11/3/2003

Turf Champion?

As the 2003 thoroughbred season winds down, there will be much speculation about Eclipse awards in North America, and the Cartier awards in England. And it is going to very tough for voters.

For example...can High Chaparral really be the best turf horse for the second year in a row, after only dead-heating with the relatively unregarded Johar in the Breeders' Cup Turf? And, in England, how can you make Falbrav horse of the year if High Chaparral beat him on the only two occasions that they met....over 1 1/4 miles of the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown (Falbrav's best distance), and 1 1/2 miles of the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita?

Whatever the voters decide will be bound to upset someone. And in North America, apart from Mineshaft as best older horse and horse of the year, Halfbridled as champion 2-year-old filly, and probably Azeri as older filly or mare, every other category is going to be equally difficult to determine.

Stay tuned for RealRacing's views.