2011 Eclipse Award finalists are announced...

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From ntra.com: The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters today announced the finalists for 2011 Eclipse Awards, recognizing excellence in Thoroughbred racing. Winners in all 17 horse and human categories will be announced at the 41st annual Eclipse Awards, presented by Daily Racing Form and the Breeders’ Cup on Monday evening, January 16 at the Beverly Wilshire (a Four Seasons Hotel), in Beverly Hills, Calif. Finalists in the Horse of the Year category will be announced on the night of the ceremony

Of the 267 eligible voters representing the NTRA, the NTWAB and Daily Racing Form, 248 (92.88%) took part in this year’s voting. Finalists were determined in each category by voters’ top three selections, using a 10-5-1 point basis. Eclipse Award winners are determined solely by first place votes.

The Eclipse Awards finalists (in alphabetical order) are:


Two-Year-Old Male: Creative Cause, Hansen, Union Rags
Two-Year-Old Filly: Grace Hall, My Miss Aurelia, Stephanie’s Kitten
Three-Year-Old Male: Animal Kingdom, Caleb’s Posse, Shackleford
Three-Year-Old Filly: It’s Tricky, Plum Pretty, Royal Delta
Older Male: Acclamation, Game on Dude, Tizway
Older Female: Awesome Maria, Blind Luck, Havre de Grace
Male Sprinter: Amazombie, Caleb’s Posse, Regally Ready
Female Sprinter: Hilda’s Passion, Musical Romance, Sassy Image
Male Turf Horse: Acclamation, Cape Blanco (IRE), St Nicholas Abbey (IRE)
Female Turf Horse: Dubawi Heights (GB), Perfect Shirl, Stacelita (FR)
Steeplechase Horse: Black Jack Blues (IRE), Decoy Daddy (IRE), Tax Ruling (IRE)
Owner: Midwest Thoroughbreds, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey,Team Valor
Breeder: Adena Springs, Brereton C. Jones, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey
Trainer: Bob Baffert, Bill Mott, Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano, Ramon Dominguez, John Velazquez
Apprentice Jockey: Ryan Curatolo, Kyle Frey, Rosario Montanez

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1. $6250 Claimer, Rapid Redux, honored with Special Eclipse Award...

From ntra.com: The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters today announced that Rapid Redux, a winner of 19 consecutive Thoroughbred races in 2011, will be honored with the Special Eclipse Award.

The Special Award honors extraordinary service, individual achievements in, or contributions to the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

Robert L. Cole, Jr., of Baltimore, owner of Rapid Redux, will accept the Special Award on Monday, January 16 at the 41st Annual Eclipse Awards, presented by Daily Racing Form and the Breeders’ Cup. The Eclipse Awards will be held at the Beverly Wilshire (a Four Seasons Hotel) in Beverly Hills, Calif.

A chestnut gelding trained by David Wells, Rapid Redux, was a perfect 19-for-19 as a 5-year-old in 2011, competing in starter allowance races in the Mid-Atlantic region. This mark equaled Citation’s U.S. record of 19 wins in a calendar year. Counting the gelding’s two wins to close out 2010, Rapid Redux also broke the record for consecutive wins by a U.S -based runner previously held by both Zenyatta and Peppers Pride, who registered 19 straight victories.

http://www.ntra.com/content/display/news/NDk0NDE=

This is so fucking awesome. Hard knockin' platers like Rapid Redux very seldom get recognized in the sport. Horses like this guy are the very backbone of the industry and fill the race cards every single day of the year.