Horse Racing: Smarty Jones vs Ghostzapper as Eclipse Horse of the Year

23 January 2005 – Smarty Jones or Ghostzapper? Thus goes the most heated issue of debate on the question of who will win the 2004 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. Thankfully for thoroughbred horse racing fans, they can cross that bridge as they are getting there very soon – when the Eclipse Awards stages its awarding ceremonies on the night of January 24 in Beverly Hills, California.

Largely considered the Oscars of thoroughbred racing, the annual Eclipse Awards dinner to honor the best horses, jockeys, trainers, and owners of year 2004, will be held on January 24, 2005, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Biggest of the prizes is Horse of the Year. While Breeders' Cup Classic champion Ghostzapper is favored to edge out Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champion Smarty Jones, it seems Smarty Jones outpolled Ghostzapper in ESPN's fan voting.

No other names but that of Smarty Jones and Ghostzapper have been mentioned since the debate started in the morning after the Breeders' Cup championships. Names of finalists were not released in advance, as they were in all the divisional categories. Three finalists were announced in each of the divisions but a few of them are considered locks.

On one hand, 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, both, Smarty Jones is the obvious winner as 3-year-old champion over either Belmont Stakes victor Birdstone or Kitten's Joy, a double finalist and the favorite to win the male turf championship. On the other hand, Breeders' Cup Classic winner Ghostzapper is likely certain to be named older male champion over Pleasantly Perfect and Roses in May. Ghostzapper is also a finalist for champion sprinter. In addition, Ouija Board is also a double nominee.

The Eclipse Awards will be televised live, for the first time, by TVG beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern.