Horse Racing: Blizzard “Eclipses” the Oscars of Thoroughbred Racing

23 January 2005 – Wreaking havoc on East Coast horse racing this weekend was neither race horses gone wild nor excited horse racing fans – instead, it was the blizzard of 2005 that ended up shutting down tracks from New York to Maryland. The winter storm that promised to dump a foot of snow or more on the metropolitan area forced Aqueduct as well to close its doors to both live racing and simulcasting yesterday and today. Yonkers, the Meadowlands, Monticello, Freehold, Philadelphia Park, and Laurel Park also canceled yesterday's cards.

Aqueduct will re-open on Wednesday with a $25,775 Pick 6 carryover. January 22's supposed feature at the Big A, the Grade 3, $100,000 Aqueduct Handicap, has been re-scheduled for Saturday, while January 23's card will be run on Thursday.

Laurel Park, in which both the main track and turf course had undergone major renovations, was due to re-open yesterday for the first time in 10 months. The opening day promotions, which included free admission and racing program plus a keychain giveaway, have been res-cheduled for Saturday.

Meanwhile, in California, the eclipse is bigger news than the blizzard as the Eclipse Awards crosses its finish line no later than tomorrow night. 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 In Beverly Hills. Biggest of the prizes is Horse of the Year.

Breeders' Cup Classic champion Ghostzapper is favored to edge out Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champion Smarty Jones as Eclipse Horse of the Year. Although it seems Smarty Jones outpolled Ghostzapper in ESPN's fan voting. The Eclipse Awards will be televised live, for the first time, by TVG beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern.

In the voting conducted by members of the National Turf Writers Association, Daily Racing Form, and National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the following came out: Sweet Catomine (2-year-old filly champion), Declan's Moon (2-year-old colt or gelding), Ashado (3-year-old filly), Smarty Jones (3-year-old colt), Ghostzapper (older male), Ouija Board (female turf horse), Kitten's Joy (male turf horse), and John Velazquez (jockey). Azeri also figures to outpoll Sightseek as older female.

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.