Who wins Horse of the Year?

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I was embarrassed for the game last year when they gave the HoY to a horse based on "everybody gets a trophy", 3rd grade logic. I'm ashamed for the sport if a glorified grade 3 type like Game on Dude gets the HoY for winning the 2 most watered down versions of the Big Cap and Goodwood in recent memory (he barely beat Setsuko and Awesome Gem) and a 2nd place finish to Drosselmeyer.

Horseracing in 2011 has become a joke

Someone has to win. Horse racing in 2011 is what it was. Don't think I'd call it a joke. May not have been the most talented crop ever. However the races were exciting. The competition fierce. Why does that make it a joke?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

Someone has to win. Horse racing in 2011 is what it was. Don't think I'd call it a joke. May not have been the most talented crop ever. However the races were exciting. The competition fierce. Why does that make it a joke?

Why is it a joke? Did you hit your head and forget racing prior to 2000? Drossel-slob who had accomplished so much he was being retired to stud after this year in NY just won the Classic in a scintillating 204 and change. He should be a top sire of future BC marathon horses for years to come.

Who is the HoY? A filly that just failed to hit the board in the worst Classic ever? A grade 3 horse like Game on Dude who was 10-1 ML in the Classic and lost? Tizway? These arent good horses. Sure they all won some grade 1's but someone has to win them.

Who is champion turf horse? Who is Champion turf filly? Our champion 2 yo is going to be a horse whose credentials are a win in a stake at Turfway over zero's and a win in a race where he was clearly 2nd best. At least the Sprinter is going to a horse that actually won more than 2 or 3 races. Yeah the 3 yo filly division was solid but what about the 3 yo colts?

Close races between weak horses doesnt mean that they arent weak horses. Just evenly matched.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Why is it a joke? Did you hit your head and forget racing prior to 2000? Drossel-slob who had accomplished so much he was being retired to stud after this year in NY just won the Classic in a scintillating 204 and change. He should be a top sire of future BC marathon horses for years to come.

Who is the HoY? A filly that just failed to hit the board in the worst Classic ever? A grade 3 horse like Game on Dude who was 10-1 ML in the Classic and lost? Tizway? These arent good horses. Sure they all won some grade 1's but someone has to win them.

Who is champion turf horse? Who is Champion turf filly? Our champion 2 yo is going to be a horse whose credentials are a win in a stake at Turfway over zero's and a win in a race where he was clearly 2nd best. At least the Sprinter is going to a horse that actually won more than 2 or 3 races. Yeah the 3 yo filly division was solid but what about the 3 yo colts?

Close races between weak horses doesnt mean that they arent weak horses. Just evenly matched.

It also doesn't mean the entire year was a joke. I choose to look for the positive in all situations.

[TouchOfGrey]

Rapid Redux.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by TouchOfGrey

Rapid Redux.

You beat me to it.

Personally, I could care less who wins any award (in any sport). I care about who wins on the track (or playing field), not who wins a popularity contest. I couldn't tell you who won HOY two years ago, but I can tell you I love Lite Em Up Lily in the first race at Churchill today.

[herkhorse]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

You beat me to it.

Personally, I could care less who wins any award (in any sport). I care about who wins on the track (or playing field), not who wins a popularity contest. I couldn't tell you who won HOY two years ago, but I can tell you I love Lite Em Up Lily in the first race at Churchill today.

[Thunder Gulch]

HDG

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

It also doesn't mean the entire year was a joke. I choose to look for the positive in all situations.

The entire game is gotten to be a joke. You may choose to be in denial which would align you with many of the decision makers in this business, however the manner in which horses are dispersed and campaigned leads to situations like this year where there are virtually no true "championship" horses, just underraced, mediocre frauds. The day to day racing in virtually all jurisdictions is garbage which is the dirty little secret behind 22 months in a row of handle decline and now our top class horses have been "managed" into oblivion.

[horseofcourse]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The entire game is gotten to be a joke. You may choose to be in denial which would align you with many of the decision makers in this business, however the manner in which horses are dispersed and campaigned leads to situations like this year where there are virtually no true "championship" horses, just underraced, mediocre frauds. The day to day racing in virtually all jurisdictions is garbage which is the dirty little secret behind 22 months in a row of handle decline and now our top class horses have been "managed" into oblivion.

You make many good points. Can it be fixed at all?? On a side note I thought it was nice a horse like Musical Romance won a BC race in her 14th start of the year. That's something you cant' say much anymore in the same sentence...BC win, 14 start.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The entire game is gotten to be a joke. You may choose to be in denial which would align you with many of the decision makers in this business, however the manner in which horses are dispersed and campaigned leads to situations like this year where there are virtually no true "championship" horses, just underraced, mediocre frauds. The day to day racing in virtually all jurisdictions is garbage which is the dirty little secret behind 22 months in a row of handle decline and now our top class horses have been "managed" into oblivion.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The entire game is gotten to be a joke. You may choose to be in denial which would align you with many of the decision makers in this business, however the manner in which horses are dispersed and campaigned leads to situations like this year where there are virtually no true "championship" horses, just underraced, mediocre frauds. The day to day racing in virtually all jurisdictions is garbage which is the dirty little secret behind 22 months in a row of handle decline and now our top class horses have been "managed" into oblivion.

And the industry will hide behind it's the economy... Put me in the minority that says 50 Cent P4's, Tri's are pushing the whales out of the game. I have no evidence of course to substantiate this but the average Joe will spend the same amount on a P4 at 1.00 or .50 but has substansially more coverage at .50 cents thus diluting payouts.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by jms62

And the industry will hide behind it's the economy... Put me in the minority that says 50 Cent P4's, Tri's are pushing the whales out of the game. I have no evidence of course to substantiate this but the average Joe will spend the same amount on a P4 at 1.00 or .50 but has substansially more coverage at .50 cents thus diluting payouts.

The fact that the increments shrunk with the takeout increasing (in some jurisdictions) is probably more of a reason.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The entire game is gotten to be a joke. You may choose to be in denial which would align you with many of the decision makers in this business, however the manner in which horses are dispersed and campaigned leads to situations like this year where there are virtually no true "championship" horses, just underraced, mediocre frauds. The day to day racing in virtually all jurisdictions is garbage which is the dirty little secret behind 22 months in a row of handle decline and now our top class horses have been "managed" into oblivion.

I think the BC itself has rendered it less than a championship day by spreading out all these races which has only served to weaken them to the point that winning it hardly merits it other than winning another race during the calender year.

I think the sprint yesterday is a good example, the horses who used to make the sprint more compelling are now dispersed into the dirt mile or turf sprint and you are left with nine decent runners rather than at least 12 with interesting puzzles to solve and a good winner.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

I think the BC itself has rendered it less than a championship day by spreading out all these races which has only served to weaken them to the point that winning it hardly merits it other than winning another race during the calender year.

I think the sprint yesterday is a good example, the horses who used to make the sprint more compelling are now dispersed into the dirt mile or turf sprint and you are left with nine decent runners rather than at least 12 with interesting puzzles to solve and a good winner.

the bc has gone for quantity over quality. they need to pare back down to one day, get rid of some of the bs races, and put that purse money into the big races. that would draw more competition from overseas as well. far too many races, which leads to subpar fields.
dirt mile, marathon, turf juvie, should be the first three on the chopping block.

[Sightseek]

In my eyes either Drosselmeyer or Afleet Again.


This year sucked, but at least if you had the right longshots in the big races throughout the year it paid out well.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

I think the BC itself has rendered it less than a championship day by spreading out all these races which has only served to weaken them to the point that winning it hardly merits it other than winning another race during the calender year.

I think the sprint yesterday is a good example, the horses who used to make the sprint more compelling are now dispersed into the dirt mile or turf sprint and you are left with nine decent runners rather than at least 12 with interesting puzzles to solve and a good winner.

I agree. The Breeder's Cup used to be my favorite sports day of the year. This year there was nothing compelling me to spend the day watching on Friday, and even Saturday was not nearly as riveting as it used to be. Too many races. (I, unfortunately, sound like the Kaiser in "Amadeus"--"too many notes.")

--Dunbar

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Why is it a joke? Did you hit your head and forget racing prior to 2000? Drossel-slob who had accomplished so much he was being retired to stud after this year in NY just won the Classic in a scintillating 204 and change. He should be a top sire of future BC marathon horses for years to come.

Who is the HoY? A filly that just failed to hit the board in the worst Classic ever? A grade 3 horse like Game on Dude who was 10-1 ML in the Classic and lost? Tizway? These arent good horses. Sure they all won some grade 1's but someone has to win them.

Who is champion turf horse? Who is Champion turf filly? Our champion 2 yo is going to be a horse whose credentials are a win in a stake at Turfway over zero's and a win in a race where he was clearly 2nd best. At least the Sprinter is going to a horse that actually won more than 2 or 3 races. Yeah the 3 yo filly division was solid but what about the 3 yo colts?

Close races between weak horses doesnt mean that they arent weak horses. Just evenly matched.

Amazombie is a cool dude. The story ESPN told about him was a good one.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Why is it a joke? Did you hit your head and forget racing prior to 2000? Drossel-slob who had accomplished so much he was being retired to stud after this year in NY just won the Classic in a scintillating 204 and change. He should be a top sire of future BC marathon horses for years to come.

Who is the HoY? A filly that just failed to hit the board in the worst Classic ever? A grade 3 horse like Game on Dude who was 10-1 ML in the Classic and lost? Tizway? These arent good horses. Sure they all won some grade 1's but someone has to win them.

Who is champion turf horse? Who is Champion turf filly? Our champion 2 yo is going to be a horse whose credentials are a win in a stake at Turfway over zero's and a win in a race where he was clearly 2nd best. At least the Sprinter is going to a horse that actually won more than 2 or 3 races. Yeah the 3 yo filly division was solid but what about the 3 yo colts?

Close races between weak horses doesnt mean that they arent weak horses. Just evenly matched.

The best horse in his division was Union Rags, he raced huge. I know he has had 6000 foals but Kitten's Joy really has become a nice producer.

[horseofcourse]

Well the BC Classic winner has not been good enough to win it the last two years, so I'll toss Drosselmeyer based on that!!

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by freddymo

The best horse in his division was Union Rags, he raced huge. I know he has had 6000 foals but Kitten's Joy really has become a nice producer.

KJ is a very good turf sire. I will say this for Ramsey he isnt afraid to back his opinions with money (breeding 100 of his own mares a year to KJ before anyone knew if he would be a good sire) unlike the hedge queens that dominate most of Lexington.