California Chrome, Napravnik vying for 16th annual NTRA Moment of the Year
California Chrome, Napravnik vying for 16th annual NTRA
Moment of the Year
Voting is now underway via the National Thoroughbred Racing
Association (NTRA) website,
www.ntra.com, for the 16th annual NTRA Moment of the Year.
Fans can choose
from among 10 of the year's most memorable, moving and significant events in
Thoroughbred racing. The winning moment will be revealed the morning of January
16 at the annual ThoroFan Awards Breakfast at Gulfstream Park in
Hallandale Beach, Florida, and recognized at the following evening's 44th Annual
Eclipse Awards, also at Gulfstream.
Those that vote for the eventual winner will
automatically be entered in a random drawing to win a $100 gift certificate for Breeders' Cup
merchandise.
To vote for the "NTRA Moment of the Year," please visit http://www.formstack.com/forms/ntra-ntra_moment_of_the_year.
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:
Santa Anita Handicap by 1 3/4 lengths, becoming the first three-time winner in the
Big 'Cap's rich 77-year history. (March 8)
Stakes at Turfway Park, Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez becomes the first
North American rider to surpass $300 million in career earnings. (March 22)
Churchill Downs in front of a crowd of 164,906, second-largest in Derby history.
He becomes the first horse bred in the Golden State to wear the garland of roses
since Decidedly in 1962. It is the second Derby victory for jockey Victor
Espinoza and first for Art Sherman, who became the oldest Derby-winning trainer
at 77. (May 3)
Crown winner in 36 years falls short as the heavy favorite dead-heats for fourth
behind winner Tonalist in the 146th Belmont Stakes. The third-largest crowd in
Belmont history, 102,199, watches the drama unfold, while another 20.6 million
viewers, the second-highest Belmont viewership on record, tune in on NBC. In the
aftermath co-owner Steve Coburn tells NBC's Kenny Rice that the result is "a
coward's way out," a sound bite that is replayed countless times in mainstream
media. (June 7)
the Grade 1, $1 million Travers, with V. E. Day besting stablemate Wicked Strong in the
Mid-Summer Derby at Saratoga. (August 23)
after more than two months of recovery from emergency colic surgery to win the
Grade 3 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga with John Velazquez up. (August
30)
illustrious 43-year career at Saratoga. Following the featured
Spinaway Stakes -- in which "Condo Commando was splash-tastic!" -- Durkin is
treated to a long standing ovation and an emotional retirement ceremony in the
winner's circle, coverage of which makes the front page of The New York Times.
(August 31)
from complications following surgery for severe osteoarthritis in his neck.
The popular member of racing's Hall of Fame, who once won 16 consecutive
races, had resided at the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions since his
retirement in 1999. (October 7)
pregnancy live on NBC Sports after winning the $2 million Breeders' Cup
Distaff aboard Untapable. (October 31)
to win a controversial running of the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, the
first Classic win for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, owner Kaleem Shah and
jockey Martin Garcia. (November 1)
The first-ever "NTRA Moment of the Year" was the touching scene involving
Charismatic and jockey Chris Antley following the 1999 Belmont Stakes. The
following 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 over Smarty Jones took down top
honors for 2004. In 2005, fans selected Afleet Alex's spectacular victory in the
2005 Preakness.
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 Rags to
Riches' historic victory over Curlin in the Belmont.
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. For 2012, the recovery
of Paynter from near-deadly battles with laminitis and colitis captured the
hearts of voters like no other story.
Last year, fans recognized Mucho Macho
Man's nose victory in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic for his popular
connections.
"The NTRA Moment of the Year is about a singular event,
whereas The Eclipse Awards recognize entire campaigns across many months," said
Keith Chamblin, NTRA senior vice president. "Fans deserve a voice, too, and this
is their opportunity to tell us what they will never forget from an
extraordinary year for racing."
Fans 18 years and older can register to vote online at
www.ntra.com. There is a limit of one vote per valid e-mail address.
Multiple votes from the same e-mail address will be disqualified. Votes must be
received by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on Friday, January 2.
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