Thaindian News

By Meena Kar
Jan 18, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The stunning race mare Zenyatta, delighted all her fans and her proud owners when she received the 2010 Eclipse Award, in the horse of the year category. This time, she defeated none other than Colt Blame, the same horse who superseded Zenyatta, in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Where Blame came second in this 2010 Eclipse Award, Goldikova, a French horse, who won the Breeders’ Cup Mile race in November, came third.

The winner of the award was selected by a voting conducted by the members of National Turf Writers Association, The Daily Racing Form and National Thoroughbred Racing Association. 94.8 percent of the total number of 251 eligible voters, had cast their votes to emerge the most celebrated horse as the winner. The members provided Zenyatta with 128 votes, while Blame received 102 votes. The biggest irony is that, for the last two year, when Zenyatta undauntedly won several races consecutively, she did not receive this award, and emerged as the runner-up. It was only after her first loss in her 20th Breeder’s Cup, she bagged it. Before losing to Blame in the Breeder’s Cup in November, she was running with 19-0. Many people anticipated that by winning her 20th race, she would create yet another record. However, that did not happen. Winning this award, perhaps just compensated for her loss. The other winners of the Eclipse Awards were, Big Drama, who won the Champion Male Sprinter and Awesome Feather, who won the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly.

However, Zenyatta this time received two awards. The other one was for being the champion older female. This is the third time that she won this award, with a total number of 237 votes. She was followed by Goldikova. By winning this award, the most graceful horse, won a prize money $1,830,000, which was rather less than what this stunner earns in her three complete seasons.