re-newed interest in the sport-priceless.

EXCITEMENT. UNITY. EMOTION.

Yes, I do read what you say , dripping sarcasm , but I think it is a matter of what is most important to each person. To me, in racing ;  TRUE sportsmanship exceeds all & bests all.

AFLEETALEXFOREVER

Funny when you speak of brains. You can't even admit how RA was gutted last fall and fans weren't given the chance to watch her finish her career with a flourish as she should have. When I put you in a corner with facts you never have an answer. RA's connections could've used a page from Zenyatta's connections playbook on how to keep a horse healthy and at top form rather than using them up in one season. Question,did you ever think RA would retire before the season was over? Why don't you man up and answer? Too many important individuals in the business thats trained horses for decades say Zenyatta is the best mare ever. Shug stated prior to last month's narrow loss,Zenyatta belongs in the discussion of all time great racehorses. That's one of many trainers that respect and obviously disagree with your twisted thoughts. You know RA didn't live up to expections this yr and there's no getting around it! Don't say you knew it would end that way! Zenyatta beat everyone in the gate last month except one on his home track by twenty five out. You don't have any class,your only priority is slamming a certain horse and connections you should be ashamed to even call yourself a fan,cause you aren't! BTW You mentioned your b. day. How old are you,twelve? That's how you act.

DAKOTA

Totally agree with you. He's a jealous troll.

AFLEETALEXFORVER

Like everyone on this blog you DO NOT HAVE A VOTE ON HOTY!! Just acknowledge that it kills you with RA's demise this year.

JASON

You are spot on with your remark regarding Baffert. But,can you say I'm wrong that from Bafferts' viewpoint he truly believes Zenyatta is once in a lifetime? I don't think I'm reaching.

Hey Sunny, you at least seem to be heartfelt in your love and admiration of the mare and her connections.  Unfortunately we are unable to change the rules for the Mare, well just because she is a mare.  Rules dont change for Goldikova or they never changed for Rachel Alexandra.  What alot of you bandwagon jumpers dont recognize is that you can't be called the best horse when your connections are too scared to face the best competition regularly.  They were fine with trying to chase a horse named Pepper's Pride, that was their one and only aim with regards to her career after she won her 10th or 11th race.  It became laughable to watch her continue to face the likes of Anabaa's Creation, Gambler's Justice,Moon De French, Princess Taylor Dance To My Tune and Floating Heart. I am of the opinion that the supposed best horse on the planet should be running against the best competition.  And guess what she did in 2009 in the name of Rachel Alexandra and she has her whole career in the name of Goldikova.  Unfortunately what we have or had in the most over rated horse to step into the starting gates in the U.S. in a very long time was a horse who was without a doubt the best mare in California, but was never considered the best HORSE.

I for one wanted nothing more than to be able to appreciate her after her win in 2008 against Ginger Punch, and I did even after her win in the BCLC, but it seemed every win came with an excuse, "we keep running against mares because we dont want to ask too much of her". What type of Bull is that. on the flip side how is it that a horse who is most likely a monster at 12 furlongs or 10 furlongs runs 11 races at 8.5 furlongs, thats 1/16th of a mile longer than the races that Goldikova runs in. 11 races, again laughable, how is it you come out early in the year and state that you are not chasing HOY, then you come back and in a press conference "Beg" for HOY even if she doesnt win the only race of consequence that she runs in. How is it that you duck the Goodwood at what you've stated is the distance at 9 furlongs that you want her to run her races at and you run 2 races earlier in the Lady's Secret at 8.5 furlongs.  Things just never made sense but you know what, her obsessive fans who felt her connections could do no wrong, not even when showing they were CLASSLESS when toasting during Jess Jackson's acceptance speech during the eclipse awards in Jan, her fans kept doing the same thing, while a horse like Goldikova was running against the best available, while Blind Luck was shipping and while Looking at Lucky was doing the same, we got excuse after excuse from the connections of the overhyped, claimer and allowance horse beater who couldnt travel and couldnt run on her "best" surface according to her connections.  Well we saw in the classic why she was never put in a race against grade 1 competition on dirt as she wasnt trained well enough to handle dirt in her face or to have tactical speed in a race.  The lack of training on the part of her trainer is what got her beat and will be why she wont get HOY. Stop Complaining because a better horse beat her fair and square. Blame 2010 HOY

Are the Eclypse awards just for horses who run in the US?  And if so, why do the Breeders Cup races have anything to do with choosing the winners of an Eclypse award?  I thought the Breeders Cup races were to determine the best horses in the world.  Goldikova should be a winner.

Jason, to say that NFL and MLB fans laugh at 'these boards' is hilarious. Obviously they have no interest in thoroughbred horse racing. So why are they on here.

So I guess the laughing reference is to those of us who happen to admire Zenyatta.

Well, today at 6:45 PM CST, i am laughing also, this fanatical Zenyatta fan just watched the fanatical NFL Dallas Cowboys kick the fanatical butts of The NFL Indianapolis Colts on their own playground!!!!!

Good for Zenyatta, and Good for the Cowboys!!! But most of all,

GOOD FOR FANATICISM. Sometimes it pays off. And it makes me laugh too.

Regarding the conversation about Goldikova. Her owners chose to send her to The U.S. while ducking races that would have been far more difficult for her to win. They figured the BC would be a cake walk for her and a shoe in win instead of racing across the pond where the competition might have been too stiff.

I agree with others and have said it before, how much chance would one of our american breds have to get a Cartier Award there for winning 1 race ? You know the answer to that. So why are we such wooses that we don't support our own????

And don't get me wrong Goldikova is all heart and one could not help but appreciate her efforts. Outstanding. But so are the efforts of our own.

Pletcher trained some of the top horses in more categories this year than any other trainer:  two year olds colts and fillies (Uncle Mo,  R Heat Lightning), Grass Two Year Old (Pluck), three year olds colts and fillies (Super Saver, Devil May Care), older horses and mares (Quality Road, LAT). Many other top notch runners ran under his name.  No one else is even close.  The assistants he has train in the manner that he educated them; he hires them and they learn the Pletcher way; he is obviously good with horses and people -- Pletcher is a great horseman who had a great year.   When is he eligible for Hall of Fame?

Jason,  thank you for your blog -- it is a relief to know where to go for some sane, rational posts by a blogger.

In my opinion: Zenyatta is undoubtably HOTY. There is no comparison to her. Her conections are not her and have nothing to do with her being the best horse of 2010.

Not in many a lifetime will there be anything like her.

Afleetalex,

I wouldn't use the word "obsessive" if I were you.  It is WAY too much the pot calling the kettle black, if you know what I mean.

Jason, meant what he said. I think he would have said the same thing if LAL had won it, given the race that she ran. He likes Zenyatta alot and he respects John Sherriffs as well. Like most people.

afleetalexforever,

I strongly suggest that you tie your shoelace before trying to remove your foot from your mouth..........

Ok, now that you're busy I must say that I just love you Sagittarius boys being a Leo lady myself.......However........finessing anything is not a strong point with the clan.

Thanks for pointing out the sarcasm.  I hope you're enjoying your birthday.  It's raining here in Los Angeles.

What do you have to say about Life at Ten?

Hello Afleetalexforever : I was more speaking of the trainer of ZENYATTA on my comment a few comments above this reply. I see that I meshed both ZENYATTA & Sherriff into 'one' in this comment, but it was subconcious....Sherriff and ZENYATTA have become one.( Key to a great trainer.)

What I was trying to convey is the fact that the trainer kept the mare sound, carefully planned her races due to his knowledge of her and perservered with all the public admiration & added stress as well as public relations. Sherriff always had a smile on him that I could see and his training was a main reason ZENYATTA became what she was and reailzed her full potential. For any trainer to win 19-19 un-defeated is a rare rare thing indeed and as I tried to say above , how many trainers do you know who have done this ?

John Sherriff handled all of this ZENYATTA mania with class and he is a horseman and a man of integrity, even before ZENYATTA.

Training ZENYATTA , who earned , what was it ? Over seven million, is not bad earnings for ONE horse with one trainer, even if not done in one year 2010. The mare also has retired sound, something else that seems hard to do for many trainers. I still vote John Sherriffs for TRAINER OF THE YEAR.

Have an excellent evening.

Slew

   You did it !!!!!!!

1978--Exceller, 8 for 10, seven Gr I's....Seattle Slew, 5 for 7, including a race at Suffolk and an alowance race...Exceller beats Slew in their last race, The Jockey Club Gold Cup, at 1 1/2 dirt---but Seattle Slew, an iconic horse, ran an iconic race to finish 2nd--Slew got the Eclipse, fast forward to today--Zenyatta will win HOY for the same reason, the best horse finished 2nd, beaten--not defeated!

Okay, I want to make it clear that I don't think Zenyatta's connections "ducked" Rachel, because to me that implies they were afraid to face her.  And I don't believe that, I think they were confident they had the better horse.  But they failed to take advantage of the opening Jess Jackson gave them.  When Jackson offered to face them in the Beldame, he really didn't have to do that.  His filly had already run a 3YO campaign for the ages at that point, that was HOY-worthy even without the Beldame or the Woodward.  By comparison, Zenyatta had run three races against females.  Who needed who more?  Who should have taken who up on their offer instead of griping about shipping and detention barns?

Yes, they finally said they would ship Zenyatta for the Beldame, but Jackson had already made other plans for Rachel by then.  Hey Jerry and John, you snooze, you lose.  This year, no argument that it was Jackson who blew the Apple Blossom matchup.

Secondly, I think you can make a case that Sherriffs may have cost Zenyatta the Classic this year.  How?  By not shipping to Churchill a week earlier and letting her feel the dirt in her face.  Mike Smith said she hated that dirt and didn't want to run in the beginning.  Smith was a real trooper by trying to take all the blame, but who was responsible for her not having a chance to work over that track?  Blame got his breeze over the track, think that might have given him an edge?  I just don't understand this obsession Sherriffs has with hating to ever leave his barn, considering that his assortment of mutts other than Z has accounted for all of nine wins this year. And this time it may have cost Zenyatta the Classic win and her cherished unbeaten streak.  Combine that with his mediocre overall 2010 record and I suspect that not only is Sherriffs anything but a "lock" for trainer of the year, but he may not even be one of the three finalists on the ballot, as there are at least three trainers with substantially better records than his for 2010.

BTW, I hope any fans on the West Coast were there to say goodbye to Zenyatta today.  She looked great and just ate up all the attention and cheers.  She's still my choice for HOY this year, regardless of what I think of her connections.

CONGRATULATIONS Bob Baffert on your 2000th WIN ! That is awesome  & impressive !(I figured this would be the best place to make comment on your 2000th win, as no blog place on the article )

LOW : I'm wondering why you even brought up JJ and Rachel into this blog ?  Your hatred for Z's connection is ridiculous.  Did you forget that JJ has a knack of naming multiple races when talking about her next race ??  Did you forget that ??

If I have to guess, he does that to prevent Team Z from making the race he's picking for Rachel.  What do you think of that ?  The one time he had the balls to run against Zen, he bailed at the last minute.  So again, what is your point for bringing up JJ and Rachel into this blog ?  Does it keep you up at night unless you get to post some bashing of Team Z ??

I personally don't care if she wins the HOTY or not, it's not really that important.  She has transcended HOTY, IMO.

LOW....Geesh....you totally skipped over the 2010 Apple Blossom fiasco, when JJ had the date changed to suit him, then declined to enter his filly.  Exactly who ducked whom?

Dr.D:  Yes!  It was tough...every time I left the room, the Colts managed to score, so I had to stay with the game right through the OT.  It was like pushing Zen across the finish line...go Cowboys!  Loved that leverage penalty!

I thought this wasn't supposed to be a HOY blog?  And best turf filly on the planet is Buena Vista.

My apologies to the double standard fans of the Over Hyped mare. Jess Jackson shouldn’t weigh his options and then make a decision, I agree I mean its not as if Rachel was his horse. But lets look at the other set of connections who waited up until race time to choose to run in the Clement L. Hirsch, the trainer running around with a hat full of the racing surface asking what it was made of. LOL, you people are hilarious.  

As for the AB, JJ made a decision that was best for his horse, when they scratched out of the Louisville handicap last year due to the threat of light rain on Oaks day what was said about the Moss’s, “they are making the best decision for the horse” One set of connections are always in the right and the other always in the wrong.  When people said there is no more competition for one horse in her division she stepped up and out of that division on 3 occasions, when the same was said of the other horse she continued to beat up on weak, mediocre mares in the same division.  Its ducking when JJ doesn’t run in the Travers against the same horse RA beat by 6 lengths a month earlier, but its in the best interest of the pampered mare to keep running against Modification and Lethal heat, because she can’t handle much more due to trying to catch Pepper’s Pride. Pepper’s Pride was the focus for the Moss’s that’s it her and the BC and they failed miserably with both. Get over it folks.

Yeah Jason but LAL didn’t win did he?

Baffert did say it though huh?  Well, Just chuck it - west coast Bias right?  

I have been busy with the snow and stuff and haven't had time for much blogging. I came back and see we have degraded to this... Again. Depressing really, this blog combined with Seasonal Affective Disorder - two SAD aspects of the season.

Now Not because of what he said, but I will get back to TOPIC and say that the Trainer of the year isn’t as clear but to me. Baffert and Hollendorfer are the top two votes.

I love John S and feel like his decisions and training style should be emulated by so many more. Sheriffs is and exemplary trainer. He is a true Horseman and it shows - but this is a game of what have you done for me lately and stats.

Posting 2000 wins just now and the whole year of stepping out of the box with his west coast 3 year old sensation put Baffert my top choice. Jerry H and the way he just kept at it after losing Tuscan Evening brings tears to my eyes and he is just as good a Choice.

Having said that I have to ask...

Jason, Pletcher really, Jason? In the same "What have you done for me lately?" direction HOW BOUT THAT nice black eye we are STILL talking about? I can see the headlines - "Trainer of the Year involved with class action by BC LAT bettors”.  It’s truly best for the sport and all involved to skip Todd this year.

If this is all about the end and NOTHING about the MEANS and you can’t blow your shot it at the end at the Breeders Cup then WTF - you cant have it both ways.

Look if these are to be handed out strictly on accomplishments set a point scale IN ADVANCE and have at it.  Discount F&M races, whatever they decide, Use the grading system and other wins just get a point it’s not that hard to take the sentiment out of this. Perhaps,  Let the current voters set and adopt a standard for next year.

Until there are set criteria I find it hard to get folks to rationally talk about any of it.

@ Linda in Texas

It seems a bit odd to say that the connections of Goldikova chose to send her to the BC because the competiton back home is too stiff considering her acheivements or do you not merit a mare who has time after time shown males a clean pair of heals? Hardly ducking competition is she?

I was talking to my PGA and PBA buddies, and I told them what Jason's MLB and NFL friends said, and the PGAers, and PBAers said- "Never look a gift horse in the mouth."

Dr. D,

PBA?  Peanut butter and ???  

Jelly?

I understand all the arguments being made for the factors that determine Trainer of the Year, and I'm not waving a flag for Sheriffs. I don't know who I'd vote for. But for all the great results, Pletcher is an assembly-line manager, and he proved it with the Life at Ten debacle. If something had happened to her, what would this discussion look like?

Alex- in defense of Linda, there are Goldikova's critics even in Europe who think skipping the QE2 mile and the Hong Kong races and running in the BC instead is taking the softer route.  She is a great mare but some think the BC is a step below.

Slew, in fact I did not skip over the 2010 Apple Blossom fiasco.  I said, "This year, no argument that it was Jackson who blew the Apple Blossom matchup."  Reading is fundamental, you know.

Jayjay, I don't hate Shirreffs.  In fact give him credit for being a nice guy, a sportsman, and for keeping a great mare in top condition for a much longer period of time then most of her competitors.

But longevity isn't everything.  It's also true that his handling of Zenyatta for the Classic put her at a disadvantage to Blame.  There was no reason he couldn't have left his barn with an assistant - it's not like any of the rest of his stock had any important stakes coming up that week - and got her there in time to let her get comfortable over the track.  A really top trainer would have done that.

And for the year, just look at the top 100 North American trainers for 2010 by earnings.  

www.equibase.com/.../earningtrainer100.html

Guess where Sherriffs ranks on the list in wins?  Top Ten? No.  Top 25? Not exactly.  Well he MUST rank in the top half, right?  Keep going.

Out of the top 100 trainers in earnings who started a horse in North America in 2010, Sherriffs ranks NINETY-NINTH in wins, only finishing ahead of Irish trainer Brian Meehan who had all of five North American starters and one victory.  Is it any wonder that he can't get stock from big-time owners?  He had a mediocre year and other than Zenyatta, he had a TERRIBLE year.

And I'm sure some of the Z-nuts who say HOY doesn't matter will now be saying Trainer of the Year doesn't matter either.  None of the awards matter, huh?  All the awards are fixed, right?  It's always those biased Eastern writers who year after year never appreciate how great John is, right?  

Those who are saying Sherriffs should even be considered for Trainer of the Year for 2010 have about as much credibility as the little girl who pulls on her father's coat sleeve and says, "Oooh Daddy, look at the pretty horsie. She's so pretty, she must be the best, huh Daddy?"

Jason,

Well, so much for keeping Miss Z out of your blog! Silly boy.

I agree with you on Big Drama. The three horses that you mention were pretty close and he won the Breeder's Cup. IMO that makes him the Eclipse winner. I also tend to agree on Proviso. Proviso was great, but her poor finish in the Mile also hurt. Until they change the rules, Goldikova is the right horse for female turf Eclipse. Perhaps if Proviso had run a close second, she'd get some votes.

AFLEETALEXFOREVER

What happened to the promise by Jackson that he wanted to have three races with RA against Zenyatta? Also,you've never mentioned the fact that RA didn't win a Grade 1 this yr and her getting beat by second tier horses. Guess you didn't wanna remember that,right?

I find it sad that people say if Zenyatta does not win Horse of the Year they will lose all interest in racing.

If that is the case, they are clearly not racing fans, but merely fans of one horse. Too bad, really, as although Zenyatta may have been one of a kind, racing is still a great game and there is much to look forward to in 2011. Hang around for the ride, you'll enjoy it.

Matthew W,

The problem with your Seattle Slew/Exceller comparison is that Slew had beaten Exceller by four lengths in the Woodward before losing that amazing race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. And had also beaten Affirmed in the Marlboro Cup in the first-ever meeting of Triple Crown winners.

Slew was named champion older horse over Exceller but lost out in the Horse of the Year balloting to Affirmed, who had won the Triple Crown that year...There seems little doubt that Slew was the best horse in training in 1978 but it's hard to top a Triple Crown.

Similarly, the previous year Slew won Horse of the Year over Forego, who although he had slipped a bit, had another great campaign. But Slew had won the Triple Crown so even though he only raced once after the Belmont, he won HOY.

Just trying to be historically accurate here. Zenyatta and Blame had never faced each other before the Classic, which was not the case with Exceller and Slew.

Footlick - thank you. I based my comment on what i had read just as you stated.

Sorry Alex, i did not mean to irritate you.

tcc: Thanks for the updates. Speaking of Patriots, Im getting ready to watch them take apart the Jets.

afleetalexforever:  you are so spot on!!

Mike Relva:  RA/ JJ has nothing to do with Z and her campaign all summer and fall  -- don't try to make excuses and bring in irrelevant points.  There is really nothing that can be posted about Z's campaign to refute what AAF so accurately noted, and that's why you went off topic.

Is it just me,or does anyone have the feeling AFLEETALEXFORVER and DRAYNAY are the same individual?

Ahh the ol HOY award just another word for FAKE..

A award with no standards.

One year it does not matter next year it does..

YAWN..

Gulfstream opens the 4th looking forward to it.

SKYFIRE

AAF says the same thing in EVERY blog,nothing but a neg. slams on the same exact topic. Spin it anyway you like,but there's too many great trainers that certainly differ sharply from your and AAF opinion's of Zenyatta. Are they wrong,individuals in the industry that hold Zenyatta in such high regard? Oh that's right,you and your pal AAF are spot on and the HOF trainers are wrong! Please.

For Horse of the Year - The Queen ALL THE WAY.  However, considering how much the voters despise west-coasters, I doubt Zenyatta will win.  SUCH A SHAME. If I were voting (which of course I'm not) she would be Horse of the Century!!!  Enough said.

Aww Mike, there you go again deflecting. Are you one of  those that also will step away from the game  of horse racing if the overhyped non-winner of 1 route race against grade 1 competition doesn't win HOY. Are you going to cry a river when J Sheriffs doesn't get one vote for Eclipse award winning trainer or when the Moss's dont get votes for top owners. Here is what i  dont get, for 2  years it was all about her undefeated record. Now its not about the undefeated record, its about what she did for Horse Racing.

Lets take a step back and look at what she did for horse racing. In 2008 she was over shadowed by the top money earning horse ever in the name of 07-08 HOY Curlin.  In 2009 the Moss's played things their way and wanted to go ultra conservative, and were over shadowed by the greatest season of racing, with more records during that year than Zenyatta set in her career. that horse 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra did what Zenyatta couldnt and that was win a route race over Grade 1 competition on dirt. Its sad that there will be so many questions about what the mare could have  done.  I dont have those issues with Rachel she did so many things that Zenyatta either wasnt capable of doing, in setting track records, or out doing a Horse by the name of ruffian, i mean consider that Rachel chased and beat  Ruffian's 2 records and Zenyatta chased Pepper's Pride and came up short.  Very sad indeed.

As for your question about who i am, sorry I am not draynay, Im a guy that knew about Zenyatta along time before you did.  I was there live in 08 at my home track when she beat GP. I thought then she could be amazing, her connections didnt allow that to take place but she was still a good horse. Just never worthy of HOY. Its not an award given away to the nicest people or the horse with the best pony trick or dance. sorry, Im just saying.

Robin unfortunately she's not even the Horse of California, that award would go to Richard's Kid, winner 2 of California's top races, the San Antonio-G2, Pacific Classic-G1, Goodwood-G1, thats a stellar record, what were the races that Zenyatta won again.  the Zenyatta Stakes.

Speaking of Patriots, Im getting ready to watch them take apart the Jets.

jshandler 06 Dec 2010 7:54 PM

R. Ryan throws a challenge when he probably shouldn't have, and doesn't throw it when he probably should have. Patriots offense looked pretty tough to stop in the 1st half.

Livesoutwest: Maybe you do "lives out west" but you must not own a horse, or have not ever trained one. You said on Dec 06 That "Anyone who would support John Sherriffs for Trainer of the year has no credibility " And then you went on ahead with some kind of baby talk.

I have owned, raised & trained horses for over 42 years and I am a real horsewoman, why do you think horses bother to talk to me ?

Do they talk to you ? I did not think so.

I know what a darn good trainer & horseman is and they are very rare.

I know how long it takes to train a horse, to do it right , keep him sound AND happy.

It is not a matter of earnings or how many horses in your stable.

Around a thousand people from KY. braved the cold today to honor & welcome a mare named ZENYATTA. She was trained by a man named JOHN SHERRIFS. This mare also had a great send off from CA.and has become quite famous, less you need reminding. She ran 19 for 19 and had a trainer ,who was a horseman. so many people in the industry have benefited from John's excellent training and this does hold a lot of credibility.

It is true that there ARE other deserving top-trainers on the list, but I will stand by my opinion : They have all earned wins and money but how many trained ZENYATTA & kept her sound and how many trained a horse that ever ran 19 for 19 ? (Made over seven million !!!) Beat the colts at the 2009 B.C. classic  & was still fresh to run ?

I did not like the comment that John Sherriffs just has a few horses in his barn as no one will send them to him. That is such a lame thing to say, He , being a horseman, knows he can only handle a few at a time and do his best with each one. I am quite sure that he has a huge waiting list of those who wish he would accept more horses. Real horsemen make decisions like that, did you know this ? They put the horse first. I see nothing wrong with my opinion and in fact I feel quite grown up being able to take part in a blog right here on Bloodhorse !

I hope we can now all stop talking about the Jets. What frauds...

Told you all the Patriots would crush the JETS!  Now Brethren will win the KY Derby!

One more thing.  Zenyatta would have beaten Blame had she had her picture taken with Tom Brady a winner, rather then some loser like Terrel Owens!  HA!

www.drf.com/.../all-grade-1-races-are-not-created-equal

trebloc

    You got it. That's what it all came down to. That picture. The TO whammy. What were they thinking !!!!!!

AFLEETALEXFOREVER

I seriously doubt you knew about Zenyatta before I did. I've followed her from the beginning. You've made a "career" of about 98% of your blogs spewing vicious hatred. You couldn't summon the guts to answer my earlier question. How do you get around the fact that many in racing brand her a "once in a lifetime horse"? I'm talking about trainers that's legions of the game. Why don't you be a man and address my question?

"Are the Eclypse awards just for horses who run in the US?  And if so, why do the Breeders Cup races have anything to do with choosing the winners of an Eclypse award?  I thought the Breeders Cup races were to determine the best horses in the world.  Goldikova should be a winner."

Matt, I hate to disillusion you, but the Breeders Cup races are NOT world championships and never were. That title is pure publicity for US consumption; overseas it is a joke. The BC has merely replaced the traditional late season championship races of the past - the Garden State and Gardenia (then the Laurel-Pimlico Futurity and Selima) for 2yos, the Ladies H and Spinster for fillies and mares, the JC Gold Cup and Woodward for the open division, the Vosburgh for sprinters, the DC International for turf horses - with a one-day extravaganza.

A vast majority of the best horses in the world on turf DO NOT run in the BC - did you see So You Think or More Joyous on the track at CD? I'd take either one over Goldikova at 8f on turf. And none of the dirt-racing South American racing countries send direct representatives, even though Invasor, from the relatively minor country of Uruguay, again has proved that South America produces worthy dirt horses.  

The BC helps determine North American championships because it is set up for North American-bred and raced horses. The fact is that our turf divisions have always been secondary - our classics and other top races are on dirt. So it shouldn't be surprising that runners from countries where turf racing is supreme can beat ours if they can adapt to the sharp turns and short stretches of 'bull-ring' 7f turf courses.

It's a shame that memories can only go back to Breeders' Cup races at the end of the year.  It should not be held against a horse that it suffered a career ending injury.

Majesticperfection (one word) was absolutely awesome, beating the best there were to face in the Vanderbilt like they were at a totally different level.

It appears, from your poll, that Big Drama will win the Eclipse. Lucky for him, because he couldn't warm up Majesticperfecton on Vanderbilt day in Saratoga.

That's right Jason, G1 races aren't created equal, but the conditions are.  Last I checked the G1 status is the same and the money is of equal value.  If certain fillies and mare don't want to contest what have been historically top G1 races for their sex, then we can't condem the fillies and mares that do.

Afleet,

Saying the Richard's Kid, not Zenyatta, is California's horse is the most absurd thing I've read on any racing blog ever, and that is saying a lot. If you really believe that (and I don't think you do), I'd suggest you stop living in your own fantasy world and maybe read the news occasionally.

Too, too funny.  And sad, very sad.

J.S. interesting link, I like the Super Grade 1 Idea maybe with a  qualifying condition to be the same for all - perhaps previous winner of graded stakes or amount of money earned (like KD) or put up money. Of course to attract the best you have to have a substantial purse too.

You still can't guarentee that they will show up but if they do at least they belong is the theory right?

Im excited about dirt in CA and the purse increases are bringing in strings of better horses it should help the overall industry.

Well Pam please tell me what I am missing, if you can read, you’ll see the conditions for the Pacific Classic and the Goodwood state Open male handicap races. Other than the Santa Anita Derby and the Hollywood Gold Cup these are two of the top 4 races in California.  Which of those races did Zenyatta contest and win.  So let me ask you this, Life at Ten won the Beldame in NY and the Ogden Phipps do those two filly and mare races make her the top horse in NY, lets say maybe because she does a dance before each race.  Sorry no maam it doesn’t and if you think it does well you don’t have the ability to be objective about the situation either. Its fairly simple, Open division handicap races against males hold more weight than filly and mare races against optional claimers and allowance horses. If you look at his races in the G2 he beat a g2 winner in nownownow, and two grade 1  winners in Mast Track and Dakota Phone. In the Pacific Classic he beat G1 winners Awesome Gem, the usual Q.T.,  and Dakota Phone again, and in the Goodwood, G2 winner Twirling Candy, G1 winners Awesome Gem and Dakota phone again.  The consistency of beating these horses the top tier horses in cali is impressive.  On the flip side where was Zenyatta, she was in her stall ducking these races, Grade 1 races at the 9 furlong distance that her connections stated that they wanted to run her at. Its sad when the connections are such cowards that they would rather run the horse at 8.5 furlongs which is far from her best distance to avoid the top competition running in the top races in Cali.  So please let me know how victories in races that contained Zero grade 1 winners trumps what Richard’s Kid did in his 3 victories this year defeating 7 Grade 1 winners this year in his races.  I mean your argument isnt even considered an argument its so crazy that some of you think that no matter what she should be given awards and things for doing very little on the track.  If that was the way horse racing was meant to be viewed then why run the races just give Zenyatta all of the awards.

Well the PSA bloggers arent laughing either my connections with the the PSA (no, not your score Ted) said do like they do and give a degree of difficulty figure for each race - like a triple toe loop whintney and a double axel Vanity.  :^)

Pedigree Ann

I take exception about your talking about N/A horse racing like it is second rate.  True, in recent years N/A turf racing has slipped when compared to the rest of the world.  Gone are the days of our last great turf miler Lure, a horse that would compete with any in his time.  We no longer produce the likes of Manila who competed strongly in the longer turf races (defeated Dancing Brave) and might have contested the Arc, but for an injury.  It is interesting to note that before Goldikova, US horses won the four previous runnings of the Turf Mile.

However, N/A’s strongest racing surface has been and always will be dirt, with synthetics racing in the US also extremely competitive on the world racing scene.  The Crown Jewel of the of the so called World Championships of racing at the Dubai World Cup Festival has always been the Dubai World Cup.  It is the biggest race on the card with the biggest purse.  If you check back in history N/A based horses have won 10 of the 15 runnings and have never lost two in a row.  We might no longer be able to compete strongly on the world turf scene, but when it comes to dirt (and synthetics), N/A is tops.

AFLEETALEXFOREVER

Why don't you stop ignoring the fact RA's season went out with a flicker. But,you don't wanna address that point,do you? This is your way of dealing with egg on your face for the less than memorable year she went out.

Mike: Rachel’s season had nothin gat all to do with Rachel this year but more to do with her owner making mistakes and rushing her back before she was ready.  Riddle me this, why were the owners of the 5 year old allowance beater too scared to face her last year, hmm, excuses like the detention barns and oh yeah here’s the best one, John Sheriffs can’t ship a horse because he cant be away from his 7 horse barn. LOL, that’s low budget to put it into perspective. I respect the man for ducking competition in 17 or 20 races, I respect them for saying you know what forget HOY that would be too much to ask for her to run in competitive campaigns.  What I don’t respect is her obsessed fans trying to put a spin on something that never happened.  

Here is a good question for you Mike and Laz and even the Sunny person.  

How many Grade 1 winners did Zenyatta face in her last 9 races against fillies and mares?

How many Grade 1 winners did Zenyatta defeat in 2010 in races that she won?

How many records did Zenyatta set in her career?

How many races did Zenyatta win in open company on dirt?

How many Males did Zenyatta defeat on dirt in races she won?

Here is a hint for those that are lost about the answers, A number of these answers will be 0 or Zero or Zilch or Nada.  But let me hear what the answers are.  Oh and last but not least How many HOY awards does Zenyatta retire with.  It was never deserving but Im just saying. lol

Dude, seriously relax. Will someone pass AAF an eggnog or something? Really brother its just not worth all the anxiety. woosa, woosa

AFLEETALEXFOREVER

I repeat,your horses' career ENDED with a flicker!

Mike, why do you keep bringing up the HOY Rachel Alexandra? We all know she retired as H.O.Y. Do you think AAF's only paltform is Rachel? Could it be possible that maybe he just does not like her campaign or her fans like scores of other people.

Mike i'll repeat your horses career ended losing to a Grade II horse at best in most years, with plenty of *******************. haha, im just saying.

"Well the PSA bloggers arent laughing either my connections with the the PSA (no, not your score Ted) said do like they do and give a degree of difficulty figure for each race - like a triple toe loop whintney and a double axel Vanity.  :^)"

Zen's Auntie 07 Dec 2010 1:19 PM

Was this a prostate joke Zen's Auntie?  There is nothing funny about prostate exams.  And I strongly recommend ALL male bloggers here to NOT ask for a second opinion after said exam.  Truth be told, I'd prefer a prostate exam to attending the races Philly Park (or Parx or Phart or whatever they changed the name to).

Mike Relva

Hey bud.  Why waste your time arguing with the likes of AAF.  If he was the astute and knowledgeable racing fan he likes everyone to think he is then maybe he should take on the responsibility of acting like one instead of being a crusader against the one horse that has really had an impact on racing in this country in recent years.

Yes Billy's Empire.

Read some of the other blogs.  Maybe you might see what Mike is driving at.  In fact why don’t you go to AAF’s blog?

BILLY'S EMPIRE/AAF

What about the "scores of people" that proclaim her one for the ages? Did either one of you "experts" read recently what Allen Jerkens said recently regarding Zenyatta? What about Bill Nack,Shug and many others? LOL Take a chill pill!

Billy has a point and it is True, Rachel just happened to be the horse that dominated racing thru the calendar year of 09 and dominated the news in 2010 up until her retirement.  Goldikova is the horse that all of the buzz will be about going forward, and guess what unlike the Cali synthetic specialist, Golikova is actually good enough to face MALES. WHOA, what do you know about that, a horse being campaigned as the best horse in the world not the best filly or mare.  Goldikova’s connections don’t run against the weakest possible competition to come over to the BC and win because she’s the most rested and freshest horse to run. Its amazing that in the 26 or so years that the BC has been run no other connections have just come out and publicly said we are only focused on the BC. Consider for example had Jess Jackson done that with Curlin, can you imagine during his 3 year old season. Haskell, West Virginia Derby, Indiana Derby BCClassic, yeah that’s right, that’s offensive to think about.  Well think about his 4 year old season could you have seen the Mineshaft, the Oaklawn handicap, Phillip H Iselin Handicap, Hawthrone Gold Cup and BCClassic.  That would have been a travesty, and even more so for Asmussen to be smug enough to at any point ask or beg for HOY in front of the cameras.  As a matter of fact when was the last time anyone ever saw a trainer beg for HOY before the biggest race of the year.  Lol its laughable they are without fault huh.  

AFLEETALEXFOREVER aka DRAYNAY

Again illustrates how little you know about racing. RA's career ended cause she was gutted in Woodward. I SAID IT LAST YR and Hal Wiggins had the same reaction when Jason interviewed him. I'll connected the dots for you: Jackson E M P T I E D T H E T A N K! Do you get it now? lol

Can we please get off this subject?

afleetalexforever.

How many records did Zenyatta set in her career?

8/2/08  Track Record at Del Mar for 1 1/16th at 141:48

8/7/10  Broke the world record for consecutive group 1/grade 1 wins, with her 8th consecutive grade 1 victory.

10/2/10  Broke the all time North American record for grade 1 by filly/mare at 13 besting that west coast nightmare Bayakoa.

10/2/10  Broke the all time North American female earnings at 6,312,552 (also probably Bayakoa). She would pad this to 7,304,580 passing Tiznow, John Henry, and Alysheba in earnings.

Do I need to go on?  Do we need to go into her consecutive win streak? or her record 3x Clement Hirsch or Lady Secret wins?  

I would expect an announcement very soon that Rachel Alexander is to come out of retirement to challenge some of these numbers. Good luck.  Bayakoa hasn't raced since 1990.  It will be a very very long time if ever, another horse comes close to setting these type of numbers.  

afleetalexforever.  Dakota Phone's Native Diver performance should make him a good candidate for HOY. Awesome Gem wins like 1x year.  Do you actually believe what you write? "Top Tier."  What?  The Usual Q.T. had no business being on synthetics in the Pacific Classic.  Zenyatta wins nothing by beating males in the Pacific Classic and then losing the Breeder's Cup Classic.  So now Zenyatta was ducking Richard's Kid but later shows up against the Preakness winner, Jockey's Gold Cup winner, Blame, and Quality Road who set how may track records?  You have got to be kidding.  Richard's Kid...because he was facing Dakota Phone?  What?

Sunny Farm:

You said Shirreffs should get an award for the planning of Zenyatta's campaign.

Could you explain what kind of planning is needed from a trainer, when that horse is running in the same races 3 years in a row?

Laz,

The Vanity is a restricted race for fillies & mares with a $250K purse, in which the winner takes home $150K.

The Dubai Cup is an open G1 with a $10M purse, in which the winner takes home $6M, and the BCC is an open G1 with a $5M purse, in which the winner takes home $3M.

I don't know but, somehow, that G1 status you mention does not seem "the same" nor does the money seem "of equal value"...

C'mon, man...

All right, AAF, I'll bite.  

See, the people who came out to HOL on Oct. 2 were there to see Zenyatta's last California race.  Not Richard's Kid's, though he was also racing on the card. I could tell by the hats, handmade signs, and the fact that you couldn't get a spot around the paddock unless you skipped the two races previous to Zenyatta's.  Besides the thousands of people that have visited her barn the past month and came to see her off Sunday, still more braved the extreme cold for her appearance yesterday at Keeneland.  

Richard's Kid -- I think he is in Dubai but I'm not really sure.  Is anyone?  We all know what races he won (I think).  But most California fans also know he was left in Zenyatta's wake in the '09 BC.  That's probably mainly what they remember.  Kind of like Quality Road.  He won a lot of big races, much better ones than the ones in Calif. (so I've been told). He was supposed to be the best dirt horse in the world.  IN THE WORLD!!  This year Zenyatta AKA Poly Queen left him in her dust too.

But I digress.  Again, Richard's Kid won a few of the big Calif. races for males (he is a male and therefore has to race in his division).  He was never on "60 Minutes" or in any magazines.  Fans don't show up wearing hats with his name on them, or his owner's colors (who owns him now anyway?).  He does not have his own website, and to the best of my knowledge there has never been a single blog written about him, good, bad or indifferent.  Steve Haskin has written about 100 Zenyatta blogs all by himself!

I could go on but I think you get the point.  California's Horse?  Are you mad?? Why don't you ask someone from California?  See how many "votes" you get for Richard's Kid.

FOOTLICK

If  they will,I have no problem. Good luck,since almost all of AFLEETALEXFOREVER blogs strike the same theme. Or have you noticed?

Mike- you can't help but notice.  They are all over the internet.  

Leon

What your are saying in effect is that all G1 races for 2 year olds are not true G1’s because they are restricted to 2 year olds.  All G1 races for 3 year olds are not true G1 races because they are restricted to 3 year olds.  And all G1 races on turf are not true G1 races because dirt horses don’t have an equal advantage and visa-versa when going from turf to dirt.   Actually I guess the Triple Crown races are not true G1 races because they are restricted to 3 year olds.

It is about horses competing within whatever category they are be it 2, 3 or older horse, fillies or mares or males, to the best of their ability.  Spectacular Bid won the G1 Woodward in a walkover.  Does that make the race any less significant?  And because that race didn’t have a 10M purse and wasn’t run at Dubai does that make Spectacular bid any less than what he was?  What about horses like Personal Ensign and Lady’s Secret and Azeri?  Were their G1 wins against their own sex any less of a G1 win than Blame winning the BCC?  I get your point about the toughness of a race, the BCC and the Dubai being open to all.  I like to think I left the turnip patch a while back.  However, the other races given their significance are just as tough in their own way and top me that makes them equal in stature.

Leon

Tongue in cheek, your rebuttal to Sunny Farm regarding Sherriff's careful planning of Zenyatta's schedule.  Sure it was careful planning.  You know how many hours and how many phone calls it took to make sure that there would be no G1 competition in those races.  They probably tried to work some other races into their schedule, but when they found out that a G1 winner or a horse with even a remote chance of beating them was entered they opted out.  That takes a lot of work you know.

Leon:  "Could you explain what kind of planning is needed from a trainer, when that horse is running in the same races 3 years in a row?"

Very funny!!  You and AAF get it.

Ted from LA and Zen's Auntie

   Just finished off my first batch of eggnog of the year. It was pretty good but I ran out of rum. Had just enough to make my ears burn. Spunky loved it too. Ironically Ted, I just had a PB&J sandwich on sourdough. Should be getting a case of rum delivered any minute now. I bought the eggs a few months ago so I'm OK there. I hard boiled them so they last longer, then I just blend them.  The nutmeg is still good from 1989. Spices last forever. The cream is from last Christmas but it's still good cause it's that super homogonized kind. They last for years that way regardless of what the date is. Happy Holidays.

On to really important things, my Broncos stink, the Bill Belichik (Tiznow) connection of Josh Daniels did not work!!  Help!!  I will have to bandwagon on the Patriot win machine this year.

sodapopkid

   Are you coming over for Christmas dinner? Or do you have other plans? You won't need to help, I already started cooking it, so just come over and relax.

AAF

Anyone that harbors such jealously and hatred for an innocent animal that's brought joy to others' has FAR MORE problems than trying to cash a ticket. You're seriously disturbed,man!

Jason and the Argonauts

   Have a fabulous and safe Holidays, and a great 2011. Thanks for your diligence on keeping up with your blog all year Jason.  Best of luck to everyone in 2011 making some money playing the ponies. Don't go to the OTB in New York cause you'll freeze to death waiting for the doors to open. Get to the track or play on your computer. Happy Holidays.

Zenyatta Fans - The haters will never admit they are wrong about her.  Whatever she does is not good enough. Most consecutive Grade 1 wins NOT good enough, Most consecutive wins NOT good enough, most earnings for a filly/mare NOT good enough, FIRST horse to win 2 different Breeder's Cup races NOT good enough, FIRST filly/mare to win the Breeder's Cup Classic NOT good enough, raced 3 times on dirt NOT good enough (beat BC champ Ginger Punch on dirt), set a track record at Del Mar NOT good enough (even better she was running in slow motion), equaled a track record at Hollywood Park NOT good enough (slow motion again), and made up impossible ground in the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs and barely lost still NOT good enough. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!

Can someone please tell me where all these great horses are that Zenyatta was supposedly dodging???  I didn't see anyone coming to take her on.  She went to Oaklawn NOBODY showed up.  Blind Luck was flown to Delaware to dodge Zenyatta.  Get real.  

Smiling Tiger needs to be added 2010 Sprint Eclipse Award Nomination, He won two Grade 1's Ancient Title and Bing Crosby sprints against older and the Grade 3 Laz Barrera.

AAF,

Thanks for taking over for Leon so he could have time to go get coffee.

Can't wait for a new blog.

One more great horse race left in '10: Champion Of Champions, this Sat, Los Al, for Quarter Horses--and this year's running has one of the best fields ever assembled for a QHorse race, maybe the best!

Dr. D,   As much as I would love to come over , I'll have to pass.  I just cant fathom those eggs you cooked a few months ago, and the spices you are using that was dated back in "89".   I cant wait to hear the rest of your meal plans,   I just pity your guest...lol    Keep it coming, Dr. D.    

I guess you have to be a doctor to treat yourself and your guest after these meals...lol     sodapop

Householder your post on Dec 7 at 5:44 pm kinda tells it all. Let me answer your question about needing to go on, YES you would need to go on, because you really didn’t say anything. When was the last time someone, anyone put much stock in career earnings when it came to asking the question “How many records did a horse set in his or her career” you sound like every other west coaster that cant talk in any way about the horses actual career on the track.  Let me help you with a few Horse racing 101 issues that we should address so there is no confusion in the future.

When referring to competition defeated we are only referring to races that the horse won.

When referring to records we are referring to things that actually happened on the track.

I mean seriously, some of you are so obsessed at trying to make her look better than she really is.  But let me see if I have this straight in 20 races Zenyatta set 1 record on the track. And that record encompasses 3 years of invalidated synthetic racing. LOL did you seriously put that in writing.  Or whats more did you really list the 8 Grade 1 wins in a row as a world record, lol whatever it is that you’re taking to conjure up such things would you please advise.  I need to be on the same substance. You sound like another blogger on this site who continues once a day to write a farewell to Zenyatta. That’s what I call obsessive, let’s write a final farewell and then write another final farewell and then one more.  Let’s talk about how cold it was during the last ceremony, let’s talk about how John Sheriff’s other horses weren’t able to train or work out due to him being in Kentucky for the past 2 days and how they will be behind the eight ball due to his stable being so small and not having an assistant trainer. Then lets write another farewell to Zenyatta this time focusing on her van ride to Lane’s End and chronicle the handing over of the reigns from Mario to Miguel.

Where is the professionalism where is the objectiveness, we look past champions that are campaigned hard and put through test after test to be in awe and have OCD issues with a horse put in the weakest of races constantly through a career alas 3 BC races to achieve a record by the mighty Pepper’s Pride.  Where are the blogs for Pepper’s Pride there should be or should have been 4 or 5 blogs to Pepper’s Pride also for being in a tie with Zenyatta.  Let’s go back and revisit Pepper’s Prides run to greatness in winning 19 in a row never tasting defeat like the glorified synthetic claimer beater. It’s annoying and quite tacky and classless to have to deal with this over and over and over again.

As for your comparisons Householder, please try to compare Awesome Gem, the Usual Q.T. and other grade 1 winning males to Pretty Katherine, Taptam, St. Trinians, Reinterval and Switch. Yes the same switch that you all claim as such the high quality Grade II horse that was dropped down to the filly and mare Sprint next out in the BC.

Pam S.  Let me ask you a question.  Tell me which you would take a horse with the Santa Margarita, Vanity, C L Hirsch and lady’s Secret or a horse with the Pacific Classic and Good Wood as the main wins.  Good that’s settled moving on.

Horse racing 101 says that being in tough against Grade 1 competition in a grade 1 race is different than being in an optional claimer out in Cali in a Grade 1 race, maybe we should revisit how many Grade 1 winners Zenyatta’s people pushed her to face this year.  Remember when they challenged her in the Santa Anita Derby, Hollywood Gold Cup, Pacific Classic and Goodwood.  Those were the top races for the top horses in California, where was Zenyatta still in her stall tucked safely away awaiting Reinterval. Lol

Relva, just ask Goldikova's connection's what they think of Zenyatta's campaign. You have named a handful of people that have come out and stated that they think she is a great mare, but they have nothing to say in regards to her campaign. If she was/is the best mare of all time, she should of stepped up and showed it. That is the biggest issue most fans have who want to see COMPETITION. IF she was the best, play the best competition. She was like Kobe playing highschool kids in one on one, and then Kobe's fans bragging about it after Kobe won.

On a second subject, I have never once claimed to be an expert at anything. I don't have my own blog, I don't read other horse racing blogs, and I could care less what you read or what Allen Jerkens might say about her. I have my own opinion, and I don't need other people shaping my opinons, unlike yourself. So, thanks for calling me an expert, but I must thankfully decline the title.

Dr. Drunkinbum,

You going on an end of the year bender?  If so, can I come?  HA!

Leon:  "Could you explain what kind of planning is needed from a trainer, when that horse is running in the same races 3 years in a row?"

I don't know...why don't you ask the trainer of Horse of the Year, Azeri.

SKYFIRE

Hope Denver doesn't win another this yr. lol

Leon & the other neighsayers :

I did not say Sherriffs should get the Trainer of the year award for the CAMPAIGN. Please comprehend what I did write.The words I used were;

"True Horseman ' , "Sportsman", No past horse drugging violations, no skeletons in the closet, a man of integrity. Just because a trainer won more money is not a very objective way to vote. One man trains fifty & one "trains'' two hundred. One IS a trainer and horseman and the other IS a manager. The winner of the award should , ABOVE all, BE a TRAINER and be an HONEST person. John Sherriffs has also made ZENYATTA'S connections 7.3 million - maybe you are jealous of this fact.This award has importance and people will be watching. I think the award should be given to the one most TRULY deserving, this is why my PERSONAL choice would be Sherriffs. His efforts brought thousands of new fans due to his generousity to share the horse with these fans. Keeping the mare sound and happy does mean something.

My opinion (quite strongly):  Who- ever does get the Trainer of the year award SHOULD BE ABOVE REPROACH. The winner will represent ALL of us & reflect upon ALL of us. How we are seen by the public is far more important than how much money was won.

sodapopkid

You heard of the 40 year old virgin.  Dr, D has the 40 year old Christmas cake.

Billy's Empire

While Mike's at it why don't you get him to ask Goldi's connections why they skipped the toughet race for Milers in Europe.  Also, last time I checked both Goldi and Zenyatta defeated Gio Ponti by about the same margin, only difference being that Zenyatta faced him at a much longer distance (the distance of champions).

My apologies Michelle, Maybe there is miscommunication about what the term ducking means.  Jess Jackson was called out for ducking Zenyatta in 2010 when it was obvious Raitch was not anywhere close to 09 form.  That’s legit; he didn’t want to face Zen this year.  What were the excuses for Zenyatta’s people in 09 running from a 3 year old? Let me quote Mr Moss, here is the link so you don’t think these are games.

(www.drf.com/.../moss-wants-zenyatta-face-rachel)

: “"there's a good chance" Zenyatta would leave Southern California to race this year and that he "would very much like" to see his mare face Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra. Moss said no decision on Zenyatta's schedule would be made until after trainer John Shirreffs assesses how the mare comes out of Saturday's Grade 1 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park.  Moss suggested that one reason he would consider shipping Zenyatta out of the state is to help make her Horse of the Year. She finished second to Curlin for that award last year. "We want to win that this year if it's possible," Moss said. "The horses have got to perform, every step has got to be the right one. "We hope both horses do well throughout the year and we can meet somewhere."

Why then come back 2 days later and do an about face and announce you are not coming east, that’s what I call ducking. Lol with good reason though, when your horse runs 9f in 1:48 1/5 and your competition runs 9f in 1:46 2/5 and breaks 2 records set by Ruffian, I would run and duck and hide also.  Smart man Moss is.

But . Let’s take a step back so that you can get an understanding of how horse racing works.  A filly runs against other fillies and a male runs against other males.  Once in a great while a filly is good enough to face and defeat males. Rachel did this 3 times; Zenyatta’s people never thought she was good enough to handle that pressure so she kept facing other fillies.   Now from the minute she hit the wire besting the best males in the world in the 09 BCC it was thought that she would at least beat the best in the West coast in races that mattered when brought back in 2010.  Remember she won the BCC so there would be no reason to go back to beating up optional claimers in filly races.  Its either Cowardice or lack of faith in her ability to compete with males on a consistent basis that caused her connections to duck the top 4 races in Cali.  Let’s make sure we have an understanding here the Vanity, CL Hirsch and Zenyatta Stakes are not the top races in Cali.  Oh You assumed they were because Zenyatta was running in those.  Sorry Michelle I didn’t know that’s where you became confused.  See in the conditions books for those races it says only fillies and mares can enter. So Misremembered, Awesome Gem, Richard’s Kid and Rail Trip couldn’t enter those races that Zenyatta ran in. Sorry let me make sure we are on the same page. The connections of Zenyatta ducked the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold cup, Pacific Classic and Good wood to run in lesser races with $150-$300 purses compared to $500k- $1 million races.  So do you understand it now or maybe it would take a blog from the obsessed, irrational writer on this blog to write one more goodbye Zenyatta blog about all of her accomplishments (which would take not a full paragraph) and compare that to the things she didn’t accomplish (which would fill up the page) so its either Glass unfilled or view it as glass with some drops in it.  I’m just saying.  

Billy- you should know that Mr Head has nothing but praise for Zenyatta the horse and thinks she is one of the best fillies and mares.  He had a problem with her campaign.  Just wanted to clear that up, in case you think he thought she did not deserve the accolades she has gotten.  Secondly, there are people in Europe who think that Goldikova has ducked what is considered the most stamina laden race in Europe as well as the mile championships in Hong Kong and the Dubai races to run against inferior opposition in the BC.  I think Goldikova is a great champion, but she has her critics.

AFA,

You should take a break with the long, long posts as no one is reading them any more.  Why would anyone want to?  I mean, you said that Richard's Kid, not Zenyatta, is California's horse.  I have still not stopped laughing about that one and I'm reasonably sure I'm not alone.

Speaking of California, when one of the tracks there names a graded race after Richard's Kid, get back to me.

AFF- Zenyatta has run 9 furlongs in 1:46 and change.  At least get your facts straight.  I don't care if you like the horse or not, just report the facts honestly instead of whatever you want to post to make another horse look bad.  And remember that the more you say how bad the horses were that she beat in the West Coast, the more it reflects on this years BCC field, including Blame who won.  Either Blame is only slightly better than Rinterval, Switch and St Trinian's and the horses who finished behind her cannot compare favorably to them or you have to admit she is a much better horse than you give her credit for.  I'm using your logic and your arguments as how bad Zenyatta's races were and how she has accomplished nothing. Just saying.

Billy- that should have been the most stamina-laden mile raqce in Europe which is the QE2

I'm done making Christmas dinner. Will just throw it in the fridge til Christmas Day so it keeps. Now I can move on to the really important stuff like perfecting the eggnog. The last batch wasn't really very good but I managed to finish it anyway. Waste not want not.

What I am saying is Seattle Slew's greatest race was is FINAL race, in which he lost...on paper his year didn't compare with Exceller's, but he beat out Exceller cuz he was an iconic horse, and he ran an iconic race---sound familar? AFAF I won a big win bet on-ya in the Travers (got a great head bob!), I'll make-you a bet, Zenyatta wins HOY over Excel--er--Blame!

Footlick, I am in agreeance with you. I questioned her campaign, not her ability or her greatness. Call me selfish, call me competitive, call me a gambler, I just hoped to see more in the 2010 campaign, which we were told we would by her owners.

How many of Goldi's races in 2010 were restricted to F&M? I am not going to look it up, but I am sure it is more than 1.

afleetalexforever.  Sorry I failed horse racing 101 for listing Zenyatta's North American achievements mis understanding your statement about how many records has she set on dirt against males who were running under a full moon born between Feb. and Mar.  Let me tell you how important dirt time records are and you can tell me if I pass on to Horse Racing 102.  Sure Zenyatta was never as fast as Hoedown's Day ran that fatefull day at the Bay Meadows Fair in 1983 (1:38 2/5 for 1 1/16) or as fast as Told who ran 1:38 at Penn National for  1 1/6.  That dirt record has stood for 30 years.  But I do think Zenyatta holds the course record for running up the downhill turf course at Santa Anita pulling the starting gate.  

As far as restricted stakes.  The Santa Anita Derby would be one stake that Zenyatta was restricted from running in this year.  But I'm sure you meant to say the Santa Anita Handicap won by who again?

Seems to me the last HOY made quite a habit of racing in restricted company.  I'm really upset that the Moss' did not enter the Preakness last year because I think Zenyatta could have won.  

I LOVE Awesome Feather!! I hope to see her race at Gulfstream next year prior to the Kentucky Oaks!! You GO GIRL :) Oh, by the way, Queen Zenyatta has my vote for HOY.....

Hey xD I notive no HoY pick is up,Blame or Zenyatta? })Zenyatta for me!!And Afleet,Chillaz seriously,you're kinda ticking me off

Lazmannick

   It's a fruitcake. They last forever. It might be a little ripe, but it's still good.

BILLY'S EMPIRE

You stated you don't care what a HOF trainer says, that's revered and been in the business over fifty yrs says. Billy,you and I know if Jerkens were critical of Zenyatta you would be all over it,reminding everyone. You are very easy to figure out,the simple individuals always are. As for a handful of people I named, only named a few,there's many more and you know that. If you were so bright as you think,then would would realize it's no easy task keeping a horse sound and running up a 19-0 score and being the oldest horse nearly running down a horse on his home track last month. Here's a newsflash for you and your pal ALEX,Zenyatta's connections don't care what clowns think about what they should/shouldn't do. It adds up to a BIG FAT ZERO!

As much as I love Goldikova, I agree with you. A horse should start more than once in order to win an Eclipse Award. I have felt that way for years, and think the system needs to be changed, the same way it needs to be changed to allow for Dual Horses of the Year so we don't have a replay of last year. But hey, what do we all know - we're just the fans.

Racing brethren, it doesn't matter what any of us think. Those who can vote will vote the way they want to despite public opinion.  It's too bad that these horses are not regarded as animals and appreciated for their service to man's entertainment.  BUT on with the debate as if it will change anything.  Where were we?  Oh yeah, mine is better than yours...etc etc etc

AAF - You need to get in the real world.  If Z had ran in the Goodwood, Hollywood Gold Cup, Pacific Classic or any other race against males in California you would still say it was on synthetic and she is a synthetic specialist. So PLEASE don't act that would have changed your opinion of her.  It would not have counted to you so why even bother saying it.  She won the BCC in '09 at Santa Anita and beat a good field of horses.  Most were turf horses or horses who had won on synthetic so you can't say the majority of the field was at a disadvantage that's just not true.  There may have been 2 or 3 true dirt horses in that race.  Again, no one showed up to race against her this year.  Planes fly round trip both directions.  You can deny facts all you want but she is in the record books.          

Mike Relva, fly out from Cali and you can have my tix to the Chargers/Broncos on Jan. 2.  Denver is great that time of year.  I'm guessing you are in LA, and don't have a team.

Billy,

Ditto your 08 Dec 2010 9:04 AM post.  Z (most likely the best horse) was denied opportunities to close out HOY conclusively on the track.  Therefore, these repetitive blogs - emotion v. rational thoughts.

Jason,

AAF for your next vacation blogger.

Happy Holidays to each poster; you make this blog fun to read even (if the posts are hard to figure sometimes).  My holiday wish for all - keep a sense of humor!

Poor Broncos so  Go Patriots!

SKYFIRE

Your crystal ball must be clouded. I'm org from Miami and now live near Nash. although my gf lives near Burbank.

AAF - The only race Zenyatta and Rachel could have met in 2009 other than the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classis is discussed in this article.  Not much dodging going on here 1 race - LOL.  

drf.com/.../rivalry-never-settled-track

To Sunny Farm - I am in total agreement with your comments about Life At Ten and Pletcher.  I was horrified that they made her run.

DOES ANYONE KNOW IS SHE IS OK?  (there are of course many other reasons why the average person is turned off by horse racing - but this is one good example).

Jason or Anyone

   I know you are a Pletcher fan and I am too but what is wrong with starting Mo off with a 9f race, especially since Pletcher wants only two preps, which I already see as a mistake in itself. I would be going for three preps. No, I'm not saying I know better than Todd Pletcher but I do find it odd. It's not like Mo had a taxing 2yo season with a lot of races. Two preps will be especially bad if the first one is only 7f. Is he really that talented with enough natural stamina that they can go with two? Also, has he said anymore about the Life At Ten incident, or is he not supposed to discuss it because it's still under review? He did say that she didn't seem quite right in the paddock, and said to see if she looks better warming up, which she didn't. She looked horrible. Big fumble at the goal line. I could not believe she was loaded. What do you think happened? Or is everyone under a gag order?

Billy- you know I wanted that too.  But it didn't color my opinion of her talent and ability.  Goldikova ran in one race restricted to F&M for the last two years.  She has run in many of the same races for the last couple of years.  They have hinted that she would start her campaign later for the 2011 season.  Just so you know, there are many top F&M milers who run against males all year throughout the decades.  The filly Darjina did it as a 4 yr old when Goldikova was a 3 yr old and countless fillies earlier.  It takes nothing away from Goldikova, just showing that it is not unusual for them to do it.  It is a traditional campaign for them in Europe because there are too few F&M gr1 miles to fill a season.  You will notice as the distances progress, they run fewer times against males.  It is a different world being grass and Europe and it cannot necessarily be compared.

Pedigree Ann- love the Australian/New Zealand horses.  And how about Buena Vista and some of the Hong Kong horses- GoodBaBa and Sacred Kingdom among others.  Those two are getting long in the tooth, I know but great when they are in form.

OK, here are some hypotheticals for you all:

1.  what if a Canadian-bred runs only in Canada in the beginning of the year and then wins the Kentucky Derby by 57 lengths (I'm really bad with math -- this doesn't mean that the winner has crossed the finish line before every else has started, does it? anyways...) and then the horse goes back to Canada and wins every Grade 1 there and never races in the U.S. again.  Can this horse win an Eclipse for 3YO?  

2.  What if in addition to the foregoing, the Breeders Cup comes to Woodbine (..it could happen) and the horse wins the Classic.  Can this horse win an Eclipse for 3YO and maybe even HOY?

3.  What if Goldikova wins her 6th straight Turf Mile (at Woodbine, of course) at the advanced age of 8?  Can she finally win an Eclipse for Turf Mare?  Or even HOY?  Even though she never raced except once in North America?  And especially if she never even set foot in the States that year?

4.  What if the U.S. gets universal health care?  

Nah.  Forget the last one. Too impossible to contemplate even in hypotheticals.

Relva, you calling me simple is laughable. Keep up the good work.  You base most of what you write and what you think off of what other people say. You never have a thing to say unless someone else says it first. Be a leader, not a follower.

BILLY'S EMPIRE

A follower? That's amusing. Obviously don't read all my comments. I liked this horse over 3 yrs ago before she gained her reputation. I'm not a bandwagon jumper, Billy like you and Dray. As for not having my own ideas? lol Posted my "own opinion" on Jason's latest blog.  BTW,you've written the book on being a leader haven't you?

Householder: You cracked me up.  Thank you for the laugh.  It's so much more appreciated than the dogmatic AAF who still seems bitter that he can't argue about RA.

DR. D: I love fruitcake.  Does that me me odd? (Actually I like fruitcake soaked in brandy for a few weeks the best).

MZ: very good.  Actually the Eclipse is FOR a NA appearance, so I do believe Canada is in NA, as is Mexico.  Most of all, I think Goldikova tops all turf milers and deserves to be so honored.  Even that one BC race should convince everyone, especially since she did it 3 years in a row. And the BC has been held at Woodbine. And you made me smile :)

mz- good stuff.  especially #4.  But you are talking about a Canadian horse, and Canada is in North America, so I think there would be less resistance for that instead of a Euro.  It's not whether Goldikova can win turf mare, or should.  It's about whether the Eclipse awards should go to our horses or any horse who decides to run here.  Should it be the best horse period or the best horse in North America.  People are right that an American horse would not win the Cartier Award for one race.  It's a decision that has to be made.  Actually, although I would rather see it go to a North American horse (so I can include Canada and Mexico) I have no problem having an Eclipse award go to a Euro.

Sorry Billy there is no leader when it comes to the West Coasters trying to anoint a horse to be considered an all time great, there is only the followers of the biggest fraud in the history of horse racing, Jerry Moss and John Sheriffs, (the lets take a chance once a year, at the end of the year when the rest of the horses are exhausted from difficult campaigns, lets show up at the BC with a horse that has done nothing but breeze all year long). Their horses run in one state, travel 100 miles or so to run against whatever weak competition they have out there and then beg for eclipse awards.  The sad part is some of these people are actually serious in some of the statements that they make regarding these issues. Take Lava man for instance, a very nice horse one that Over achieved regularly, this is the opposite of certain horses out west, 1 in particular whose connections were so focused on taking down an all time win record that it became the norm and fine with them to allow the horse to run against competition that was so far beneath her that they seriously barely put the horse through training for the better part of a year.  It struck me as odd John Sheriffs comments prior to the 09 BC when he stated that he actually had to put a stiff work into Zenyatta I believe it was an impressive 6f in 1:11 and change. Why was that odd, well Sheriffs went on to mention that if they were running in the LC that the work would not have been as aggressive. When you think about that statement it really says it all, Yes the BC’s that she ran in on synthetics were to be considered championship races but none of them really were. D Wayne Lukas stated that “Synthetics make great horses look mediocre and the mediocre horses look great” and that what we witnessed. Two examples of that Curlin and Ginger Punch, Both Eclipse award winners from 07 coming back with numerous Grade 1 wins in 08, neither horse had run off the board in a race, I believe Ginger Punch ran fourth in her first start as a two year old.  But in 07 and 08 always in the money and with about 10 or so Grade 1 wins between them a win in the 07 BCC and BCLC. But they go to the synthetics and run 4th and 6th respectively.  So why would anyone crank their horse when they know the best horses will struggle over the surface. In 2010 Zenyatta had 1 breeze that was noteworthy that was her last 6f breeze before the BCC in 1:11.80, prior to that they allowed her maintenance breezes to be so slow that I thought many wouldn’t even be timed. 6f 1:13.80 twice, 5f in 1:02.60 7f in 1:27.20, I believe she had a few breezes early in 2010 in 1:14 and change, are you serious. When was the last time a Grade III winner in the east breezed that slowly?  What is the reasoning behind it, well while running against mediocre fillies and mares there is no reason to try to achieve peak conditioning? If you’re running against the worst possible it should be easy to beat the worst possible, and this she did, I applaud her for being able to dig in to beat Grade II horses in St. Trinians and Switch, although the times were pedestrian she did wat was asked of her, which wasn’t much.

The thought struck me though, would I if living in California be so dumbfounded and awestruck over a horse whose connections were such cowards and continued to use a major league player to over power Pee-Wee league players on a consistent basis in minor league races with $150k purses. To be honest I don’t know, I have a friend out west, his name is ROYAL. Very much a horseman, on the backside, while at Oaklawn getting kudos from John Sadler after Line of David wins the Arkansas Derby. He is the consummate Zenyatta fan, he questions the campaign but no matter what his love for the horse is above reproach because he says “she can only do what is asked of her by the man that writes the checks”, I totally agree, I just wish someone with the Male Anatomy would have been writing the checks instead of Jerry Moss.

Pam,

If Richard's Kid were so easy to beat, and Zenyatta would have won anyway, then why didn't she run against him early in the year?

Use logic here...you're claiming she would have won anyway, but instead won a less meaningful race against much lesser competition?

If it would have been such a cakewalk, they would have run her.

My guess is that they knew she could only handle one top notch field per year, and they raced her accordingly.

Again, if it would have been soooo easy, she could have had the HGC on her resume instead of a Vanity or  Clement Hirsch.

Please use logic.

Mike Relva,

Are you calling Unrivalled Belle a second tier horse? Pretty stupid.

Zenyatta's fans disagree, but Blame is horse of the year

www.washingtonpost.com/.../AR2010120903349.html

Aluminaut- Another one bites the dust. I had gotten attached to Discreetly Mine. It's almost getting so that all we have is 2 and 3yo. Dammit Janet. Can't wait for the Derby blogs.

Billy's Empire and Mike Relva

    Why don't you guys just shake hands and be done with it? You're both OK in my book. Hey, nobody's perfect. You guys don't even live that far from each other. Go have dinner together and get drunk.

BILLY'S EMPIRE

Yeah,you wrote the book on being a leader,haven't you?

MZ, not for much but Goldikova was and still is the reigning "American Female Chanpion Turf Horse of the year in 2009" acording to the Eclipse award records. She only ran in the BC that year in the USA as well I do belive.  

Richard Migliore

December 2, 2010

Debating Horse of the YearIt’s a few days after Thanksgiving, and as the splendor of autumn has given way to the starkness of winter in the Hudson Valley, I have had a chance to reflect on all that has taken place this past year.  On a personal note, my riding career came to an end, but I have been given a wonderful opportunity to work with a terrific group of people at HRTV.  This is my first blog for HRTV.

I feel very privileged to have witnessed a great year in Thoroughbred racing.  We, as fans, were witness to a rarity in our sport in this era of brief racing careers when Jerry and Ann Moss raced their champion mare Zenyatta as a six-year-old and Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stable brought back their wonderful champion Rachel Alexandra for a four-year-old campaign.  These sporting people should be applauded for giving racing fans a chance to see these great horses for one more year.  Rachel’s season didn’t go as planned and she was beaten a few times, but there is no shame in losing.  The shame lies in not trying.  All champions get beaten, but she gave it her all, after a 3-year-old filly campaign we will probably never see again in our lifetime.

That brings us to Zenyatta.  Her season sailed along unblemished until the Breeders’ Cup Classic, when she was beaten a short head by a very good horse in Blame.  There has been so much written since the Breeders’ Cup about who should be Horse of the Year, which, I believe, is great for our game.  Opinion is what racing is about.  That’s how it started — with “my horse is faster than yours.”  What I don’t think is great for our game is all the mudslinging that’s been going on.  I don’t believe you have to denigrate one horse to extol the virtues of another. In my humble opinion, Blame defeated Zenyatta with a perfect trip, much the same as he was defeated by a good horse in Haynesfield in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.  I don’t begrudge Blame his due — he ran great — but I don’t believe he was the best horse to run in the Classic.  In my mind, that honor goes to the great horse Zenyatta.

Everybody has their own idea of greatness.  I read once that it’s not what you take, but what you leave behind, that defines greatness.  By that measure, Zenyatta is undoubtedly great.  Or you can go with Henry Ward Beecher who said, “He is greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of his own.”  Again, I believe Zenyatta fits that bill, and anybody who witnessed the thousands of people trying to get a glimpse of her from the street along the Churchill Downs backstretch would agree.  I don’t have a problem with either horse being named Horse of the Year.  I appreciate all of these great athletes, just as someone who appreciates fine art would appreciate Picasso or Michelangelo.  I believe I have seen greatness with Zenyatta.  I don’t need anybody’s approval for my opinion, but I would appreciate that it be respected, just as I would respect theirs.  In the words of Edgar Allen Poe, “to vilify a great man [horse] is the readiest way in which a small man can himself attain greatness.”  These horses are rare gifts.  Let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth.

Ted, wow that moving at Parx these days? of course the PSA exam is a necessary evil but a simple screen if insisted on yearly in yer blood draw can be as revealing if not more so.

This Beyer column says it all.

www.washingtonpost.com/.../AR2010120903349.html

Wow, Jason!  You read the Washington Post?  Next, you're gonna start agreeing with the editorials in the New York Times.  Then, you BECOME A SOCIALIST!  Welcome to the (world) club.

p.s.  I agree with you and the Post.

Slew

   It's impossible to buy a good fruitcake anymore. That's why I'm hanging on to mine from 1960 for dear life. I love a good fruitcake too but haven't had a really good one in awhile. I'm saving the one from 1960 to eat when we have a Triple Crown winner. Merry Christmas. Please don't wrench your back moving furniture !!!

Footlick,

I for one would love to see Goldikova in the QEII, but it is not the only definitive mile race in Europe. The Prix de Jacques Marois is actually the richest 8 furlong race in Europe, and has been won by some fantastic horses. And I've seen no one so much as mention the Hong Kong Mile for Goldikova. It was mentioned as a possible target for Canford Cliffs, before his connections pulled the plug on his season.

You must remember that Goldikova is a French trained horse and so is often targeted at different races than British horses, e.g. Prix d'Ispahan instead of Lockinge Stakes, Prix de Jacques Marois instead of Sussex Stakes and Prix du Moulin/Prix de la Foret instead of QEII. Furthermore, the opposition faced in these races was no less than any that would have shown up in the British mile races. The only top miler Goldikova didn't face this year was Canford Cliffs, and that was more due to his connections than her own. Hopefully they will face off along with Frankel in 2011.

Lazmannick. In fact Goldikova beat Gio Ponti by one and three quarter lengths, whilst Zenyatta beat him by one length. Also, remember that Goldikova beat him on his preferred surface (grass) at a distance that he has won over very impressively on his previous start.

I resent the statement 'the distance that champions win over'. I understand 10 furlongs is the American Classic distance as 12 furlongs is the European one, but champions exist over every distance. A mile is a fairly distinct distance like a sprint or middle distance race, and multiple Group 1 winner beating over multiple Group/Grade 1 winners over 8 furlongs is still a champion.

Footlick, sorry didn't see some of your later comments so another reply!

Yes racing females in open company is more usual in Europe, but rarely as frequently as Goldikova, at least in the last few decades. Think of Ouija Board, she only took on the males a handful of times yet is considered one of the best females of recent times. Even Midday has never faced males in a Group 1 race, regardless of the fact the 10/12 furlong colts haven't been the best bunch this year.

There are fewer Group 1s (especially over one mile) in Europe, but there are still a few mares only races that Goldikova could race in instead of the open company ones, namely the Falmouth Stakes (which she used as a comeback race in 2009), the Matron Stakes and the Sun Chariot Stakes. But like I said, there are few ways she could conceivably change her campaign, apart from taking in the QEII. With her later start to the campaign this year, I'm hoping she will race in it this year.

Before this goes even further off the rails, I want to state yet again I want Tuscan Evening to win the turf female Eclipse. She never got her chance to beat Goldikova - like champion Left Bank before her, she died in August, before the BC was run. Her victims continued to run well in top filly/mare turf races thereafter. No other North American-based turf mare put up a record like hers in 2010. Goldikova's European record shouldn't be under consideration, since it wasn't compiled in North America.

DR DRUNKINBUM

You sound like a really fun individual,but as far as the other person goes having dinner isn't happening.

CHRIS

My point is Chris,the RA of old would've blown by them all. There's no debating that fact.

SARA

Maybe you should trying using logic yourself. Your little angry rant on another blog site regarding Zenyatta was uncalled for. I'm a fan of Secretariat. Seen the movie three times. Let me know please when another horse like her comes along. They don't just fall out of the sky.

AFLEETALEXFOREVER aka DRAYNAY

Why don't you give it a rest? Many on here,including myself are beyond tired of hearing your tired garbage. Are you going to say you wouldn't want to own a horse that's won over 7 million dollars?

My opinion of the top West Coast males, Richard's Kid and Awesome Gem is that they're mediocre at best.  I don't believe either would have been a G1 winner this year if Blame or Haynesfield or Lookin At Lucky or Fly Down or obviously Zenyatta had been entered in the races they won.  I don't think Richard's Kid has a prayer of winning the Dubai World Cup, and he's no lock to even hit the board there, considering the far superior Gio Ponti failed to do so last year.

So I don't believe Zenyatta or Blame for that matter had anything to prove by facing the California older males, both were far superior.  But I think Zenyatta should have done it once anyway.  Why?  Well, despite what some on this blog think, I do believe Zenyatta's connections were sorely disappointed at losing HOY last year, and they never would have brought her back if the one of the biggest goals wasn't to win it this year.  The all-female campaign except for one race last year didn't get the job done.  And the Goodwood was right there for the taking, just like the last two times.  And this year it was even on her home track, they didn't even have to ship across town!

I hope she gets the big trophy anyway, I think she's earned it. But just one win against males combined with her outstanding near-miss in the Classic would have already locked it up.

CHRIS

Is it stupid when some speak of Zenyatta like a claimer? Guess not.

Jason : You "begged" us not to mention the HOTY and then you post that link from Beyer ?  Double standard ?

Pedigree Ann 10 Dec 2010 5:11 PM

Great call and I think the proper one.

Wrong blog Jayjay

Of course, Horse of the Year is going to provide most of the drama and will be the focus of most of our attention. But we've all made our feelings clear on that last month so no need to rehash it (Please, I beg you not to).

That was from this blog Jason-sorry.  Jayjay is right.

KautoStar

Gio Ponti is a good miler, but better at 10F.  He races just as well on synthetics as he does on turf.  You might be forgetting that, but for Zenyatta, he would have a 10F BCC on synthetics to go with his 10F Arlington Million, 10F Manhattan, 10F Virginia Derby and 11F Man o’ War.  He also had narrow losses in another 10F Arlington Million, another 10F Manhattan and the 12F Turf Classic on turf that was too soft for him.  His 10F Dubai World Cup (synthetics) was compromised by lousy racing luck and yet he only finished 1 1/4L behind the leader.  I believe that the reason he chose the 8F Turf Mile as opposed to the 12F Turf was strictly because he is not at his best beyond 10F (maybe Work Force had something to do with this decision too).  Fit a 10F turf race in the BCC and he would have been in it.  His lone G1 on turf at 8F was the Shadwell though he did win a G3 on synthetics at Santa Anita at 8F (Sir Beaufort).

Zenyatta  may have only beaten him by a length, but she was pulling away and had made up 3 lengths on him in the final quarter…… In the stretch call in the Turf Mile this year Goldikova was 1 1/2L off the lead and Gio Ponti 4 1/2L, a difference at that point of 3L.  At the finish Goldi defeated him by 1 3/4L (she lost ground in the final call).

I’m not attempting to denigrate or downplay the one mile distance (the same as for sprints).  Some great horses have contested races at those distances.  In fact Lure, a true miler, was one of my all time favorites.  However, the truth is, these horses can rarely get the longer distances against the top horses.  The longer distances have greater purse values to support the fact that they are the true test of champions.  Let me know when they shorten the Arc, the Dubai World Cup, the Hong Kong Vase, the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont, the BC Classic and the Epsom Derby, etc., up to 8F.

Hi KautoStar-  It is interesting to me, and I don't have the time to research it properly, but for a few horses like Ouija Board, Tryptich, Allez France, Dahlia, Trillion, etc, there have been many more filly milers who routinely ran against males.  I remember a trainer stating that if you have a top drawer filly/mare miler that you have no choice but to run against males because that is where the prestige is.  You mentioned those three filly/mare miles, but the amount of gr1 prestigious open miles are alot more.  Darjina ran one top race after another against males as a 4 yr old, losing by necks and noses to all the top male milers and she lost twice to the three yr old Goldikova by the slimmest of margins also.  My point was that there are races all throughout the year that route fillies/mares can run in within their own sex that hold more prestige than the mile counterparts.  I'm not saying anything against Goldikova.  I have always said she is top class.  And yes, she ran against all the top milers that would run against her.  RVW didn't fire off the layoff.  I keep getting mixed signals about Paco Boy, one that he is top drawer and another that says he is just below.  When Makfi was right he was absolutely class, especially for how lightly raced he was.  I think that Goldikova's people play the soft ground hand a little too heavy, as she acted fine in it for the Marois and for her prep race.  She may not be able to accelerate as quickly, but neither can anybody else.  So, it would depend how you would rank Makfi and Paco Boy in among the great milers as to how you would rank Goldikova.  Also she has run a season more than Miesque did.  Who knows how many more races she would have won if they had kept her in training.  Goldokova's accomplishments are amazing, but if Paco Boy is her measuring stick I'm not sure what to think.  Let's see how he does in Hong Kong.  His people say he couldn't handle the turns here.  He was closing fastest of anybody.  I think it is easier for a filly/mare to sprint or mile against males than to route against them, but maybe that is because it is done more often also.  

Since I learned to handicap European races in France, I have nothing but respect for French races, so of course I'm not downgrading the Marois at all, as I think it is  one of the great mile races open to all ages.  But I have read numerous times that the QE2 is the top test for a miler because of the stamina that is needed to win it.  The Marois has always been a better barometer for the BCMile, as the winner of the QE2 has never won the BCMile, as far as I can remember.  Anyway, as always I look forward to your post and defer to your knowledge.  I can always count on you to have information that will keep me learning.  Thanks for that.

LIFE AT TEN???...ty...

What I meant was, you're on the wrong blog if you dont think HOY will be brought up again and again, despite my requests. Look at all the comments above.

AMEN MEN BROTHER BEN ON HOY!!!...U GOTTA LOVE "THE EXPOSURE"...ty...

C'mon Lazmannick, you're one of the more knowledgeable posters on this blog.  So you should know better than to make a claim that Gio Ponti "races just as well on synthetics as he does on turf".  Come on now, look at his record.  His best (and only) Graded victory on synthetics was the G3 Sir Beaufort against 3year-olds.  Subsequently, he was off the board in the G2 Strub Stakes and off the board again in last year's Dubai World Cup against a field which can be charitably described as not a bunch of world-beaters.  

His one claim to fame on synthetics was a second in last year's BC Classic, but look at it more closely.  Zenyatta flew by him like he was standing still.  3rd place finisher Twice Over has never won a race off of turf.  4th place finisher Summer Bird never won a race off of dirt and in fact hated synthetics so much that his original trainer John Sadler told the owner to ship him back east, as he couldn't do a thing with him on synthetics.

So the facts Lazmannick, are that Gio Ponti is NOWHERE NEAR as good on synthetics as he is on turf.  You can run him back again in the Breeders Cup, but it's almost a waste of time if he's going for a victory.  The 1 1/2 mile Turf is too long for him.  And if Goldikova is sound and in good form - he's no match for her in the Mile.  Of course if she's not sound or appears she's getting old at age six, then it's worth taking a shot.  

But otherwise I think they should make his main goals doing what he does best, running about 1 1/4 on turf.  They should send him back to Dubai, but for the $5 million Dubai Duty Free, which at 1 1/8 on turf should suit him perfectly. If they're determined to try to win a big non-turf race to enhance his stud value, I would try the Hollywood Gold Cup against the current crop of West Coast weakies.  Shoot for the Arlington Million again and close out his career on the international stage in the world's richest 1 1/4 mile turf race, the Hong Kong Cup.

I wonder why Beyer forgot to mention the part where Blame got his head handed to him by the likes of Haynesfield?

Zenyatta's only loss was by inches,and if he wants to bring in the level of competition into the equation then St. Trinian and Switch are only about 1/3 of a length inferior to Blame,right?

www.horseraceinsider.com/.../to-the-victor-go-not-the-spoils

Livesoutwest

In two of the most prestigious 10F races on synthetics in the world, Gio Ponti has a 2nd and a 4th and was defeated a grand total of 2 1/4L.  I’m not saying that synthetics are his best surface.  I am saying that he handles them just well as he does turf (in other words they don’t compromise him).  I am saying though, that a mile isn’t his best distance even though he has a good record at the distance.  He is a legitimate 10F horse on turf.  

I thought the award was reflective of the whole year not just one race.What happened Jason?

Who had more Gr.I wins?

Who lost prior to the Classic?

If they were both undefeated going into the Classic and both had equally the same amount of Gr.I wins,then yes Blame wins HOY hands down but that's not the case.

So NOW it all comes down to the Classic?

What happened last year? Rachel Alexandra entered nothing but 3yo restricted races except 1,bypassed the BC and she still took HOY.Zenyatta also entered nothing but restricted races BUT won the Classic,remember-the end-all-be-all Classic.

Double standard. If anything they should be co-HOY at worst.

sports.espn.go.com/.../story

Good grief,now they're comparing horse racing and Figure skating to make a point.Can you post an article not written by a rabid Rachel Alexandra fan for once.

Why didn't Zenyatta face any Gr.I winners before the BC?.. maybe because she won ALL of the F/M Gr.I races in California the last 3 years and nobody of significance dared step onto the track and face her.That's a fact.

Nobody ducked Blame.That's also a fact and it speaks volume.

She should have at least faced males in her home state you said.

Why beat up on the same competition she whupped in last years Classic? Everyone knew she was better than them anyways.What's the point.

And if they want to use the football analogy then Blame's loss in the JCGC is similar to losing in the play-offs, so he shouldn't have been entered in the Classic right? See what I mean.

The last 2 links you posted were written by people with as much credibility as Claire Novak,and Beyer is trying to save face because Zenyatta continuously blew his speed figures out of the water,enough said.

It's not about a morale victory,it should be about who showed up for every single race.Zenyatta did and Blame didn't.

Hi Footlick,

I almost feel uncomfortable with you 'deferring to my knowledge'. Yes I'm based in Britain, but I've actually only been following the sport for a few years (I'm only 19) and follow the National Hunt more closely (hence my moniker). Please don't feel compelled to base your opinions on what I say, I just write what I feel is accurate, but this sport is about opinions.

I feel the QEII is prestigious not because of its stamina test (Ascot is not as testing as you would think, many European racetracks have undulations or uphill finishes) but because it it run at one of the most prestigious tracks and it has a rich history. Though to be honest, recent editions haven't always been the best. Poet's Voice this year for example. Therefore I think some of the French races have equal merit with regards to opposition, but do not always receive the same credit as their British counterparts. That's also the English based media at work.

Lazmannick, I believe Gio Ponti also won the Frank Kilroe Mile, beating none other than Ventura in the process. While he has won many 10 furlong races, it is clear that he is equally effective at 8 furlongs, and would have won many more races if campaigned over that distance.

Yes the European Classic distance is 12 furlongs, but brilliant milers are just as respected as middle distance horses. One of the greatest horses of all time, Brigadier Gerrard, is remembered principally as a miler even though he won over further. 2002 Horse of the Year Rock Of Gibraltar was another incredible miler, who topped any middle distance horse with regard to pure talent. The same can be said about the ill fated George Washington.

Some may say that the best champions stay the Classic distance of whatever country, but they cannot compare for pure speed with a top class miler. Don't forget, the first leg of the British Triple Crown is the 8 furlong 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. This race has been replicated in at least 4 other countries throughout Europe, and is just as important as the Derby and other middle distance races in deciding a champion horse.

KautoStar- All I meant was that you are there, that is why I defer.  If it makes you feel more comfortable, I won't defer to your knowledge-lol.  As far as the QE2, I thought that I read that the last 6 furlongs of the race is uphill, making it a very grueling and testing mile.  I know that they use different courses for different meets, so what they use at one meet may not be used for another.  Snow Fairy certainly has run two bang up races in Japan and Hong Kong.  What a turn of foot she has!  Paco Boy didn't fare well unfortunately.  

Sara,

You are (I think) defending AAF in saying that Richard's Kid, not Zenyatta, is California's horse ... and you are telling me to use logic??  Do you even know what "logic" is?  More importantly, have you or AFA ever been to California?  Logic says "California's Horse" is the horse Californians know best and love the most, and whose career they most admire and follow regularly.  Trying to say that horse is Richard's Kid is a sad, pathetic attempt to denigrate Zenyatta.

BEDAZZLED

One thing for cetain,Beyer DOESN'T like to admit when he's in error. That's for sure!

Do you remeber when in 1998,  a horse by the name of Awesome Again  won the BCC, the Whitney , the Stephen Foster, was undefeated in 6 for 6 races.  He won the best field ever in the BCC  that year.  Did he win the HOTY?  NO,  the horse that won came in sixth place in that BCC race.    Just Sayin'

Footlick, no no, be all means defer away! Just don't take everything I say at face value because then the debate loses its fun!

Yes Ascot does finish uphill, but it's not uphill in the same way that Cheltenham is. Now that is a very stiff finish, with many good horses being found out in the final two furlongs. Certainly the mile on the Ascot course (especially the round course) is stiffer than say Goodwood, but many other race courses such as Newmarket and Sandown finish uphill as well. European horses are much more used to it, so only a doubtful stayer or sprinter stretching out would really be found out.

And I reiterate that I don't believe it is the 'stamina test' that makes the race so prestigious, more the course it is run at and the usual level of opposition that lines up.

Snow Fairy looks incredible, and I cannot wait to see her next year, hopefully in the Prince of Wales Stakes or Eclipse Stakes. It's hard to believe how easily Midday beat her in the Nassau and I would be very interested in them lining up again.

Yes a shame about Paco Boy, but he's been on the go since early spring and along with two round the world trips, I think the long season found him out. He's been a very unlucky horse this year, when he hasn't been facing Goldikova he's been undone by poor rides and one too many races. Funny to think that when he won the Lockinge practically on the bridle, some people predicted that he would win many races this year. I guess that's racing though.

Right On Bedazzled! Good Luck in getting anyone to admit they are wrong.

KautoStar- I know, but Snow Fairy's last two races looked much stronger than her early season, as good as that was.  She seems very capable now of being an equal to Midday.  Of course we will never know how Midday would have fared if Sariska hadn't refused to race those two times.

To the Pletcher bashers and Shirreffs Lovers. I know TP personally and your wrong, wrong ,wrong about the guy. He does care about his horses. I've been in his barn and anyone who has can see it. Being high profile he gets the most scruntiny unlike Shirreffs who before Zenyatta was pretty much ignored by the majority of the press. Because of Zenyatta he has become well known in the public eye. Now that Z is retired you won't see much of him in print. Remember the Cigar team? Outside of racing when have you seen Bill Motts name? Does he deserve TOY, No. Other than Z he did pretty much nothing. You say Pletcher is whats wrong with the business. Not so. Lets say we, the racing community kicked him out for the stupid reasons stated. Tell me who all those asst. trainers, grooms and hot walkers are suppose to work for? Shirriffs? Maybe the owners of the horses Pletcher has doesn't want to race in CA all the time. Assmussen doesn't need anymore. You act like your a defender of small breeders and owners. I know a lot of both that prefer Pletcher and don't want to move their horses. Do I think he's a saint? No but I don't think he's the villian of racing. As far as losing fans if he gets TOY. Z fans have been posting this kind of stuff all over trying to I guess threaten the industry to get their way. True fans were here before Zenyatta, they'll be here after. Because we know the next great horse is coming. Thats what we breed for, race for and love this sport for. If you don't want to come along for the ride its your loss not racings.

PJJ,

Do you also remember in the year of 1998 that the horse who was crowned HOY won the Donn Handicap, Pimlico Special, Gulfstream Park Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Massachusetts Handicap, and the Woodward? Yeah...those races carry just a smidgeon more weight than weak filly/mare races. Not comparable.

Just sayin'

PJJ: I always thought Awesome Again wuz robbed.

\

Kauto Star (is he gonna race next year?) and Fottlick: it sure looks like Snow Fairy might = Ouija Board.

Speaking of which, any foals yet?

PJJ

I agree with your HOY analogy of 1998.  Although I loved Skip Away and thought that he was deserving of a HOY title at some point during his career (where have we heard that one before), I don’t think that 1998 should necessarily have been that year, maybe the way it started out, but certainly not the way it finished.  Awesome Again went 6 for 6, won prestigious races including by far the toughest race of the year and possibly the toughest race of the 90’s in the BCC, defeated Skip Away and Silver Charm (twice), and many champions including Gentleman, Swain and Victory Gallop, etc., and didn’t win HOY.  Skip Away won his first 7, but then lost 2 straight against tougher fields than those first 7 and actually finished behind Gentleman in his 10 length loss at 3-10 in the JCGC.  It’s hard to argue against him, but some things bother me………..

• His Donn Handicap, GP Handicap, Pimlico Special, Mass Cap and Iselin were against weak fields that he totally dominated. (Behrens didn’t win a graded stakes in 1998 and Puerto Madero was a G3 winner).  This was reflected by his odds in those races….1/5…1/9…1/5…3/10…and 1/20.  In his final two races against much tougher (the JCGC and the BCC), he lost and wasn’t a factor in either.

• Apparently some think that winning a Stephen Foster, Whitney and BCC is good enough to win HOY this year, but wasn’t good enough in 1998.

• Apparently some think that it is imperative that the HOY winner this year win the BCC, but not in 1998 or even last year for that matter.

• A horse’s season (races it competed in) only means something if those races have honest competition. In many of Skip Away’s races in 1998, the competition was mediocre, which I guess is alright because that isn’t the first time the voters were wowed by race names, but those particular races filled with underwhelming competitors.  It wasn’t the last either.

• I never had a problem with Skip Away being honored with a HOY title. Let's face it, the horse was incredible. However, I do think that Awesome Again was short changed, especially since he was undefeated and defeated Skip Away quite handily.

mz- she has a little way to go yet, but she is in great form right now.  They may take a shot at the Dubai World Cup.  Ouija Board has a son of Kingmambo named Voodoo Prince who was a two-year old this year.  She also has a son of Monsun who was a yearling this year and in February of this year she foaled a daughter by Galileo.

Awesome Again was robbed, MZ?  You don't think Skip Away's five G1 wins outweighed Awesome Again's two G1 wins?  The HOY vote for 1998 was fair.  There was a case to be made for Awesome Again, but according to the Eclipse voters, not as strong a case.

If you look through the HOY winners throughout the years, you'll notice that every winner was a worthy horse.  Whether they were the MOST worthy for that year is open to debate.  But the voters have always arrived at a worthy choice.  There are no Arcangues or Volponis on that list.  I think it's a pretty fair system.

The sport that horseracing can most closely be compared to when deciding awards is boxing.  Like boxing, there are a lot of divisions, and as a result, a lot of champions.  Every Eclipse award winner is a champion.  But only the ones that exhibited truly outstanding performance can be considered HOY candidates.  Last year you had Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta and Gio Ponti.  Gio Ponti was actually a dual champion.  If they divided the awards into Open Company/Female instead of Male/Female, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta might have been dual champions too, since they both beat all the males they faced.  It was really an extraordinary year and any of the three would have been worthy HOY winners.  Compare Gio Ponti's record to that of the last turf specialist who won HOY, Kotashaan and Gio blows him away.

And this year, Blame and Zenyatta are both deserving.  They both dominated their divisions except for one race where Blame got his socks knocked off.  In boxing terms, Blame is like the heavyweight champion, since he ruled the division where anyone can challenge him.  Zenyatta is  like the light-heavyweight champion since Blame was ineligible to run in her races.  But look at boxing today.  Can anyone name all the heavyweight champions?  Boxing fans might come up with one of the Klitschko brothers.  How about the rest?

The boxing equivalent to HOY is Fighter Of The Year.  And the last time it was won by a boxer in the division where anyone was eligible to enter, the heavyweight division was in 1997 when Evander Holyfield won.  The last several years have been dominated by Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. who have done much more for the sport of boxing then some anonymous haevyweights that they're too small to beat, but nobody knows who the hell they are.

So just like Rachel Alexandra didn't need to knock off the BC Classic winner last year to be a worthy HOY winner, neither did Zenyatta need to do it this year.  She would be a worthy winner, whether she fell a nose short of the heavyweight champ or not.  And so would Blame, who is far from an anonymous pug who's done nothing for his sport. I personally think Zenyatta's a little more deserving, mainly due to Blame's one decisive loss, but I won't be claiming she got robbed or cheated if she doesn't win.

A day after Blame scored his first grade 1, not just of the year but of his career, Zenyatta had accumulated 3. Twice she spotted the field double digit lbs, and the other time she won a race that even the Horse of the Year wouldn't enter. She shattered Citation's record for consecutive wins, a record that Cigar won HOTY just for matching, broke the filly/mare earnings record, consecutive grade 1s record, grade 1s won by any filly, and broke Eclipse's record of 18-0. Any horse that can outdo the namesake of the Eclipse Awards should be HOTY. What did Blame do this year? He ran down an injured Battle Plan to win the Foster on his home turf, he beat a lethargic/past his prime/last place finisher in the Classic Quality Road while getting 5 lbs, he them was soundly beaten by second to last place finisher Haynesfield, and finally he beat Zenyatta while running once again on his home turf, on a surface Zenyatta didn't take to, while getting a perfect trip and just hanging on to beat a 6 year old mare who was stopped several times in the turn. Everyone likes to dismiss Zenyatta's wins because they were won in her own backyard. It's a double edged sword. Blame won the Classic on a surface that is as biased as the synthetic surfaces. The only horses who win over it are horses who like it. Zenyatta didn't like it and yet her class almost carried her to victory anyway. Blame's effort will only be remembered in the same light as Dark Star's victory over Native Dancer, nothing more.

Zenyatta was the better horse and did more this year than Blame did in his entire career. She deserves HOTY hands down.

What a bunch of BABIES.

Seriously who doesnt love Zenyatta.  Come on 19 in a row. Heartbreaking finish. What a story. She was GREAT!   And there will be another GREAT. Maybe Mo, Maybe 2013, Maybe 2015. Just love Racing and quit acting like Babies.

Footlick, I have to admit I was never as impressed by Sariska as some; her facile Irish Oaks win came on hideous ground that Midday plainly didn't act on, and I think the latter could have beaten her in the Epsom Oaks if not barged about in the final furlongs. Other than that, she seemed somewhat hyped by Michael Bell. I think Midday would have had her measure this year, even before her behavioural quirks emerged (Midday didn't appreciate the very fast ground at York, she was badly jarred up).

mz, I sincerely hope so! He will be 11 by then, and has been on the go since he was a 3 year old in France, but if he's still enthusiastic and in good form then his connections won't pull the plug just yet. But if he regains the Cheltenham Gold Cup again, some have suggested he may be retired at the end of this season. Otherwise I think he'll try and win the King George VI Chase for the sixth time then bow out.

I think Voodoo Prince has been described as somewhat backwards, and has apparently has sore shins, so may be a while before he sees the race course. I haven't heard much about her Monsun foal, but I heard her Galileo filly looks really good.

KautoStar- Sariska ran favorably well against Fame and Glory.  Didn't she run against him at 3 and 4?  Midday certainly could have been compromised by the ground, but I've never thought of her as competitive with Fame and Glory.  And I thought Sariska was always considered better on soft ground, so wouldn't she have been equally compromised by the ground as Midday?  I could be wrong on the ground part for Sariska though.  But Midday beat Stacelita when she was a bit impeded in her race against her and I don't think Stacelita was quite the horse Sariska was.

KautoStar- by the way, where in England is the Fairyhouse course that they are running the hurdles(?) right now?  I've never followed hurdles that closely, so I have never heard of that course before.  I hope your namesake runs well in the King George. It is just a monumental feat that he is attempting.  It is interesting that hurdlers run at such advanced ages.  Do any ever go on to the hut meets or the 3-day events if they retire?

Jason, don't you understand that if you don't worship Zenyatta and say even one word against anyone who has ever drawn breath in her Holy Presence, it means you are a Kenyan-born socialist?? "East Coast bias" is just as dumb as "liberal media".  Please folks, never tell any Kentucky native that they have anything in common with the elitist East Coast.  You might get shot!

Wish Proviso would win this year. Hope Blame does.  Zenyatta is a great one and she didn't lose by much, but lose she did.  Her humans bet on the same tame campaign as last year once they saw Rachel Alexandra wasn't a threat to them, and then they blew the big race.  Sorry, but that's they way it goes in racing, as opposed to Pweddie Widdle Horsie Land.    

MidwaySue,

Wonderful post.  Yes, some of the Z fans are a little fanatical and make rash statements about racing going down the tubes if Z doesn't win HOY.  People will be upset if she doesn't win and will never go to another race.  I'd hate to think that is true.  If you love this sport, you will always support it.  Yes, Z definitely brought attention to the sport but so did Smarty Jones who had a whole nation behind him during his triple crown bid.  The movie, "Seabiscuit" was a tremendous boon to horse racing but it didn't win best picture.  Nobody cared.  Zenyatta does not need HOY although I think she will win.  It won't make one bit of difference to her career.  She is a superstar and will be in the HOF.  HOY is a trophy that sits on the mantle.  Horse racing doesn't really need fans who only care about one horse.  When that horse retires they leave the sport.  We need fans who love them all and hang around for years.  I have been following racing for 45 years and not once have I ever stopped following racing because a horse I loved didn't get HOY.  It just doesn't matter.  Wait, it does matter to a stallion career but Mares, especially one who is privately owned doesn't need that trophy for anything.  Z has done enough and will be long remembered and honored.  May she have a great life on the farm and produce some wonderful babies.

Footlick, yes she did, but his subsequent exploits were not fantastic, and I think the Midday in the Nassau and Yorkshire Oaks would have had too much pace for the pair of them. The picture was always unclear to me about both mares' favoured ground: Michael Bell always said he didn't want it to firm for Sariska, hence why she didn't run on the 09 Arc, and she handled heavy ground brilliantly in the Irish Oaks. Henry Cecil stated that Midday didn't handle the soft ground then, and she clearly handled the firm turf at Santa Anita fine, but he definitely said she didn't appreciate the fast York ground. So I really don't know to be honest. I think both showed their best form with a little bit of cut, but could handle faster ground. Also, in the Middleton Stakes Midday was giving Sariska 5 lbs.

Fairyhouse is an Irish jumps course, and hosts the Irish Grand National. National Hunt actually includes two categories: hurdling and chasing. In chasing, the obstacles are more fence like, and tend to be closer to 5 feet high. There are also open ditches and water jumps, and the races range from 2 to 4.5 miles long, whereas hurdle races are shorter. Many NH start over hurdles and then progress to fences as they mature.

Not all chasers start as young as Kauto Star, but French breds seem to mature faster and so start racing earlier than their British and Irish rivals. Many of the latter horses don't see a race track until age 5, and continue to mature until 7 or 8. So a French racehorse may races from ages 3/4 to 9/10 (they are often said to decline earlier, so far Kauto is an exception and is holding his form well), whilst a British/Irish horse may race from age 5 to age 12. There's a fantastic front running grey named Monet's Garden (spectacular jumper) who will be 13 in January and is still thrashing top class horses half his age!

Considering I live very close to Newmarket (HQ for British flatracing) I don't actually attend the races very often. I will be going to Kempton on Boxing Day to see Kauto and possibly to the Cheltenham Festival in March. Thanks for the well wishes, I'm starting to get nervous as D-Day looms!

MIDWAY SUE : I don't think it is a matter of bashing Todd Pletcher, "Because we ZENYATTA Fans love John Sherriff"

Millions of people, new fans and old,saw on television , a mare un-fit to race and staggering , and she was not scratched by the trainer-which IS his responsibility.

Millions were lost on betting

LIFE AT TEN, so what is to like or be thrilled about ?

You can absolutely love ZENYATTA and still be opposed to the handling of LIFE AT TEN., and therefore not to  think a trainer who does this, should  be Trainer of the year for 2010, just on the amount of monies won.

There are a LOT of fans out there who have been fans for many years and they say the same thing I have said.

Hard-core fans and they love ZENYATTA,respect John Sherriffs, but this does not negate what they think just because they do.

GREYBIRDK

Proviso winning? Yeah,good luck with that. lol

SARA

Please get back to me when another horse that goes 19-1 comes along. When will that be? One year,five,twenty,forty? Oh,that's right it happens every day,doesn't it? What was I thinking? Just sayin'

Kauto Star, my booby (that's a Star Wars reference), you must know that I was a Denman fan. Loved that freight-train (goods-train) bowling along in front. Is he retired for good now? So sad his health didn't stand up for more seasons; it would have been a rivalry for the ages.

Fairyhouse is in County Meath, Ireland, Footlick. It was founded in 1848 and is the home of the Irish Grand National. Love Wikipedia.

KautoStar- he only had two other races after beating Sariska this year, I think.  And he was in great position for the Arc when he got eliminated because of interference.  He ran in one weak race this year, I think.  Midday is a wonderful filly.  I have no fault with her.  I just feel Sariska was stronger.  My understanding about Sariska not running in the Arc last year was that the ground wasn't soft enough to suit her trainer.

Thanks for the explaination of hurdles and chases.  I've actually heard of Monet's garden, but I didn't know his age.

Pedigree Ann-  Thanks for the info on Fairyhouse and all the other info you communicate.

Greybirdk,   When you see another horse win 19 straight races being a closer at that,  When you see this again in your lifetime, YOu please put down Zenyatta then, but until your fairytale comes true, We know it wont happen, So we dont bother to pay much attention to people who want to put down the best thing racing has seen in a long, long time.   In your world if you cant give credit to a six year old mare being undefeated in three straight years then, you must also discredit all the other fillies/mares to.  I dont know where some of you come from.

Pedigree Ann,

Denman isn't retired, he recently ran in the Hennessy under top weight and came an honerable third. He's apparently now been put away until the Gold Cup in March though many people think he should tackle the Lexus Chase in December.

Most people, including his connections, believe he is recovered from his heart murmur, and his main issue now is his temperament, as has become stubborn and quirky.

It's sad and frustrating that Kauto and Denman never met each other on the top of their game; Kauto was not himself in 2008 and Denman was clearly not in top form in 2009. In 2010 Kauto fell and Denman didnt travel well. The jury is still and truly out on who the better chaser is (though my money is with Kauto).

Thanks for the update, Kauto. My husband and I were in Cambridge for his sabbatical back in academic 2007/08 so I got to see all the 'chasing I wanted to on Racing UK and attheraces. Nothing like careers that last half a decade to inspire passionate fans. Another I was rather fond of was Our Vic; is he still running?

Things that make you go Hmmmm.....

2002 Horse of the Year - Azeri (Filly/Mare)

At Four (2002)

1st. Breeders' Cup Distaff, G1

1st. Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap, G1

1st. Apple Blossom Handicap, G1

1st. Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap, G1

1st. Vanity Handicap, G1

1st. Clement L. Hirsch Handicap, G2

1st. Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap, G2

2nd. La Canada Stakes, G2

Very sad to hear of the passing of M.R.Don Engels. He was a very good & kind man and a real gentleman. Rest in peace Mr. Engels, I'll always remember you. If you ever had known or spoken to Don, the first thing you'd notice is his genuine ways and he spoke to people as a friend & took time for them.I'll miss him.

On a very happy note, Wow, Congratulations Mr. Pete Miller, what a good racing season you've had ! You go, Bald Beagle ! I hope you do get COMMA TO THE TOP to the KY.Derby

p.s. You said it ; Sodapopkid !

I can count the truly great horses in my lifetime on one hand, and ZENYATTA is one of them.WHAT a thrill she gave us ! Her fan club is really something & fun to read. There is re-newed interest in racing & horses, youngsters & people of all ages.  The Z- website is taking the time to welcome them all & answering a lot of questions about horses as well as ZENYATTA. I think we should give them all a round of applause for this.

One last thought: With the recent Breeders Cup changes to the "Win & your In", I hope to see a lot of people like Mr. Miller and other "small trainers" make it to the big leagues, that will be exciting because a good horse can come from anywhere & the new changes will help everyone work hard towards this goal.Who knows, maybe COMMA TO THE TOP will win a B.C. W.C. race , if he is nominated.

WHY KNOT GIVE ALEXXX BALLDROP ONE TOO???...ty...

Ann,

Our Vic was retired at the end of last season at the age of 12. He retired sound, and I'm not sure but he may be a hunter now. He had a good last season, and won the Grade 2 Peter Marsh Chase as well as a couple of other races. Lovely horse!

LIFE AT TEN???...DOUBLE SHOT...TEW BLACK EYE$ FORE "THE GREATEST GAME ON EARTH"..."THE HORSE"..."THE GAMBLER$"...ty...

Bedazzled,

I don't see that that article was written by a "rabid Rachel Fan".  I thought it was unbiased.  I know how people feel who love Zenyatta.  I know what that's like.  You lose objectivity when you love a horse.  Zen certainly was a great horse, there is no question and she will be rememberd that way.  HOY means nothing really, why get upset over it?

Uncle Mo has ALREADY done something Zenyatta could NEVER do.  He beat males on dirt in a G1 race.  Zenyatta tried and failed.  Enough said.

What do we do with a horse who does NOT go to Dubai? I think the nod for the big one goes to Blame. He won the big one and had a great year. If Zen had won say the Clark over him then it may be different. He beat the greatest horse ever after all.