Romero, Azeri, PG, Best Pal make Hall; Vets add 3 inc. Pierce

[Kasept]

Jockey Romero, Three Horses to Hall of Fame
By Ron Mitchell

Jockey Randy Romero and three horses--Azeri, Best Pal, and Point Given —have been elected into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. for 2010.

The induction ceremony will take place Aug. 13 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga.

Under a new voting format undertaken by the Hall of Fame committee for this year, candidates were no longer segmented by category. Voters could vote for up to four of the horses and individuals listed on the ballot, and the four with the highest number of votes were elected. As a result of the new process, neither of the two trainers who were among the finalists—Gary Jones and Robert Wheeler—were elected to the Hall of Fame this year.

As the only jockey elected to the Hall this year, Romero will be inducted on the basis of a career in which he won 4,294 races from 26,091 from 1973-99. With a career win rate of 16%, Romero’s mounts earned more than $75.2 million. Included among his 122 graded stakes victories were Breeders’ Cup World Championship wins with top distaffers Go for Wand and the undefeated Personal Ensign. With 342 total stakes wins to his credit, Romero won titles at 10 tracks, including Belmont Park, Arlington Park, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland, and Fair Grounds.

[randallscott35]

Point Given? Really?

[blackthroatedwind]

Ridiculous.

[geeker2]

Bob insisted...

[randallscott35]

Lookin At Lucky is a lock.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Point Given? Really?

It's his success as a sire that propelled him in.

Meanwhile, Awesome Again isn't in and he deserves to be in over Point Given.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Finally, both Randy Romero & Best Pal get in!

[blackthroatedwind]

How exactly is Romero qualified?

[FATPIANO]

Originally Posted by Hickory Hill Hoff

Finally, both Randy Romero & Best Pal get in!

Really glad Best Pal finally made it in, and Point Given deserved it too

[philcski]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

How exactly is Romero qualified?

It's close, but I can see why he got in. 3 BC wins, probably 50 G1 wins, rode some of the biggest names of the 80's, and over 4,000 wins overall- but most of all he's become kind of the poster child for jockeys struggling with health issues.

I like the guy but I don't know if I would have voted for him. Strictly on merit, John Velazquez should get in over him (1 Belmont, 6 BC's, almost 5,000 wins, 6th on the all time money list).

[randallscott35]

I don't even know if Azeri should be in.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

I don't even know if Azeri should be in.

She should 100% be in.

[randallscott35]

I can live with it. Point Given not so much. Here is Azeri.

At 4:
Won Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), Santa Margarita H. (G1), Apple Blossom H. (G1), Milady Breeders' Cup H. (G1), Vanity H. (G1), Clement Hirsch H. (G2), Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup H. (G2)
2nd La Canada S. (G2)
At 5:
Won Apple Blossom H. (G1), Milady Breedrs' Cup H. (G1), Vanity H. (G1), Clement Hirsch H. (G2)
2nd Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup H. (G2)

At 6:
Won Apple Blossom H. (G1), Go For Wand H. (G1), Spinster S. (G1)
2nd Humana Distaff H. (G1), Personal Ensign H. (G1)

[philcski]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

I can live with it. Point Given not so much. Here is Azeri.

At 4:
Won Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), Santa Margarita H. (G1), Apple Blossom H. (G1), Milady Breeders' Cup H. (G1), Vanity H. (G1), Clement Hirsch H. (G2), Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup H. (G2)
2nd La Canada S. (G2)
At 5:
Won Apple Blossom H. (G1), Milady Breedrs' Cup H. (G1), Vanity H. (G1), Clement Hirsch H. (G2)
2nd Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup H. (G2)

At 6:
Won Apple Blossom H. (G1), Go For Wand H. (G1), Spinster S. (G1)
2nd Humana Distaff H. (G1), Personal Ensign H. (G1)

She was the best filly of the decade before Rachel and Zenyatta came along. Point Given was the best of nothing. I'm not even sure he was the best horse of that class, I might vote for Congaree over him.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by philcski

She was the best filly of the decade before Rachel and Zenyatta came along. Point Given was the best of nothing. I'm not even sure he was the best horse of that class, I might vote for Congaree over him.

I agree on that. Older campaigns still matter to me.

[blackthroatedwind]

Azeri is 100% deserving.

Point Given retired after the Travers and never even faced old horses. Give me a break. I don't deny he is absolutely talented enough to belong....but that isn't the criteria....unless I missed it and Danzig is in the HOF.

[Slewbopper]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

How exactly is Romero qualified?

Sympathy vote...much like Turcotte

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Azeri is 100% deserving.

Point Given retired after the Travers and never even faced old horses. Give me a break. I don't deny he is absolutely talented enough to belong....but that isn't the criteria....unless I missed it and Danzig is in the HOF.

i agree on all points. point given didn't do enough to get in, it's ridiculous that he was even on the ballot.

It is a sympathy vote for Romero. You really can't knock it because the guy is, like Phil said, the poster child for little people who are heavy.

[Danzig]

they need to get rid of annual voting. every year now we'll get inductees who really don't belong. no one should get in unless they really deserve it. annual choices means a watered down event most years going forward, with one possible deserving nominee, and others getting in because someone has to.