I'm glad Zenyatta won. With that said, it just shows that the BC Classic doesn't mean anything but a nice payday to the winner. Last year Zenyatta won the Classic but was denied the HOY when Rachel's connections thought it was much more important to win the Woodward (against IMHO a very weak field) than take a chance against Zenyatta.

I wonder what Smoothie would have to say...................

Of course -- with those minor footnotes of winning the Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster, Woodward, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and a 2nd in the Man o' War.

Very, very, eerily similar to what happened this year. I agree completely.

It's clear the Eclipse Awards are no longer about racing performance, or racing results.

Care to elaborate or do you want that nonsense to stand alone on its lack of any merit whatsoever?

Exactly. I fail to see how people think this is some "subjective" process. It isn't. There is nothing subjective about her winning. On merits she had less of a case this year.

I also find it interesting that the DRF... who is railed daily as having an East Coast bias, had enough writers who voted for Zenyatta to make their section of the voting close, but ultimately, had Blame on top. They're not motivated by what horse garnered more comments on their on-line blogs and stories.

and that is a Very Very good thing. The BC Classic should never be the main factor in HOTY.

BUT... it was still a horrible choice, ESPECIALLY if you dont look at the BC Classic, than there is zero reason to vote for a horse like Zenyatta.

Isn't that the problem, if there is one, with Eclipse Award voting? Just like the voting processes for the NFL pro bowl, the NBA and MLB all stars, as well as various Halls of Fame, there are no hard and fast guidelines to produce an absolute result. With the amount of leeway given to the voters, is it any wonder that the award winners are often the subject of dispute? These awards are subjective, largely opinion-based, and voters are people who bring their own bias/emotional baggage with them to the table, which is why I don't see the results as anything worth getting too worked up about.

Maybe not by results, but for racing performance? I don't know, Blame's performances last year were not dominating by any stretch to make him a slam dunk winner.

It's a victory for every chickenshit owner and trainer in America and a loss for fans of the sport. This isn't even deniable. The example it sets for rewarding ducking and dodging is the final nail in the coffin for ever again seeing premier matchups outside of the Derby and Classic. Glad the teal and pink tards got what they wanted: a dog and pony show and the further pussification of racing.

Same difference. I thought his performance in the Classic was pretty freaking awesome. Plus he overcame some fairly moderate paces in the Foster/Whitney. That's all secondary though... he beat her in the race that counted.

If its such a horrible choice, and I am not saying its not, can anyone explain why the experts in the field found a majority amongst them to vote for her?

further: in addition, moreover.

How true. Next year would make three years running.

The question we should be pondering is what margin of victory did Blame need to defeat Zenyatta by to win HoY?

2 lengths+

Dear Mr Hancock,



The TB writers would like to inform you and your connections that Blame is running for purse money only.


Sincerely,

Team Z tard

a better question will be how can we conjugate the term r_tard into horse racing the next season, it makes it that much entertaining.

I was working and not really paying attention, but I thought I heard someone call in to ATR and say the only reason she lost at all was that she misjudged the finish line. :tro:

You heard correctly. :zz: