Daily Racing Form (DRF) and the National Thoroughbred Racing
Association (NTRA) on Friday unveiled the
2011 Eclipse Horse of the
Year Fan Vote Sweepstakes. The free-to-enter sweepstakes requires fans to
select the horse they feel deserves to win the 2011 Horse of the Year Award,
which will be announced January 16 at the 41st annual Eclipse Awards ceremony in
Beverly Hills, California.
Fans are also encouraged to cast their votes in a host of other Eclipse Award
categories. All voters will be entered into a random drawing for a trip for two
— including airfare, hotel accommodations, ground transportation and event
tickets — to the Eclipse Award ceremony, plus box seats and VIP access for a
day of racing at nearby Santa Anita Park.
Voting will continue until 3 p.m. (EST) on January 3 and the prize winner
will be drawn on or about January 4. Following the close of voting, but prior to
the Eclipse Awards, DRF and the NTRA will release the fans’ top choices
in each Eclipse Award category, including Horse of the Year. The sweepstakes is
open to U.S. and Canadian (excluding those in the province of Quebec) residents.
This year’s Eclipse Awards features several hotly contested races, including
Horse of the Year. Among the contenders for 2011 Horse of the Year is Havre de
Grace, who would be the third consecutive female winner of racing’s most
prestigious award, following Rachel Alexandra (2009) and Zenyatta (2010). Actual
Eclipse Award voting takes place among designated representatives of the NTRA,
DRF and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters.
“For 117 years Daily Racing Form has been Thoroughbred racing’s
storyteller and a voice for the fan,” DRF CEO John J. Hartig said. “As
important as the athletes and industry participants are to racing, it’s
ultimately the racing fans and players who enable it to prosper. As these
champion horses and jockeys have crossed the wire, it’s the fans we’ve heard
cheering at the finish line. DRF celebrates that voice and their love of
the game.”
“We look forward to seeing how the fans’ opinions compare to those of the
Eclipse Award voters, and also to hosting one lucky fan and his or her guest in
Beverly Hills,” said Keith Chamblin, senior vice president of the NTRA.
Tickets to the
Eclipse Awards are available for $400 each or $4,000 for a table of 10. For
ticket purchases and room reservations, please contact Michele Ravencraft of the
NTRA at mravencraft@ntra.com, or call
859-422-2657.