Horse of the Year...

[Tucumcari]

Lost In The Fog.
He is for me. Knowing the uphill battle he had to fight this year, he is the Horse Of The Year. AND For being an amazing and incredible champion.

[louis finochio]

LIF and Barbaro will receive many votes from those voters who our sentimental to both of those warriors.

The HOY will be won on the battlefield on BC day. If one of the US TB can pull off an upset over the Euro super stars, like Bernardini it will be a landslide HOY victory for the victor.

[Tucumcari]

let me reiterate(sp)... he is only my sentimental HOTY. He won't be nominated, but he is a hero to me.

[Keith]

Lava Man and Invasor are Horse of The Year Candidates then there is Bernardini who could win Horse of The Year if he wins out including winning the Breeder's Cup Classic.


Keith

[zinn21]

There should be a special honor given to Lost In The Fog. This is a horse who won a graded stakes race with cancer invading his body. What a testament to his greatness.

[Tucumcari]

Lava Man and Invasor are Horse of The Year Candidates then there is Bernardini who could win Horse of The Year if he wins out including winning the Breeder's Cup Classic.


Keith

You don't say...?

Sigh, let me state one more time. He is my SENTIMENTAL Horse Of The Year, though I am FULLY and COMPLETELY aware that he will not BE Horse Of The Year.

[Whirlaway]

My vote for Horse of the Year goes to all those fine thoroughbreds throughout the world who lost their lives while racing gallantly and bravely for our amusement and recreation.

[FOS]

hi guys

My understanding is that David Junior's connections are planning to run their superstar colt in the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic-G1.

That said, if David Junior (by Pleasant Tap) does run...and does win the Classic ahead of all the other big dogs that line up and compete...I expect there will be a real possibility (maybe even a probability) that he will be voted Horse of the Year.

Respectfully

[madelyn]

If that really happened it would be a travesty. Just another example of how messed up things really are. David Junior's???? Who would ever figure that????

[Dave C]

Tucumcari: We all have our sentimental favourites thanks for sharing yours.


IMO there are only three serious contender for HOY: Invasor, Lava Man, and Bernardini. Everyone else is just wishful thinking right now. If someone wants to make a serious bid they have to beat Invasor and Bernardini in the JC Gold Cup then win the BC Classic. The way things are right now it doesn't matter who wins the BC Classic the first one of I, LM, or B across the line in the Classic will get HOY even if they only finish second or third behind someone not in contention for HOY. JMHO

[FOS]

hi Dave C...hello madelyn

IMO there are only three serious contender for HOY: Invasor, Lava Man, and Bernardini. Everyone else is just wishful thinking right now.

Fair enough...for "right now" (your words).

If someone wants to make a serious bid they have to beat Invasor and Bernardini in the JC Gold Cup then win the BC Classic.

Maybe so...but I believe that if David Junior makes but one 2006 start in North America, and in that one start he faces the big-dogs in the Breeders' Cup Classic...and wins over that field...his chance to capture Horse of the Year honors is (in my opinion) not only possible, but leaning toward probable.

The way things are right now it doesn't matter who wins the BC Classic the first one of I (Invasor), LM (Lava Man), or B (Bernardini) across the line in the Classic will get HOY even if they only finish second or third behind someone not in contention for HOY. JMHO

If David Junior runs and wins (the G1-BC Classic), finishing ahead of all the other big dogs...don't be surprised if he captures enough votes to receive Horse of the Year honors. For now though, his credentials should not be ignored, or even discounted. Make no mistake, he has been (thus far) the real-deal, the genuine article...as have been Invasor, Lava Man and Bernardini.

If that really happened it would be a travesty. Just another example of how messed up things really are. David Junior's???? Who would ever figure that????

Invasor...Lava Man...and Bernardini are exceptionally talented racehorses, and I would guess that most racing fans (in North America) are familiar with those three. On the other hand, David Junior is not a household name (among racing fans) in the USA (yet). His successes have all occurred across the pond; understandably, much of his notoriety and celebrity status is across the pond also...for now. Be assured though, he is one heck of a top-class racehorse...and a racehorse to be reckoned with. He will be a potentially VERY exciting addition to the BC Classic, if in fact he's entered and runs. That said, I believe that he could very possibly (if not probably) capture Horse of the Year honors if he struts his stuff...and gets to the finish-line first in the BC Classic.

Consider this, David Junior is (in my opinion) a MONSTER on the turf. If he runs in and wins the G1-BC Classic...he will have accomplished something extremely rare...switching from Turf (at the VERY highest level) to Dirt (at the VERY highest level) and defeating the best in the game at their game.

Again...if David Junior runs in and wins the G1-Classic, finishing ahead of all the other big dogs (which hopefully will include Invasor, Lava Man and Bernardini)...why would it be such a "travesty" (your word) if such a world class multiple-G1 winner as David Junior, already an earner of approx $5mil+-...garners enough votes to receive Horse of the Year honors?

I expect that if any one of the aforementioned four prevails in the BC Classic, garnering Horse of the Year honors would not be unreasonable for any of those four.

Respectfully

[Sam]

Again...if David Junior runs in and wins the G1-Classic, finishing ahead of all the other big dogs (which hopefully will include Invasor, Lava Man and Bernardini)...why would it be such a "travesty" (your word) if such a world class multiple-G1 winner as David Junior, already an earner of approx $5mil+-...garners enough votes to receive Horse of the Year honors?

Can't answer for Madelyn, but my answer is a resounding YES! It would be a HUGE travesty.

I have never and will never agree with the idea that a horse wins a year end (operative word being YEAR) title based on ONE start. I don't give a damn what that horse did in another country. The Euros have their own year end championships. THAT'S all he's earned.

Giving a Euro an American title of ONE race does a disservice to all the American horses who ran here ALL YEAR, established their records IN THIS COUNTRY throughout the YEAR, and did basically all they should have had to do to earn a title in their home country. Awarding an American title to a Euro off ONE RACE is an insult to every horse and their connections who ran in this country all year long.

These titles are suppose to be awarded to the horse who had the best YEAR, not the best one time performance in a single race -- regardless of the competition in the single race. If we were awarding a true "world championship" title that all voters in all major racing countries had a say in, that would be one thing. We aren't. The Eclipse awards SHOULD stand for the best season on American soil, not the best race, put together by its winner. A season is more than one race. NO ONE deserves a championship title off one race.

This BS about only having to run one race in North America (an interesting loophole, BTW... it makes it possible for a horse to NEVER RUN in the US and still win the Eclipse... all he has to do is win a Breeders' Cup race at Woodbine) to qualify for an Eclipse needs to be changed. I'd like to see a minimum of 3 US starts to be eligible.

[wilf]

Fos really!!!!!!!! I dont care if David wins the B C Classic in a hand canter he would not get a vote for H O Y. Fos ,usually your posts are very well thought out and a great read but this time I feel that you have been at the Absinthe. It pains me no end to agree with Sam but this time I have to defer. One swallow does not make a summer, nor should one win. Regards Wilf.

[FOS]

hi wilf...hi Sam...hi all

Should I put the rain gear on to protect against tomato throwing?

I'd like to see a minimum of 3 US starts to be eligible (for an Eclipse).

Interesting thought...but reality is (for now anyway) that one start can get the job done.

If Giant's Causeway had finished ahead of Tiznow (instead of a very game and very close 2nd behind Tiznow) in the BC Classic...would he have been voted Horse of the Year?

Very possible...in my opinion.

I submit that if David Junior's credentials were less impressive, a win by him (in the BC Classic) might be viewed as an aberration. I also suggest that DJ's credentials are clearly world class...and, if he is victorious in the G1-Classic (over what I refer to as the big dogs)...he might garner enough votes to receive Horse of the Year honors?

All that Invasor...or Lava Man...or Bernardini has to do is win the Classic. Then, whether DJ runs in there or not, it'll all be moot.

If DJ wins though...I would not be surprised if he is selected for 2006 Horse of the Year honors.

For what it's worth...hasn't the description Breeders' Cup day been expanded to read...Breeders' Cup World Championships?

Best to you.

Respectfully

[TomFool]

Watch out for Dylan Thomas in the JGC. It will be the race of the year to this point and a very nice Classic preview.