Wise Dan, Mucho Macho Man contenders for NTRA’s Moment of
the Year
Online voting is now open at the National Thoroughbred
Racing Association (NTRA) website, ntra.com, for the 15th annual NTRA Moment of the Year. Voters
may choose
from 12 of the most indelible memories witnessed in 2013. The winning moment
will be recognized on January 18 during the Eclipse Awards ceremony at
Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
Those that vote for the eventual winner automatically will
be entered in a random drawing to win a $100 gift certificate for Breeders’ Cup
merchandise.
To vote for the 15th annual NTRA Moment of the Year, click
here.
The eligible moments were selected to illustrate a wide
range of human emotions and achievements as well as outstanding displays of
equine athleticism. Listed chronologically, the events that fans can choose from
are:
in North America since 2005 aboard Branding in the first race at Santa Anita.
(January 12)
the outside rail and still nearly wins at Pimlico, losing by a nose.
(April 13)
McGaughey and owners Stuart Janney III and Dinny Phipps. (May 4)
trainer D. Wayne Lukas his sixth win in the Triple Crown’s middle jewel and
50-year-old Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens his third. (May 18)
illness the year before, returns to the races to win an allowance at
Hollywood Park. (June 14)
American rider to reach the 12,000-win milestone aboard Handful of Pearls at the
Alameda County Fair at Pleasanton. (July 7)
the Secretariat (Admiral Kitten), Sword Dancer (Big Blue Kitten) and
Arlington Million (Real Solution) — at two different tracks in less than two
hours. (August 17)
Moreno by a nose in the $1 million Travers at Saratoga. (August 24)
outstanding jockey
he was unable to accept last January, during a ceremony in the Saratoga winner’s
circle. (August 25)
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint for the second straight year in her final career
start. (November 2)
straight year, capping a season that will likely be recognized with a repeat
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. (November 2)
by a nose for jockey Gary Stevens, trainer Kathy Ritvo and owners Reeves
Thoroughbred Racing. (November 2)
The first-ever “NTRA Moment of the Year” was the touching
scene between Charismatic and jockey Chris Antley following the 1999 Belmont
Stakes. The next year’s winner was the stretch run of the 2000 Breeders’ Cup
Classic, which saw Tiznow hold on for a dramatic victory against Giant’s
Causeway. Tiznow won again the following year as fans selected his stirring
repeat victory in the Classic over Sakhee.
In 2002, fans cited the passing of
the last living Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew. In 2003, the popular Kentucky
Derby win by Funny Cide was selected. Birdstone’s upset win in the Belmont
Stakes over Smarty Jones took down top honors for 2004. In 2005, fans selected
Afleet Alex’s spectacular victory in the 2005 Preakness Stakes.
Voters in 2006
chose Barbaro’s gallant struggle to recover from his Preakness injury while at
the New Bolton Center. The 2007 Moment of the Year was a historic victory by
filly Rags to Riches over Curlin in the Belmont Stakes. In 2008, it was
Zenyatta’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. Zenyatta “repeated” in 2009
as fans selected her triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
In 2010, fans selected Blame’s narrow Breeders’ Cup Classic
victory over Zenyatta. Drosselmeyer’s hard-fought win over Game on Dude in the
Breeders’ Cup Classic was the public’s choice for 2011. Last year, the recovery
of Haskell Invitational winner Paynter from near-deadly battles with laminitis
and colitis captured the hearts of voters like no other story.
“The Eclipse Awards recognizes champions, whereas the NTRA
Moment of the Year is about a singular occasion etched into our collective
memory,” said Keith Chamblin, NTRA senior vice president. “Fans deserve a voice
and this is their chance to tell us what they will never forget from this
exhilarating and emotional year of racing.”
Fans 18 years and older can register to vote online at
ntra.com. There is a limit of one vote per valid email address. Multiple
votes from the same email address will be disqualified. Votes must be received
by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on January 2.
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