Archives > HOF/Awards

And the Winners Are ...: The 2007 Eclipse awards go to best horses, people who made most money....; [Posted January 22, 2008 8:15 AM]; ---

Sporting Greatness: Eight were inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame on Monday, including recently retired Funny Cide jockey Jose Santos, who got three standing ovations during the ceremony (DRF), and Boston-connected Triple Tiara winner Mom's Command (Herald). With 11 victories in 16 starts, the champion filly's place in the Hall of Fame is well deserved, but Bill Finley raises a good question about future equine honorees in his ESPN column: Do the stars of the modern era, a period in racing's history where the majority of top horses have had very limited campaigns -- deserve to be enshrined alongside the true...; [Posted August 7, 2007 9:00 AM]; ---

HOF Ballot Changes Needed: Lowell Sun racing correspondent Paul Daley pens an open letter to the Racing Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, calling for changes to the Hall's balloting procedures in this week's Sun column, reprinted with permission here. Dear Edward L. Bowen, Chairman, and Nominating Committee members, I sent my ballot on Tuesday via email regarding my votes for induction into the Class of 2006, to be held on Monday, August 7 at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs. I take this vote very seriously and feel compelled to strenuously lobby for a procedural change for next year's balloting. As I see...; [Posted April 15, 2006 10:15 AM]; ---

And the Winners Are ...: Everyone you expected. There were few surprises at last night's Eclipse awards ... Saint Liam took Horse of the Year in a landslide, Afleet Alex was named three-year-old champion, and Lost in the Fog won champion sprinter easily. Jay Hovdey catalogs the hits and misses. Among the latter: Michael Gill's "Nixonesque" acceptance speech upon winning the owner's Eclipse. Bill Handleman found the whole ceremony a joke: "This year you didn't have to be a hardcore cynic to enjoy the Eclipse Awards ... such was the power of the message. Evidently it no longer matters how openly you violate the spirit...; [Posted January 24, 2006 7:00 AM]; ---

West: No Vote for HOTY: "No vote" is what Gary West will write next to Horse of the Year on his Eclipse ballot: The Horse of the Year, like Caesar's wife, must be above suspicion. But Saint Liam, because he's trained by Dutrow, simply isn't.... For the sport's highest honor, I simply will not vote for any horse whose trainer has been suspended or fined for a serious medication or ethical violation during the season. From here, Saint Liam's victories in the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Woodward, the Stephen Foster and the Donn Handicap look just like so many Sosa home runs. As for voting...; [Posted December 16, 2005 11:30 PM]; ---

Tainted Liam: The rush to annoint Saint Liam as Horse of the Year after his Breeders' Cup Classic win last Saturday could prove premature, writes Gary West: Yes, Saint Liam won the country's richest race, the Breeders' Cup Classic; and, yes, in 2005 he constructed an admirable edifice of accomplishment that included three other major stakes wins. He's the champion older horse; give him that. But at least for the moment, there are two reasons not to hand over the sport's highest honor to Saint Liam. The obvious reason is Afleet Alex. The other is Saint Liam's trainer, [Richard] Dutrow. This past...; [Posted November 4, 2005 7:00 PM]; ---

The Awards Picture: It's not technically the end of the year, but there's little likely to happen in the next eight weeks that could shake up division standings now. With his Breeders' Cup Classic win, Saint Liam is assured of the champion older horse and Horse of the Year honors, in whatever judgment scheme you prefer, whether it's a points system like the Standings, or a voting system like the Eclipse Awards. The other divisions will be ripe for debate: First Samurai vs. Stevie Wonderboy for two-year-old champion, for instance, or Flower Alley vs. Afleet Alex for three-year-old honors. The biggest fight looming...; [Posted November 1, 2005 7:47 AM]; ---

HOTY Race: With the Breeders' Cup less than four weeks away, the race for Horse of the Year is on. In the standings (to the right), Saint Liam leads by 25 points over three-year-old filly In the Gold, with Sweet Return, Ashado, and Island Fashion rounding out the top five. Borrego vaulted into sixth place with his win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Flower Alley, Summerly, Afleet Alex, and Megahertz follow, completing the top 10. What all this means is that Horse of the Year is still wide open -- and the Breeders' Cup results really will decide this year's champion....; [Posted October 3, 2005 5:20 PM]; ---

Another in Race for HOTY: It's early in the year yet, but talk is already turning to the subject of who might win 2005 Horse of the Year. Afleet Alex is one of the names being bandied about, but Lost in the Fog is another contender, and after his dazzling win in the Stephen Foster, so is Saint Liam. (Courier-Journal)...; [Posted June 19, 2005 10:00 AM]; ---

All Over the Place: In case you haven't had your fill of Eclipse Awards coverage yet, do check out Jay Hovdey's account of the awards cereremony. "For a moment, it was 1952 all over again, and Richard Nixon was trying to save his political hide by playing down slush fund allegations and diverting attention with references to his wife's 'good Republican cloth coat' and his daughter's dog, Checkers. A few beats later, Merv Griffin appeared from out of a misty cloud of talk show nostalgia ... Then, at some point John Wayne entered the hall, closely followed by Will Rogers, who between them provided...; [Posted January 26, 2005 11:55 AM]; ---

And the Winners Are ...: Ghostzapper runs away with Horse of the Year, Azeri wins a third straight divisional title. No time for much commentary or linking this morning, so I'll just say this: Afleet Alex wuz robbed in the 2-year-old male category, and I was pleased to see that two voters appreciated the merits of steeplechaser Tres Touche enough to write him in on their ballots....; [Posted January 25, 2005 6:45 AM]; ---

Hottest HOTY Race in Years: For some fans, I suppose. "The anticipation for this year's Eclipse Awards is the highest in years," writes Ralph Siraco. "What makes this year's racing Oscars so intriguing is the race for the gold trophy: Horse of the Year, 2004.... Although there have been many anticlimactic years in the past 33 announcements for the Horse of the Year Eclipse trophy, that will be far from the case this year." Yes, which will win? The three-year-old with a whirlwind career who triumphed over other three-year-olds in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, or the four-year-old who ran four freakishly...; [Posted January 11, 2005 9:00 AM]; ---

Eclipse Finalists Announced: The finalists for this year's Eclipse Awards were announced Wednesday afternoon. Ghostzapper was nominated in both the sprinter and older male categories and is one of two contenders for Horse of the Year (MSNBC). He wasn't the only horse nominated for multiple honors: Kitten's Joy and Ouija Board are also up for two each (LA Times). Many of the nominees have Texas ties (Star-Telegram), and unsurprisingly, quite a few have Kentucky roots (Courier-Journal). Maryjean Wall wonders if the Eclipse Awards are for journalists to decide (Herald-Leader). Past performances for the nominees are available at the Daily Racing Form....; [Posted January 6, 2005 7:00 AM]; ---

Achievement Over Hype: Don't reward the cherry-pickers who avoided competition, says Gary West. "The Eclipse Award finalists will be announced Wednesday and the winners Jan. 24. The Eclipse Awards, of course, represent horse racing's championships. But they also represent an opportunity to discourage the cowering opportunism and the premature retirements that have compromised competition, as well as the sport's popularity, in recent years." (Star-Telegram)...; [Posted January 4, 2005 9:25 AM]; ---

More on HOTY: And all the other Eclipse awards: Bill Christine makes a convincing case for Ghostzapper (LA Times), and Steven Crist shows off his ballot. (Daily Racing Form)....; [Posted December 24, 2004 11:00 AM]; ---

And HOTY Goes to ...: Smarty Jones, says Pohla Smith at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Paul Daley, at the Lowell Sun, is a little less decisive, making cases for both Smarty and Ghostzapper....; [Posted December 19, 2004 11:35 AM]; ---

Finley's Picks: "With the Hollywood Futurity the only race left on the year that could have any impact on the Eclipse Awards, it's not too early to divulge my votes for divisional champions and Horse of the Year," writes Bill Finley. No big surprises: Finley likes Ghostzapper for Horse of the Year, Speightstown for Sprinter, and Sightseek for Older Filly or Mare. (ESPN) Comment: I can't get excited about Ghostzapper as HOTY. He only ran four -- admittedly, very good -- races this year. I wouldn't vote for Smarty Jones either. He never raced against older horses and the Chapmans' decision to...; [Posted December 8, 2004 8:35 AM]; ---

No Phony Champions: As Eclipse award voting season begins, Dick Jerardi can't take any more positivity. "I am here to make sure the negative has a voice. Wilko? I mean, really. Wilko?" (Daily Racing Form)...; [Posted November 18, 2004 6:40 AM]; ---

Unfairly Maligned: This year's crop of three-year-olds may be ill-fated -- Lion Heart, Birdstone, and The Cliff's Edge were all retired with fractures -- but it's not inferior. "Some believe, based on Beyer Speed Figures, that this is a weak crop. Yet other speed figure gurus, such as Thoro-Graph's Jerry Brown, state that some of Smarty Jones' numbers are among the fastest ever recorded by a 3-year-old, including one race that was the fastest ever recorded." (Blood-Horse)...; [Posted November 9, 2004 7:38 AM]; ---

Not Even Close: Ghostzapper garners 18 votes for Horse of the Year to Smarty Jones' 7 in a Blood-Horse survey of trainers, jockeys, and journalists. Related: "Smarty vs. Ghostzapper a dream race" (Daily Racing Form)...; [Posted November 3, 2004 3:51 PM]; ---

HOTY Race Heats Up: The contest for Horse of the Year comes down to two: Smarty Jones and Ghostzapper. Which deserves the honor? The chestnut colt who electrified crowds with his Kentucky Derby and Preakness performances against the best three-year-olds, or the lightly-raced four-year-old 4-for-4 against the best older horses? Maryjean Wall says Smarty is still in the picture. (Lexington Herald-Leader) Mike Brunker wants to compromise. (MSNBC) And Bill Finley couldn't be plainer in his preference: "Ghostzapper earned my Horse of the Year vote Saturday." (ESPN) Wait, says Richard Rosenblatt: "When cooler heads prevail, there’s little doubt that Smarty Jones is more deserving of...; [Posted November 1, 2004 8:35 AM]; ---

Smarty Backlash?: Smarty Jones' untimely departure from the winner's circle to the breeding shed disappointed fans -- and turf writers. "Bill Finley, a veteran reporter who covers racing for ESPN.com, says his displeasure with the turn of events may influence his ballot. "Granted, he was a very exciting horse," Finley says, "but personally I'm very disappointed they retired him and retired him under a scenario where it appeared they could easily have brought him back next year, if not sooner. "Maybe it's not up to the voters to punish people, but the sport needs superstars, and these people didn't keep their promise...; [Posted October 28, 2004 3:15 PM]; ---

Eight Are Alive: For Horse of the Year, says Steven Crist: Azeri, Birdstone, Funny Cide, Ghostzapper, Kitten's Joy, Pleasantly Perfect, Roses in May, and Smarty Jones all have a shot at the honor. (Daily Racing Form)...; [Posted October 16, 2004 9:00 AM]; ---

The Forgotten: Smarty Jones' retirement may have brought his owners millions of dollars, but it may also deprive them of horse of the year and champion three-year-old honors, and that could lead to obscurity for the chestnut colt, writes Bob Ford. "As the racing year heads toward its final furlongs, Birdstone is still running and still causing trouble for Smarty. Incredibly enough, 2004 might turn out to be the year in which Smarty Jones is nearly forgotten rather than the year in which he is remembered forever." (Philadelphia Inquirer)...; [Posted September 8, 2004 6:37 AM]; ---

Birdstone or Smarty Jones: Which will be three-year-old champion at the end of the year? "With Smarty Jones retired prematurely to the breeding shed, and his Triple Crown spoiler Birdstone ready to take a crack at older horses in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 30, Eclipse Award voters may even have to rethink their Horse of the Year options if Birdstone wins at Lone Star Park," writes Sherry Ross in the New York Daily News. Hold on, Mike Watchmaker says in the DRF: "Let's keep a lid on the 'Birdstone for champion 3-year-old' movement, however. It is to Birdstone's credit that...; [Posted August 30, 2004 9:55 PM]; ---

Watchmaker: Race Is Over: There is no race for top three-year-old, writes Mike Watchmaker. We all know what's going to happen when it comes time to award the divisional title: "No legitimate argument can be made for any horse in position to mount a late-season threat -- not Birdstone, not Sunday's Haskell Invitational winner Lion Heart, not Sunday's Jim Dandy winner Purge, and not Rock Hard Ten in the wake of his flop in the Haskell. None of them is in the same league with Smarty Jones." (Daily Racing Form) Related: "Smarty just won't go away" (ESPN)...; [Posted August 10, 2004 9:15 AM]; ---

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