Yesterday in Beverly Hills, they celebrated the Eclipse Awards. Curlin was the big winner, being voted the 3-year-old male of the year AND the Horse of the Year! I am happy to report that Street Sense and Rags to Riches were also finalists for the Horse of the Year!
Here are the winners by categories:
- 2 year-old-male, War Pass
- 2-year-old filly, Indian Blessing
- 3-year-old male, Curlin
- 3-year-old filly, Rags to Riches (yay!)
- Older male, Lawyer Ron
- Older female, Ginger Punch
- Female Sprinter, Maryfield
- Male sprinter, Midnight Lute
- Male turf, English Channel
- Female turf, Lahudood
- Steeplechase, Good Night Shirt
- Breeder, Adena Springs
- Jockey, Garret Gomez
- Trainer, Todd Pletcher (Rags' trainer)
Pletcher won his 4th Trainer Eclipse award in a row this year! I want to remind you that Curlin's custody is contested. Jess Jackson (Curlin's 77 year-old dad) recently purchased 80% of Curlin from buying out George Bolton and Satish Sanan, but the other 20% is owned by Midnight Cry Stable with the lawyers Shirley Cunningham, Jr. and William Gallion who cheated the 418 people who sued them for their winnings from the phen-phen case. A judge says that all of those 418 people get to share in the winnings and breeding profits from Curlin. Poor guy. Tough world.
Anyway, Jess Jackson wants to race Curlin in his fourth year rather than send him to the breeding shed right away. In a New York Times article yesterday, Jackson explained his decision to race Curlin this year and aim him toward the Dubai World Cup, "Racing needs heroes. It's a sad thing to see so many great horses going to stud for financial reasons when the sport needs that competition to elevate it and market it." But he admitted to not just being selfless, by saying, "It's the joy I get from racing him. I'm a sportsman and have been one all my life. At this age 77, I can't throw a football anymore. I get a vicarious thrill from enjoying one of the most beautiful animals in the world." What a good guy! Sure hope it works out for Curlin.
Get this! Curlin was in New Orleans on Friday, having a 5 furlong workout at the Fairgrounds! The race track that I visited and betted at, and the race track where they hold Jazzfest! And the race track where sweet Black Gold is buried!