2010 Horse Racing Non-Awards

While all my colleagues have weighed in on the Horse of the Year debate since Zenyatta failed to catch Blame in a horse race I refuse to watch a replay of, I've held out because it was still 2010. There's no point reviewing a year while there's still time for something to happen. ESPN may wrap up the year just before Christmas, but then you just throw out instant classics like North Carolina-Tennessee from any best-of list. Let the year finish, then decide.

So now I'll weigh in: Zenyatta is Horse of the Year. End of discussion.

Moving on, over the next few days, I'll be revealing a few decade-in-review lists, so stay tuned for those. But let's first recap 2010.

I don't have an Eclipse vote, and even if I were somehow offered one, I wouldn't accept. There are enough people already asked to decide who was the best steeplechase horse in the country, even though they probably don't know the difference between timbers and national fences (not that I do). What I will do, however, is tell you who I would vote for if I had a vote for a bunch of categories that don't actually exist.

This is my annual non-Eclipse non-ballot:

Best Race

Odysseus somehow got up, or so they say

So many to chose from and they were all great, but I'm heading all the way back to March for this one. The Tampa Bay Derby is quickly becoming one of the best Derby preps in the country, and the 2010 running was the second in four years to feature the eventual Kentucky Derby champion. But Super Saver and his third-place finish is not why this race was so great.

For the life of me, I haven't the foggiest how Odysseus got up. I don't believe it. I will go to my grave believing the photo was a forgery. I've watched this race two dozen times, and there is no conceivable way, no matter how terrible the angle, that Odysseus's nose found the wire before Schoolyard Dreams' nose. None

But the race was incredible long before that. With a sixteenth to go, five horses lined up. Five! And they all came flying. How Rajiv Maragh was able to move Odysseus between rivals so nimbly displayed once again why he is one of the most underrated jockeys in the country.

I'll never believe that he really got up, but either way, what a finish. This was without a doubt the most exhilarating Grade III race in quite some time and as fun to watch time-and-time again as old Breeders' Cup races.

The Arlington Million, Travers Stakes, Lady's Secret Stakes, and the final six Breeders' Cup races all were special in their own right.

Best Race Announcer

Great race, great race call

So many ways to go here, but I'll give my nod to John Dooley. The Arlington meet this year was packed with large fields and top horses, and Dooley was on top of his game for five months. And that came after he did a tremendous job with the ever-improving Fair Grounds meet down in New Orleans.

Even when he was drawn out of his element and forced to call a race from the International Room at Arlington Park, Dooley sounded like his usual self, calling the horses home off of a television screen. Not too shabby.

I'll also give kudos to Tom Durkin. After receiving a lot of negative publicity following the 2009 Kentucky Derby in which Mine That Bird snuck through at the rail (which I've been told is the blind spot in the Churchill announcer's booth), Durkin has bounced back beautifully the last 18 months. At Saratoga in the summer of 2009, Durkin sounded better than ever. He hasn't slipped since. Here's hoping we hear him that first Saturday in May for years to come. Vic Stauffer at Hollywood was the best big-race caller this year. Props to Michael Wrona for calling every horse past the wire in every race.

Best Apprentice Announcer

Jesse Ullary is this year's best bug announcer

You know, I didn't hear that many new voices this year. Louisiana Downs' Travis Stone has used up his bug and the very solid Peter Aiello at Hialeah only called quarter horses, so he's not eligible. That leaves us with a small-albeit-talented pool.

I'll give the nod to Jesse Ullary, who calls the action at most of the mix-breed meets in Oklahoma. He's a very good up-and-coming race-caller and its only time before he's afforded the chance (if he wants it) at a major track.

Honorable mention to Ron Mullis at Presque Isle Downs and Pat Cummings of DubaiRaceNight.com at Manor Downs in suburban Austin, Texas.

Best (or Worst) Debate

When have plastics ever caused controversy?

Synthetics vs. Dirt.

Nobody who has an opinion either way is correct. The Jockey Club is still gathering data and studying the data it already has. Let the Equine Injury Database develop and give it time to study everything. Until then, don't say whether synthetic or dirt tracks are safer because we don't know yet.

Okay? We... don't... know.

Honorable mention for Rachel vs. Zenyatta (the debate did continue into 2010, even if it was for 2009 Horse of the Year), Rachel vs. her detractors, Vic Zast vs. Zenyatta's supporters, and Logic and facts vs. European arrogance against American racing

Best Jockey Fight

Pow, take that

You'd think I would say Calvin Borel vs. Javier Castellano, but that's hogwash. I don't think either actually whipped the other, and certainly not in the middle of a race.

This award goes to Eriluis Vaz and Ademar Santos who actually fought in the middle of a race Jan. 8 at what was then called Philadelphia Park (more on the name change later).

Vaz's mount veered out and the two exchanged words. Down the backstretch. Then they exchanged slaps. Finally, Vaz took the next logical step and whipped Santos.

The stewards then got their punches in: Vaz was suspended for 200 days while Santos received a 90-day ban.

I dare Borel and Castellano to top that.

Best Meet (Excluding Breeders' Cup Races)

Somehow, the Fantasy Stakes is not on YouTube

I'm going to go against the grain and say Oaklawn.

The unquestioned three-year-old female champion, Blind Luck, won the Fantasy. Lookin At Lucky, her male counterpart, began his campaign in the Rebel. Zenyatta dominated the Apple Blossom. That's not a bad trifecta.

But what made Oaklawn the meet of the year was what it gave to racing.

The publicity Charles Cella gave the sport in February when he tried to draw Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta together gave a strong push to lead into the Triple Crown season. Even though it fell apart, it put the name Zenyatta in the public's eye and set the stage for her cult hero status and season.

Santa Anita's winter-spring, Monmouth's summer, Saratoga's summer, and Belmont's fall meets also were excellent.

Most Pointless Name Change

In 2011, Gulfstream will become Shopping Mall Downs

This has to be the toughest category.

Oak Tree changing the name of the Lady's Secret Stakes to the Zenyatta Stakes, only to change it back when the great mare Brett Favred, then changing it back to the Lady's Secret Stakes when she retired 10 months later, was so amazingly stupid that I couldn't not give it the award.

But then again, Philadelphia Park changing its name to Parx Racing to match the name of its casino (or should I say Parx Casino's race track?) was equally insane and undeserving of not winning this award.

So it's a tie, because what else could it be?

Worst Non-Fatal, Non-Injurius Moment

I'd quote Trevor Denman, but I haven't had the courage to watch the race

Hearing the collective, “Ooooooooooohhhhhhh,” that first Saturday in November.

And yet, Zenyatta's legend grew because she did not catch Blame.

There are no runners-up.

Most Heart-Warming Moment

Wagner (red, white, and blue) and seven other female legends before a special race to fight breast cancer

The strength and determination it takes to beat breast cancer is more than applaudable. But what it takes to not just beat it but to return to doing what you love, return to one of the most dangerous professions out there, and to succeed, that's Hollywood.

Or, in this case, Laurel.

Mary Wiley Wagner provided a heart-warming start to the holiday season when she won for the first time after over a 12-year lay-off. Wiley Wagner, who finished cancer treatment barely a year before, won a race at Laurel just two days after Thanksgiving with a brilliant ride on Sonata Brae. She retired again after the race.

Here's congratulating her on both of her monumental victories and prayers that she remains strong and healthy for years to come.

Also an anniversary shout-out as its been 20 years since Carl Nafzger was Frances Genter's eyes as the 92-year-old's horse, Unbridled, finally won her a Kentucky Derby. Sure, that wasn't this year, but my eyes water up every time I watch the YouTube video.

Worst Person Who Never Starved/Killed/Beat/Butchered a Horse

Please, Chadda, get as far from our sport as possible

Solange Chadda for using a horse to get her name in the paper. This woman is despicable. Animal services should take Nicky Boy from her and prevent her from ever owning a horse again. Thank god nothing bad has happened as a result of her actions.

Nicky Boy, a maiden who has never finished better than last, was entered on multiple occasions in graded stakes races and aimed towards the Triple Crown trail just because it seems Chadda wanted publicity.

There's a lot wrong with this sport, but at the top of the list is the ability for almost anyone to buy a horse and race him or her just to forward his or her twisted desires.

Best Promotion

Borel: "Great taste!" Castellano: "Less filling!" Borel "Great taste!"

I may possess a little bias on this one, but I have to say $0.50 beers on Fridays at Sam Houston Race Park. So sue me.

Honorable mention to the match race between David Flores and Martin Pedroza at Fairplex. I made it a point to watch because, well, match races are just fun. Wish tracks would be more willing to stage them.

Greatest Milestone

Jonathan Sheppard being Jonathan Sheppard

When you consider how few steeplechase races there are in any given year, just winning a 100 races is an achievement in and of itself. But 1,000?

Jonathan Sheppard, the man, the myth, the legend, hit the mark in September at Monmouth. There's no reason to think he won't keep going.

Russell Baze's Earth-shattering 11,000th win is up there as well, right next to Terry Wallace's 20,000th consecutive race call at Oaklawn Park.

Funniest Moment

Of course she does

Can it be anything other than the battle of the wives and Larry Collmus? I mean, come on.

That said, for my non-existent non-Sovereign non-Ballot, Dan Loiselle's hunch-play of the year between Quarterback and Namath at Woodbine takes the cake. Search the horses on CalRacing.com if you want a replay because I'm too lazy to figure out when the race was.

That's it for now.