Should the Eclipse Awards eliminate the Apprentice category?

[Tvghrtvfan]

Writer Bill Finley talks about the Apprentice category and it's future.

The last star to have gone on and have continued success is Paco Lopez in 2008 but he says its Joe Talamo in 2007.

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_ ... -hard-find



Past winners:

2011 : Kyle Frey
2010 : Omar Moreno
2009 : Christian Santiago Reyes
2008 : Pascacio Lopez
2007 : Joe Talamo
2006 : Julien Leparoux
2005 : Emma-Jayne Wilson
2004 : Brian Hernandez, Jr.
2003 : Eddie Castro
2002 : Ryan Fogelsonger
2001 : Jeremy Rose
2000 : Tyler Baze
1999 : Ariel Smith
1998 : Shaun Bridgmohan
1997 : Roberto Rosado & Philip Teator (tie)
1996 : Neil Poznansky
1995 : Ramon B. Perez
1994 : Dale Beckner
1993 : Juan Umana
1992 : Rosemary Homeister
1991 : Mickey Walls

1990 : Mark Johnston
1989 : Michael J. Luzzi
1988 : Steve Capanas
1987 : Kent Desormeaux
1986 : Allen Stacy
1985 : Art Madrid, Jr.
1984 : Wesley Ward
1983 : Declan Murphy
1982 : Alberto Delgado
1981 : Richard Migliore
1980 : Frank Lovato, Jr.
1979 : Cash Asmussen
1978 : Ron Franklin
1977 : Steve Cauthen
1976 : George Martens
1975 : Jimmy Edwards
1974 : Chris McCarron
1973 : Steve Valdez
1972 : Thomas Wallis
1971 : Gene St. Leon

[Kermit]

Leave it be. Many of the "unsuccesful" ones are working regularly, making over $130,000 a year or so. Every year the top ten riders make a huge % of the money, others are in the trenches doing their job.
Nothing wrong with giving a shout-out to an apprentice who's doing well.

[Reallyquiet]

Heck its always a precursor to success.I mean,1996 Neal Poszansky beating out Ramon Dominguez? Its all good.

[Tvghrtvfan]

Heck its always a precursor to success.I mean,1996 Neal Poszansky beating out Ramon Dominguez? Its all good.

Well we all know that Dominguez is surperior and has gone on to have continued success.

If I can remember correctly in Garrett Gomez book that he was finalist for the Eclipse Award for the Apprentice in 1989 and Mike Luzzi won it. No offense to Luzzi who has gone on and have continued success too but Go Go should've won it and had much more success than he did and more talent than he does too.

[Igeteven]

This is an excellent thread, people are reading it.

[Tvghrtvfan]

This is an excellent thread, people are reading it.

That's a bright side

[Tvghrtvfan]

Article by Jay Hovdey who talks about this topic:

http://www.drf.com/news/hovdey-leparoux ... award-days