California Chrome's Kentucky Derby win named NTRA Moment of the Year
California Chrome's Kentucky Derby win named NTRA Moment of
the Year
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Based on an online vote by nearly 2,000 racing fans, California Chrome's authoritative win in the 140th Kentucky Derby was named the 2014 National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Moment of the Year. The results of the poll were announced Friday morning at the third annual ThoroFan Awards Breakfast at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. California Chrome went off as the 5-2 Derby favorite coming off wins in four straight starts, including the Santa Anita Derby (G1), all in his home state of California. Regular rider Victor Espinoza gave the modestly bred son of Lucky Pulpit a perfect ride, sitting just off the early pace in the third position before moving to the lead at the quarter pole. From there California Chrome opened up a five-length lead in the stretch and easily held off the late closers to win by 1 3/4 lengths. It marked the second Derby victory for Espinoza and first for Art Sherman, who became the oldest Derby-winning trainer at 77, while propelling co-owners Steve Coburn and Perry Martin to national stardom.
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Moment of the Year balloting was conducted at the NTRA website, ntra.com, and offered voters 10 different images illustrating a range of
human emotions as well as outstanding displays of equine athleticism.
Finishing
second was Wise Dan's triumphant return from surgery to win the Bernard
Baruch H. (G2) at Saratoga.
The 2014 images and events that fans chose from (listed
chronologically, with percentage of votes received, rounded to the nearest 10th
of a percentage point) were:
Anita Handicap by 1 3/4 lengths, becoming the first three-time winner in the
Big 'Cap's rich 77-year history. (March 8) (9.62 percent)
Turfway Park, Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez becomes the first North
American rider to surpass $300 million in career earnings. (March 22) (0.47
percent)
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) (30.5 percent)
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) (5.69 percent)
million Travers, with V. E. Day besting stablemate Wicked Strong in the
Mid-Summer Derby at Saratoga. (August 23) (0.94 percent)
two months of recovery from emergency colic surgery to win the Grade 3
Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga with John Velazquez up. (August 30)
(20.07 percent)
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) (17.49 percent)
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) (4.99 percent)
NBC Sports after winning the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff aboard
Untapable. (October 31) (6.22 percent)
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) (3.99 percent)
"California Chrome's win in the Kentucky Derby was the
signature effort by one of the most popular racehorses of this decade," said
Keith Chamblin, NTRA senior vice president of marketing. "This year was arguably
the deepest pool of moments we've ever had but in the end the fans reminded us
that nothing trumps an awesome performance by a legendary horse."
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.
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