2006 Horse of the Year

[marcus]

I\'d like to see Horse of the Year co-honors going to both Barbaro and Bernadini . A good case can be made for several but these 2 gave racing the most and couldn\'t have given more  ...  

[basket777]

who was 4 for 4 in the U.S. against older horses in group 1 races and won the breeders cup race against all comers?

[magicnight]

Wait! Wait! I know this!

It\'s that South American hoss who got his lunch swiped by Discreet Cat in Dubai? Yes?

(Wiseacre commentary aside, I agree 100%, Basket)

[miff]

Mark,

Surely you mean 3yr champion and not horse of the year.Invasor could not possibly lose horse of the year.

Mike

[richiebee]

Agreed.

Bernardini was exposed the first time he was tested. I think his trainer was
much too confident after winning a very weak JCGC, and his trainer breezed this
colt slowly and cautiously after this race. IMO the result was a horse who was
\"short\" for the biggest race of his career.

People like to say what a great sportsman Sheikh Mo is, but if this was the case
Bernardini would be back to take care of some unfinished business as a 4YO.

Invasor was 4/4 in Grade 1 events, including the BC Classic. Nuff said.

Agree with my pal Marcus that Barbaro deserves some recognition but do not know
if he will get it.

Some are saying that Discreet Cat deserves consideration for Eclipse Sprinter
but Thors Echo won the BC Sprint and the DeFrancis. In most years this would be
enough to clinch the Eclipse and this year should be no different.

Plans are for Discreet Cat to race in Dubai and then come back to North America
for a 4YO campaign. IMO if he wins the Dubai Classic next March, there is very
little chance that he will race thereafter.

All of this makes you long for days of old. If you were lucky, as I was, to see
Forego, you have an idea of where I\'m coming from. I was too young to see Kelso,
but in the summer of 2005 was awestruck to see his 5 JCGC trophies (Kelso won
this 2 mile race 5 straight years) all polished and collected in one trophy case
at the National Museum of Racing.

Kelso. Forego. John Henry. Thats when a sport was a sport.

The current generation\'s \"great geldings\", Perfect Drift and Funny Cide, have
seemingly stayed sound by giving about 90% of their best every time they run.

[bobphilo]

Right Mike, If the Eclipse Awards had categories along the lines of "Miss Congeniality: or "Most Improved Camper" then Barbaro would be a cinch for "Best Patient" or "Most Heart-warming Story. " However, the Eclipses are awarded to racehorses for what they accomplish as racehorses. Bernardini was clearly the best 3YO and Invasor HOY for what they accomplished on the track – that's the reason they run horseraces.

Bob

[bobphilo]

bobphilo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Right Mike, If the Eclipse Awards had categories
> along the lines of "Miss Congeniality: or "Most
> Improved Camper" then Barbaro would be a cinch for
> "Best Patient" or "Most Heart-warming Story. "
> However, the Eclipses are awarded to racehorses
> for what they accomplish as racehorses. Bernardini
> was clearly the best 3YO and Invasor HOY for what
> they accomplished on the track – that's the reason
> they run horseraces.
>
> Bob

Lest my last post seem heartless, if there were an Eclipse Award for \"Bravest Horse\" or \"Most Remarkable Recovery\" I would definitely vote for Barbaro. his great battle to survive moved me deeply. However, Invasor and Bernardini deserve their due credit for their perfromances.

Bob

[marcus]

Mike - Invasor certainly is one horse who would be deserved - but except for hardcore players , nobody cares about him . So far as the \" 3 yo champ \" awards you refer to , in my opinion , triple crown races take precedent over all others .  

Racing must see this as an oppertunity and would best serve it\'s own interests and those of their fans by awarding Horse of the Year Co-Honors that include Barbaro ...

I understand some good points and case\'s are being made by all including yours  - richiebee\'s observation about the Shiek Mo is very estute and I\'ve have taken it all under advisement ...       Bernadini + Barbaro as 3 yo Co-Champs with Invasor + Barbaro Co-Horse of the Year .  

[sighthound]

The Blood Horse - \"Barbaro, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), is a possible candidate for Sports Illustrated\'s 2006 Sportsman of the Year award. The winner will be announced Dec. 4 and featured in the Dec. 11 issue of the magazine.\"

[P-Dub]

marcus Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So far as the \" 3 yo
> champ \" awards you refer to , in my opinion ,
> triple crown races take precedent over all others.  

Barbaro won one TC race, the same as Bernardini.  Bernardini also won other big races during the year.  So if TC races take precedent, and both horses won 1, then shouldn\'t the remaining campaign count for something??  Barbaro was certainly a heart warming story, but Eclipse Awards are earned on the track....not in people\'s hearts.

[shanahan]

thoughts while sitting in the DFW airport this AM watching the storms role through:

I can see Bloodhorse rightly so choosing Bernardini...however, if SI took Barbaro as Sprtsman of hte Year it wouldn\'t be the worst thing for our sport, would it?  

[marcus]

P-Dub , I don\'t belive the \" exerpt \" of my post you\'ve displayed in quotations is taken out of context but that isn\'t exactly what was said by me in that  post ...  
I can accept the differing orientations and views regarding Horse of the Year Honors but even with personal feelings aside , in a Racing PR context ,
 Co-Honor status involving Barbaro is a gift ...    

[richiebee]

I think its not just a warm and fuzzy sentimental vote for Barbaro.

In addition to the Fla Derby and the KY Derby by Yums!, he kicked off his 3YO campaign with a Grade 3 win on the turf.

Bernardini was a disappointment in the BC, but still beat almost all of the top older runners in training rather convincingly in that race.                  

[Michael D.]

\'06 - what a year.

we get a brilliant three year old colt, who goes undefeated, runs one of the fastest ky derby\'s in history, overcomes a horrific injury against all odds, and he\'s not even close to being three year old of the year.

then we get discreet cat. goes undefeated, runs three of the fastest races ever run by a thoroughbred, and he\'s not even close to horse of the year.

it\'s too bad we had to have losers this year.

we saw some great horses run.

and btw, i love the idea of barbaro getting mention in the SI sportsman of the year category. that is probably the more appropriate award. why not give it to the whole barbaro crew?

[jma11473]

I agree with those who say Invasor gets Horse of the Year and Bernardini gets 3YO honors on the track. However, for everyone who rightly points out that racing screws up every chance for positive press coverage, this is a chance to do something right. Barbaro is the most well-known thoroughbred (at least based on media coverage and the number of websites that track all the news in his recovery) in many, many years and has shown tremendous courage in just surviving, much less recovering the way he has. His connections have shown nothing but class throughout. If they don\'t have an award to give him, they\'d best make one up, because racing needs the heartwarming moment. It can do nothing but give positive publicity to a sport that desperately needs it.