Wise Dan, Mucho Macho Man contenders for NTRA's Moment of the Year

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:

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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