Calder revives its Hall of Fame

After a six-year hiatus, the Calder Race Course Hall of Fame will welcome

nine new members to its roster when inducting three horses, two jockeys, two

trainers, and two owners/breeders as part of the Class of 2013 on April 13.

"It is with great enthusiasm that Calder is bringing back the Hall of Fame to

recognize those individuals and horses that have made lasting impressions both

at Calder and at a national level," Vice President and General Manager of Racing

John Marshall said. "This year's inductees will join a Hall of Fame roster that

already includes over 50 Calder legends that have played vital roles in shaping

the tradition of Thoroughbred racing in Florida and beyond."

Among those on the ballot in the horse category are five millionaires that

started their career at Calder in Blazing Sword, Express Tour, In Summation, Not

Surprising, and Soldier's Dancer. Also nominated in the horse category is stakes

winner and influential broodmare Lindsay Frolic, along with the brilliant yet

ill-fated Three Ring.

A special horse inductee will also be selected from one of three recently

retired Eclipse Award and Breeders' Cup winners that had significant ties to

Calder in Awesome Feather, Big Drama, and Musical Romance.

Nominees in the various horsemen's categories include Calder's all-time

leading rider Manoel Cruz, all-time top five trainer and multiple meet champion

conditioner Dan Hurtak, and longtime prominent owner and breeder Monarch

Stables.

Ballots were distributed to the Calder Hall of Fame voting committee on

February 14, and are due back in the Calder publicity office by February 26.

The Calder Hall of Fame Class of 2013 will be announced at the annual Florida

Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA) Florida Champions Awards

Gala at the Circle Square Cultural Center Ballroom in Ocala on March 11, with

the inductees to be honored at Calder on April 13.

The complete list of nominees are:

Horse: Blazing Sword, Express Tour, In Summation, Lindsay Frolic, Not

Surprising, Soldier's Dancer, Three Ring; Awesome Feather, Big Drama, Musical

Romance

Jockey: Gary Boulanger, Javier Castellano, Eddie Castro, Manuel Cruz,

Rene Douglas, Eduardo Nunez, Jose Santos, Cornelio Velasquez

Trainer: Manuel Azpurua, Reed Combest, Daniel Hurtak, Kathleen

O'Connell, Richard Root, Bennie Stutts, Jr., David Vivian

Owner/Breeder: Francis W. Ballou, Donald Dizney, Jacks or Better Farm,

Inc., Monarch Stables, Inc., Bernard and Bea Oxenberg, J. Mack Robinson, Rose

Family Stable, Joel Sainer

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