Thoroughbred Times
bookmark this page subscribe RSS twitter facebook
Subscribe to Thoroughbred Times

LOG IN TO THOROUGHBRED TIMES

 
Need to reset your password?
 


Don't miss the deadline!

Sign up now for the Freshman Sire Contest presented by Markel and Thoroughbred Times

Chance to win cash prizes for picking leading freshman sires in 2012

To sign up and enter your Stallion Barn, click here.

  • Indian Charlie sire of Nechez Dawn 1st Alw (May 23, 7th AP). Owner, Tresner, Coby and Matsas, Alex; Breeder, B. P. Walden Jr., Hargus Sexton & SandraSexton...
  • Arch sire of Wiki 1st Alw (May 24, 2nd PID). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Stuart S. Janney, III LLC....
  • Jazil sire of Love Me Good 1st Mdn (May 23, 2nd PID). Owner, Sheltowee Farm and Blazing Meadow Farm; Breeder, Sheltowee Farm...
  • Yankee Gentleman sire of Little Dale 1st Alw (May 23, 7th BEL). Owner, Vaccarezza, Priscilla, Amante, Anthony and Garrity, Christine; Breeder, Philip Birsh...
  • Strut the Stage sire of Head Honcho 1st Alw (May 23, 7th WO). Owner, Annecchini and D'Alimonte Holdings Inc. and Kingfield Farm; Breeder, William D. Graham...
  • Hard Spun sire of Gleaning 1st Mdn (May 23, 4th PID). Owner, Robert T. Manfuso; Breeder, Nursery Place & Robert T. Manfuso...
  • Philanthropist sire of Rob the Cradle 1st Alw (May 23, 2nd WO). Owner, Andrews, Denny and Paradox Farms Inc.; Breeder, Gardiner Farms Limited...
  • Wando sire of Deb's Girly Girl 1st Alw (May 24, 6th RD). Owner, Deborah F. Metz; Breeder, Deborah F. Metz...
  • Petionville sire of Wups 1st Thoroughbred Maiden Derby (May 23, 9th BOI). Owner, Paul Treasure; Breeder, Michael Iavarone...
  • Smoke Glacken sire of Walker Bay 1st Alw (May 24, 8th CD). Owner, Hammersmith, Dennis L. and Paden Racing, Inc.; Breeder, Brian O'Rourke & Derry Meeting Farm...
  • Include sire of Window Boy 1st Grover (Buddy) Delp Memorial S. (May 23, 8th DEL). Owner, Luis Arenas; Breeder, Shelby Lane Farm Inc. & IncludeSyndicate...
  • Luftikus sire of Joyful Kiss 1st Alw (May 23, 7th CT). Owner, Winfred L. Hess, Jr.; Breeder, Ann M. Casey...
  • Proud Citizen sire of Citizen Kat 1st Alw (May 23, 7th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Mark Reid & Charles Zacney...
  • First Samurai sire of Nakano 1st Alw (May 24, 8th CRC). Owner, Thoroughbred Futures Racing; Breeder, Hubert Vester...
  • Medaglia d'Oro sire of Dealer 1st Alw (May 23, 8th CT). Owner, Coleswood Farm, Inc.; Breeder, Family Broodmare, LLC...
  • Holy Bull sire of Catalan 1st Alw (May 24, 8th BEL). Owner, Elizabeth Loftus; Breeder, B. P. Walden & Dr. S. Marcum...
  • Hard Spun sire of Ribbon Taffy 1st Mdn (May 23, 5th IND). Owner, Pucek, John Paul and Marcinek, Paige; Breeder, Matthew R. Herbener...
  • Chapel Royal sire of Mr Rodriguez 1st Mdn (May 24, 2nd BEL). Owner, Imperio, Michael and Loftus, Elizabeth; Breeder, Jill Imperio & Daniella Corian...
  • Mancini sire of Ride Around Sally 1st Alw (May 23, 6th IND). Owner, Joe Uliano; Breeder, Spade Stable...
  • Posse sire of Parody 1st Alw (May 23, 4th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Don Mattox & Pam Mattox...
  • Flower Alley sire of Bouquet Booth 1st Alw (May 24, 7th CD). Owner, Right Time Racing LLC; Breeder, Brookdale & Dr. Ted Folkerth...
  • Latent Heat sire of Heated Troubles 1st Mdn (May 24, 5th RD). Owner, Ashleigh Stud; Breeder, Ashleigh Stud, Frank Ramos & JackieRamos...
  • Canadian Frontier sire of Golden Frontier 1st Alw (May 24, 3rd CD). Owner, George Fister; Breeder, Brereton C. Jones...
  • City Weekend sire of City Sweets 1st Mdn (May 23, 3rd IND). Owner, Mast Thoroughbreds LLC; Breeder, Robert Gorham & Mast Thoroughbreds LLC...

NEWS

E-Mail this articlePrint this article

Industry News bullet



Most Popular Stories bullet

Most E-mailed Stories bullet

Horse of the Year decision day looms

Posted: Sunday, January 17, 2010 5:17 PM

Photo: Future Racing Hall of Famers Rachel Alexandra (shown winning the Haskell Invitational [G1] and Zenyatta will vie for the 2009 Horse of the Year Award, to be announced on Monday.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA WINNING THE HASKELL INVITATIONAL (G1)

Jessica Denver/Equi-Photo

by Tom Law

One of the most eagerly anticipated and historic events in American Thoroughbred racing will unfold Monday at the Eclipse Awards when the name of the 2009 Horse of the Year is announced to the black-tie clad and blinged-out crowd at the posh Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

The Horse of the Year announcement is historic not only because it figures to be a tight decision between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta but because both finalists are females who towered so high above their male counterparts that they were the only runners to earn any votes for racing’s top honor from the more than 250 voters.

The winner will be unveiled at about 10:25 p.m. EST toward the end of the ceremony that will be telecast live on Television Games Network starting at 8 p.m. The Horse of the Year race has attracted plenty of national and international attention and ESPNews will also cut into its regularly scheduled programming for tonight’s announcement.

Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta never squared off in 2009 on the racetrack for a variety of reasons, which might be rectified in ‘10, but each has their own legion of fans and supporters. The duo collectively won 13 races from as many starts—eight for Rachel Alexandra and five for Zenyatta—and amassed earnings of $6,076,914.

Since the two never met on the track, voters were left to dissect the respective merits of the contenders and general consensus in the nation figures the two will earn the lion’s share of their votes from the respective regions where they raced in 2009—Zenyatta in the West and Rachel Alexandra in the East and Midwest.

To make matters even more difficult, both defeated males and both competed on one surface all season.

Rachel Alexandra raced on natural dirt and defeated males on three occasions, winning the BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (G1) (video), Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) (video), and Woodward Stakes (G1) (video), while dominating her own gender with colossal wins in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Mother Goose Stakes (G1).

Zenyatta raced exclusively on the synthetic tracks in Southern California in 2009 and won three straight Grade 1s over females before toppling a deep international field in North America’s richest race, the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park meeting (video).

The Horse of the Year race obviously will draw the most attention during the evening but several other divisions figure to be close, including nearly all of the human categories. A total of 17 champions will be crowned by the end of the night, including the most coveted prize of all that still may not resolve the issue in the hearts of many.

Tom Law is managing editor for Thoroughbred Times

E-Mail this articlePrint this article