i'm freaking done with the eclipse awards for good

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:59 am

I have never seen a horse get robbed like Caleb's posse got robbed last night. Animal kingdom won one freaking grade 1 all year in a shitty field full of sprinters who didn't want to go 10F and he gets 3YO of the year over a horse who won the kings bishop against arguably the most talented 3YO in the country and turns around and wins from top to bottom the 2nd best dirt race on the breeders cup card... and wins it going away in hand. and loses horse of the year. I'm not even really a caleb's posse fan that's just flat out wrong IMHO. he got hosed .

Lost all resepct for the voters. It's turning into a pop popularity contest.

Crystal · Postby **Crystal** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:30 am

some tweets last night share your feelings over the thought behind voting for the Eclipse Awards this year. I think only a few good horses won based on their accomplishments and other were voted winners on a senimental vote.. (i.e. Animal Kingdom).

However unless you have a ballot in your hand it doesn't really matter. Write to your local Turf Writers and/or the whole association..

please also mention Who was the 1 moron who voted Uncle Mo as champ 3 year old?

Toccet02 · Postby **Toccet02** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:53 am

I agree. Much as I like AK. wasn't right.

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:51 am

when a horse that does not win 1 allowance race all year long can get an award and the horse that won the 2 toughest 1 turn races in the country goes home empty handed, you seriously need to reevaluate your system because it's beyond broke.

photofinish · Postby **photofinish** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:19 pm

I am really surprised this topic doesn't have 100 replies already

The only thing I could surmise was that Barry Irwin campaigned, wined, dined, cajoled, promised, and completely bombarded the voters??? Hell, if the Derby in a lackluster field was all it took, Mine That Bird would have been 3yr old OTY... Caleb's Posse, danced a lot of dances and won some nice graded stakes. Caleb was robbed, or at least out-politicked. Kinda reminiscent of how we got Obama a few years ago.... :shock:

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:49 pm

I think it must be hard to choose when there is not really one amazing standout.

Toccet02 · Postby **Toccet02** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:48 am

Not to mention durable, hard-trying Shakelford.

Tairaterces · Postby **Tairaterces** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:27 pm

3yo champions usually are selected because they can run the classic distance, e.g., 1-1/4 mile.

Did Caleb's Posse do that??? NO!!!

So the best classic 3yo was selected as champion.

photofinish · Postby **photofinish** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:49 pm

Tairaterces wrote:3yo champions usually are selected because they can run the classic distance, e.g., 1-1/4 mile.

Did Caleb's Posse do that??? NO!!!

So the best classic 3yo was selected as champion.

Never knew 1 1/4 miles was a prerequisite for 3yo Championship. I thought the horse who accrued the most graded earnings would be the choice. Or the 3 yr old who beat older horses in G1 competition would have a claim, the horses who ran more than 2 or 3 races.... Pretty limiting to hold the championship to horses who could win at a distance that modern day horses have very few opportunities to run at. So, would 1 1/4 on the grass qualify, or does it have to dirt? What about synthetic?...

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:55 pm

Tairaterces wrote:3yo champions usually are selected because they can run the classic distance, e.g., 1-1/4 mile.

Did Caleb's Posse do that??? NO!!!

So the best classic 3yo was selected as champion.

the funny thing about this post is, and i'm not picking on you at all just pointing it out.. even if you used this criteria, you STILL wouldn't win lol. stay thirsty would have a better claim at 3YO of the year than AK would. Stay thirsty won 1 grade 3, a grade 2 at 9F and a grade 1 classic at 10F, plus finished 3rd against older going 9F

In short, AK's record going for 9F + is 2 and 4 with all of them being in restricted company

ST going against Restricted company at 9F + is 2 for 5 and you have to give the jim dandy being more prestigious than the spiral stakes.

wangkw · Postby **wangkw** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:13 am

Whatever..Haven Of Grace did snatch what is meant for her..of the 3 last great queens..probably she got much blessing from a weaker field this year.

Her caddy... Ramon Dominguez..got the best jockey.

Caleb's Posse was edged out 111-114 by Animal Kingdom in 3 yo ..result is very very anti-climate.

But must the eclipse committee hand out top price for every category when there are difficult decisions to make ? Cant they treat 5 votes difference a tie and give it a forfeit ?

Sailor Kenshin · Postby **Sailor Kenshin** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:43 am

Toccet02 wrote:Not to mention durable, hard-trying Shakelford.

I'm with you there! Well, he is a fave of mine...

wangkw · Postby **wangkw** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:31 am

I think points are strictly for substance not form...how u run is not an issue..front running, stalking etc are strictly your style but unscorable.

What matter is the competitiveness of a race..and how many such races you have won...naturally, restrictve races score lower as against
the open fields...rightfully the winning time should also be an important scoring factor...I am more reserved over the margin.

If Shackleford drives hard and claims durable then all these should show up in the no of wins..if it ain't..the sole conclusion he is slow..and
slowness is fatal, in racing.

Crystal · Postby **Crystal** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:58 am

that is what is great.. There are NO criteria for selecting the champions. It is a pure emotional vote and no common sense is needed.

casallc · Postby **casallc** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:55 pm

You don't really expect an Oklahoma bred with Oklahoma owners and trainer to fare well with the "Dinnies" controling show do you? Hell, we can't even get a TB graded stakes of any kind, yet run for bigger purses than some grade I races in other states. Some day the "Dinnies" will inbreed themselves out of existance.

("Dinnies" - read Jim Squires' Headless Horsemen)