I'm Sorry, But Really, Who Cares?

[Lurker]

Horse of the Year is a fine honor, but does it really mean anything in the big scheme of things?

When you start out the year with goals for your horse, would you rather win the Dubai Classic or the Breeders Cup for your Division or Horse of the Year?

When trying to establish stud value or syndication fees, would you rather have your horse win on turf and dirt at a mile and quarter, or be horse of they year? Does your mare attract better studs in the shed for being HOY than the runner up mare does?

When you look back on all the memories, would you rather have a Breeders Cup Trophy on your mantle or an admission to the Hall of Fame? Chris Evert, Siverbulletday and Mom's Command were all nice "horses".... but Hall of Fame for lifetime achievements?

The end of year honors are kinda like the Academy Awards to me, they're nice, but sometimes I really don't understand how the winners were decided. I always kinda thought the box office winner should get a trophy first and foremost, they're laughing all the way to the bank while some east coast biased octogenarian defines what artsy fartsy choreography is all about.

Looking back......

Is it really a big deal......who besides the connections is it really important too that
Fort Marcy and Conquistador Cielo were Horse of the Year? Or All Along and Spend A Buck, was that really a big deal that they were Horse of the year? Lady's Secret and Criminal Type kept Lukas in the headlines for being Horse of the Year, but was it really all that important? Black Tie Affair and Kotashann were probably worthy winners of HOY, but how important was it really? Favorite Trick, Charismatic and Tiznow all deserved their trophies, but who cares? Baffert got headlines with Point Given, was that a big deal? Laura de Seroux proved she could do it with Azeri as did Neil Howard with Mineshaft, anybody care today about them being HOY? Frankel had the great Ghostzapper and Dutrow did it with St. Liam, sorry but I really don't care.

Triple Crowns seem pretty important, I know that my favorite horse, Laz Barrera's Affirmed did it as did Billy Turner's Seattle Slew, but so did Carl Yaztremski and Mickey Mantle, so maybe Triple Crowns are much more impressive than HorseoftheYears honors?

Sorry, but you can have 'em......HOY, HOF, and track records, too many what if's for me to say that one was more deserving than another. Was Babe Ruth better than Barry Bonds? Why did Rachel get a weight break if she's so great? Can a sprinter be Horse of the Year, can a pitcher be Player of the Year? Was Titanic better than Ben Hur, Gigi on a par with Gone With The Wind, Ghandi and Dancing WIth Wolves kept me on the edge of me seat!

I'm sorry, but really, who cares!

[PrivateSmiles]

I think it's like Prom King & Queen.

[Risen Star]

I think the awards do matter as long as they're not politicized. If done fairly and objectively, these awards acknowledge excellence in an athlete over a year. An athlete doesn't become a champion unless he or she has done something over a prolonged period of time, generally a season or a year. As to Horse of the Year, this is the highest honor and recognizes the recipient as being the best in the country. By acknowledging Rachel Alexandra--or another horse--with the highest Eclipse, it is to a certain degree putting a stamp or seal on America's best Thoroughbred racehorse, and the champion of champions. The divisional honors also recognize each athlete as the best within that division, although generally the HOTY is also the champion within her/his division as well.

As far as winning races like the Dubai World Cup, etc., these are a means of winning year-end honors.

I can think of only one other honor higher that these Eclipse Awards, and that is being inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. And obviously many horses who make their way into the Hall of Fame have done it via championships.

I'd find it hard to believe that nobody cares or cared about Kelso's five Horse of the Year titles. These matter, the honors being a reflection of what he did on the racetrack.

[Srotagtbs]

I think the awards do matter as long as they're not politicized. If done fairly and objectively, these awards acknowledge excellence in an athlete over a year. An athlete doesn't become a champion unless he or she has done something over a prolonged period of time, generally a season or a year. As to Horse of the Year, this is the highest honor and recognizes the recipient as being the best in the country. By acknowledging Rachel Alexandra--or another horse--with the highest Eclipse, it is to a certain degree putting a stamp or seal on America's best Thoroughbred racehorse, and the champion of champions. The divisional honors also recognize each athlete as the best within that division, although generally the HOTY is also the champion within her/his division as well.

As far as winning races like the Dubai World Cup, etc., these are a means of winning year-end honors.

I can think of only one other honor higher that these Eclipse Awards, and that is being inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. And obviously many horses who make their way into the Hall of Fame have done it via championships.

I'd find it hard to believe that nobody cares or cared about Kelso's five Horse of the Year titles. These matter, the honors being a reflection of what he did on the racetrack.

If there was ever a "Top 10 of records that will never be broken in Horse Racing" Kelso's 5 straight HOTY titles would be on the list. In this age, I would be shocked if any horse got HOTY more than twice!!

[Lurker]

I think the awards do matter as long as they're not politicized. If done fairly and objectively, these awards acknowledge excellence in an athlete over a year. An athlete doesn't become a champion unless he or she has done something over a prolonged period of time, generally a season or a year. As to Horse of the Year, this is the highest honor and recognizes the recipient as being the best in the country. By acknowledging Rachel Alexandra--or another horse--with the highest Eclipse, it is to a certain degree putting a stamp or seal on America's best Thoroughbred racehorse, and the champion of champions.

Yep, so now Rachael is in the same HOY category with the great Mineshaft.

[Classy]

Here is one for ya, I don't care if RA can beat Z or Z can beat RA. They are two different horse and two different styles. So who cares. Love them Both

[Kermit]

The connections care because it's an award from their peers, not the great unwashed masses.

[Spiketoo]

Eerie - second time this meet I agree with the OP.

It's just a popularity contest which really isn't necessary - it's Amerikas fascination with who is the biggest, baddest, 'best' (I've been sorta socialist longer than Bozo O'Riley has been spewing). Which is terribly ironic these days since this country as a whole can no longer claim any of those distinctions - well, maybe as a hole.

Maybe it has summin to do with stud fees tho I'm sure the winner would already have enough black type to warrent astronomical fees. I have heard that some athletes have contract clauses that garner them xtra money if they win 'best in show'.

The connections care because it's an award from their peers, not the great unwashed masses.

Um, the voting block consists of the following:

DRF
National Turf Writers Association
NTRA

While I guess the latter may have some members consisting of the connections 'peers', I'm guessing the former two have a large constituent of 'unwashed masses'....

[Vince P]

Lurker said >>>>> Yep, so now Rachael is in the same HOY category with the great Mineshaft.



Mineshaft, lol - talk about the biggest fake injury in the history of racing, good grief!

But let me make a wager with you Mr. Lurker.

I will bet you Chavez Ravine season box seats for the 2077 season that when you and I are off to the great Dodger in the Sky, people will still be talking about a "Rachel Alexandra."

We can let Joel or Mary hold the tickets since we might not be around to collect.

Deal?

Vince P

[Thinkinproblem]

It's like the Heisman trophy. People get dressed up in fancy suits and get together ina room and admire each other. Then someone gets up to the podium and announces a winner. Mostly meaningless imo.