Who wins Horse of the Year?

[RockHardTen1985]

For me, its either NO ONE or Tizway. I cant see how they can give it to anyone else. I think Tizway's double is pretty strong at this point. I would give it to Game On Dude over Havre De Grace.

[Cannon Shell]

The year isnt over

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The year isnt over

What race could possibly have any impact? The Cigar Mile?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

What race could possibly have any impact? The Cigar Mile?

Considering the resumes of the supposed contenders there are quite a few races. What of Calebs Posse wins the Cigar and Malibu? What if Game on Dude wins the Clark?

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

What race could possibly have any impact? The Cigar Mile?

Clark?

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Clark?

Yes good point I guess. Its a Grade 2 now? I guess a horse like Flat Out will run there.... I think its safe to question if hes not a fan of Churchill for some reasson. I guess if Baffert sent Game On Dude and he won, then he could win it.

[Danzig]

give it to union rags!


j/k. but i think he covered more ground today than drosselmeyer....

i think tizway should be considered. too bad he couldn't run today.

Here's my take. I think Game On Dude is likely to win.

Here's the one's that might beat him and reasons they won't.

My Miss Aurelia. Can't give it to a 2yo filly.

Union Rags. Best threat "IF" he had won. He didn't.

Hansen. No

Drosselmeyer. Only one Graded win won't do it. Might have if Game On Dude had finished far back.

HDG. Beat boys only once.

Flat Out. Couldn't beat the filly. Only 1 Grade 1.

Animal Kingdom, Stay Thirsty, Shackleford. None did enough and beat up on each other.

Turf horses Cape Blanco & Acclamation. Both skipped the BC. No No if you want an eclipse.

Tizway too didn't run in the BC. Can't win.

Game On Dude. Won 2 Grade 1's The Big Cap and the Goodwood. 2nd in the Breeders Cup Classic and Hollywood Gold Cup.

Winner winner.

[my miss storm cat]

I want to preface this by saying I am not saying either horse should win HOY so any plans for a Frankenstein-esque angry mob complete with torches and pitchforks... can that wait for another day?

Okay good.

Just wondering about a couple of things...

1. If Goldikova was considered last year or the year before (in theory) or had won this year and was considered... why is it okay to consider a horse with one run (and I am not objecting to this) BUT it's such a joke to consider a horse like Acclamation?

I don't have his record in front of me.... didn't he win 3 Grade 1's in a row this year as well as 2 G2s?

If this is west coast bias than why is Tizway, who i think had 2 wins this year and both in NY (out of how many starts? 4?), being talked about?

He did travel but he didn't win at Charlestown or at Gulfstream so if that is going to be argued it's pretty weak... no?

Again I am not saying Acclamation deserves it by any means... only pointing out that I think the debate is a little unfair (!).

Stay Thirsty is, as usual, being ignored and while he wasn't stellar this year none of them were really. I'm surprised no one is talking about him

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

For me, its either NO ONE or Tizway. I cant see how they can give it to anyone else. I think Tizway's double is pretty strong at this point. I would give it to Game On Dude over Havre De Grace.

Originally Posted by Danzig

give it to union rags!


j/k. but i think he covered more ground today than drosselmeyer....

i think tizway should be considered. too bad he couldn't run today.

Originally Posted by MaTH716

I think it's just a little west coast bias/wishful thinking from Vic. Just because the 2nd place horse in the Classic wrongfully won the award last year, doesn't necessarily mean it should happen again this year.

Originally Posted by 3kings

I agree with this. 10-5-1-1. Two G1's, a G2 and a G3, wins from 6F to 1 1/16. In a year where no one stood out, his resume looks better than the rest.

* * *

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Your post indicates that you may well be very active on drugs

Do you think you'd do any better posting on a forum in another country and in another language?

He's got a great sense of humor and tries very hard to let that come across through his English.

Nice guy... no need to insult him.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I want to preface this by saying I am not saying either horse should win HOY so any plans for a Frankenstein-esque angry mob complete with torches and pitchforks... can that wait for another day?

Okay good.

Just wondering about a couple of things...

1. If Goldikova was considered last year or the year before (in theory) or had won this year and was considered... why is it okay to consider a horse with one run (and I am not objecting to this) BUT it's such a joke to consider a horse like Acclamation?

I don't have his record in front of me.... didn't he win 3 Grade 1's in a row this year as well as 2 G2s?

If this is west coast bias than why is Tizway, who i think had 2 wins this year and both in NY (out of how many starts? 4?), being talked about?

He did travel but he didn't win at Charlestown or at Gulfstream so if that is going to be argued it's pretty weak... no?

Again I am not saying Acclamation deserves it by any means... only pointing out that I think the debate is a little unfair (!).

Stay Thirsty is, as usual, being ignored and while he wasn't stellar this year none of them were really. I'm surprised no one is talking about him

He makes more sense than most anyone else.

Right now, I think the only three that make any sense at all would be HDG, Capo Blanco or Acclamation. HDG is almost a certainty to win it.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I want to preface this by saying I am not saying either horse should win HOY so any plans for a Frankenstein-esque angry mob complete with torches and pitchforks... can that wait for another day?

Okay good.

Just wondering about a couple of things...

1. If Goldikova was considered last year or the year before (in theory) or had won this year and was considered... why is it okay to consider a horse with one run (and I am not objecting to this) BUT it's such a joke to consider a horse like Acclamation?

I don't have his record in front of me.... didn't he win 3 Grade 1's in a row this year as well as 2 G2s?

If this is west coast bias than why is Tizway, who i think had 2 wins this year and both in NY (out of how many starts? 4?), being talked about?

He did travel but he didn't win at Charlestown or at Gulfstream so if that is going to be argued it's pretty weak... no?

Again I am not saying Acclamation deserves it by any means... only pointing out that I think the debate is a little unfair (!).

Stay Thirsty is, as usual, being ignored and while he wasn't stellar this year none of them were really. I'm surprised no one is talking about him.

You have to realize there is zero consistency. I've asked a similar question for years. If Goldikova can be one of the three finalists, why can't she be number one? Either she's in or she's out but don't be in the middle. Arazi was also one of the three finalists in 1991 off of one 2yo race in the states. High Chaparral won his title in 2003 and that was off a dead-heat with Johar in the Turf. Singspiel won a title in 1996 even though he never won a race in the U.S. Many horses have won witb only one race yet if I suggest that Ghostzapper should have been champion in 2005 off one race, I'm crazy even though everyone would admit that he was better than St. Liam and his Met Mile was the best race.

There is no set criteria for winning either a divisional championship or HOY. As long as you run one time in North America, you qualify. They will answer our questions by saying St. Liam deserved it because he accomplished the most but Goldikova deserved hers cause she was the best. If you are gonna say it should be who accomplishes the most, Acclamation deserves strong consideration. If you're gonna say it should be who was best, let's give it to Uncle Mo, who got the year's top Beyer in the Kelso and who everyone wants to automatically bestow the crown of most talented horse in tbe country.

One thing I think we can all agree upon. Clearly the criteria for winning is a moveable feast.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

One thing I think we can all agree upon. Clearly the criteria for winning is a moveable feast.

We can. I wish we would make it more definable. Maybe something like a horse has to start a minimum of six times and three have to be in the United States. Actually, the first thing I'd do is make them U.S. racing awards, not North American. Canada already has their own. Europe has their own so we don't need to reward them for coming over and taking one race. Some would argue that this would dimish the value of the award by giving it to a lesser American horse when a European with one start is clearly best. I'd say tough. If a hitter bats .445 but plays only 80 games, he doesn't qualify for the title even though he's the best. If a player averages 70 points in basketball but plays 10 games, he doesn't qualify. How was it not already cheapened by St. Liam or Miesques Approval or Favorite Trick or Zenyatta winning when they shouldn't have?

[my miss storm cat]

Anyone feel like commenting on this?

It's not about HOY but 3 year old champion.

What do you guys think?

http://www.ntra.com/blog/index/view/MTMzNw==

[King Glorious]

My feeling is that it's silly to eliminate Caleb's Posse because the majority of his success came around one-turn. I don't recall reading that the champion has to be the champion route horse. If that is a voter's preference, I can respect that opinion but it's not a requirement. I am of the belief that in a country where most of the horses are bred for and most races are at 8f and under, it is harder to stand out at shorter distances than at longer ones.

[Seattleallstar]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Anyone feel like commenting on this?

It's not about HOY but 3 year old champion.

What do you guys think?

http://www.ntra.com/blog/index/view/MTMzNw==

Shackelford won a TC and kept on chugging on til the end, I think he wins by just hanging around to race in the end. Stay Thirsty won a signifcant race but not a TC and didnt do much after that win. Had Animal Kingdom stuck around and at least one more semi important race, he would get it by virtue of winning the big race and winning another race of consequence but that didnt happen.