Thaindian News

By Ranjan Bhaduri
Jan 19, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The Eclipse Awards 2010 sprang a few surprises for the racing enthusiasts. The results were declared on Monday and it brought good news and luck for Jockey Julien Leparoux. He was selected as the outstanding rider of North America in the Eclipse awards. He became the 4th person to win both an apprentice jockey award and a jockey Eclipse award. The apprentice award came to him in 2006 and he led the country with 403 wins.

Julien Leparoux won near about 250 races in 2009. These included 10 Grade One events. The horses that stole the spotlight at the awards were Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. Rachel Alexandra zoomed ahead of rival Zenyatta and walked away with the 2009 Horse of the Year award. Zenyatta was considered by many as a top contender for the position. However, Zenyatta managed to get only 99 votes. Rachel Alexandra whizzed past Zenyatta with 130 votes.

Rachel Alexandra’s majority owner Jess Jackson grabbed the Horse of the Year title for the 3rd time. Ann Moss, Jess Jackson and Jerry, Zenyatta ’s owners, said that they expect 2010 to bring more good news for them. Zenyatta is 6 years old and the horse will race this year. Jess Jackson expressed his thanks to Jerry and Ann Moss for their co operation when he was receiving the Horse of the Year award. Jerry Moss was a bit disgruntled with the fact that Rachel Alexandra was selected over Zenyatta. He said in an interview that the mare never lost a race to anyone. However, he thinks the mare will shine in 2010 and emerge a winner.