What have you done for me lately?

[Cree]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... -macho-man

I find this so bizarre. He won 2 races this year at Santa Anita, September and November. I don't know why voters think his story relates to them...
ANYWAY, he's a nice horse, but I don't think he should be HOY.

[TJ]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/82546/vox-populi-award-goes-to-mucho-macho-man

I find this so bizarre. He won 2 races this year at Santa Anita, September and November. I don't know why voters think his story relates to them...
ANYWAY, he's a nice horse, but I don't think he should be HOY.

Hi Cree,
I'm sure Mucho Macho Man is receiving this award because he will be left out of the eclipse awards. Although I hope he isn't...I do think this award is a bone they are throwing his way. I'm glad to see he is receiving some recognition though. This from a post we had earlier:

PostPosted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 5:33 pm Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post
Cree wrote:
Out of curiosity, who do you think gets the vote for top older male? and 3-year-old filly?
Thanks.

I still think Game On Dude should be top older male. Or perhaps Flat Out. Both did terrible in the Classic. But measured against Mucho Macho Man, their 2013 campaign was far better.

I can't decide on the 3-year-old filly. I really think Beholder showed she was the best by winning the Distaff, but I know Princess has the better East Coast record.

Hi Cree,
I really think the top older male is up for grabs and at the mercy of the eclipse award voters. Personally, I believe eclipse award winners should be decided on the race track. That being said, my preference for older male would be Mucho Macho Man after his two GR I wins in California while taking the measure of both Game on Dude and Will Take Charge among a stellar cast in the Classic. That Classic was one of the best races held all year and MMM was up to the task even though he had issues that kept him from competing in other events. I'd like to see Kathy Ritvo get a special award for her handling of MMM.
I believe Beholder proved to be best, although it was obvious the other contenders didn't bring their A game cross country...Beholder's record is stellar and she maintained her good form all year. TJ

In that post I also hoped to see Kathy receive recognition for the outstanding job she did training this none to healthy horse, who was pulled up early in 2013....lost over 5 months then came back to win the race Kathy pointed him for, the BC Classic. Below is the bone they her threw her....yet I do hope at the Eclipse Awards, she will get more then the 2nd rate recognition she and her horse received all ready. TJ
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... rial-award

[Cree]

Fair enough.
I respect her as a trainer, and think the horse came around at the right time.
I find Eclipse Awards rather frustrating, in part because of the biases (East/West, turf vs. dirt, etc.), and also because it seems to weigh heavily on the Breeders Cup. In some cases I think the Breeders Cup answers questions.

The horse was definitely a star in his last 2 races, but I think his overall campaign was not better than Game On Dude's.