[1] The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has opened voting in the 14th Annual NTRA Moment of the Year. The award, chosen by fans, recognizes the moment in this year of racing that was most memorable or impressionable among the voting fans.
Among previous year winners are Birdstone’s wire defeat of Smarty Jones’ Triple Crown attempt in the 2004 Belmont Stakes (2004); Barbaro’s struggle to overcome his injury in the Preakness Stakes (2006); Zenyatta’s win in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic (2009), followed by her nose defeat to Blame in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic (2010). Last year’s winning moment was Drosselmeyer’s Breeders’ Cup Classic victory over Game On Dude.
"The NTRA Moment of the Year allows fans to salute the people, horses and memories that make our sport so compelling,” said Keith Chamblin, NTRA Senior Vice President. “We look forward to seeing which one of the unforgettable moments from 2012 they select as this year’s winner."
Three of this year’s 12 nominated moments occurred at Churchill Downs and most of the other moments involve locally-based connections. The full list of the 12 nominated moments are:
Rosie Napravnik becomes the first female jockey to win the Kentucky Oaks, guiding Believe You Can to victory
I’ll Have Another and jockey Mario Gutierrez pull the upset from post 19 in the Kentucky Derby
I’ll Have Another runs down Bodemeister to win the Preakness by a neck
On the eve of a highly anticipated Triple Crown bid, I’ll Have Another is scratched from the Belmont Stakes
For the first time since 1874, the Travers ends in a dead heat as Alpha and Golden Ticket hit the wire together
Haskell winner Paynter overcomes deadly battles with laminitis and colitis and begins rehab for a possible 2013 campaign
For the second straight year, Royal Delta wins the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic for trainer Bill Mott and jockey Mike Smith, who registers his record 16th Breeders’ Cup riding win
Groupie Doll trounces her opponents in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
Shanghai Bobby digs in under Rosie Napravnik to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and remain undefeated
Wise Dan breaks the course record in capturing the Breeders’ Cup Mile over an international field
Fort Larned holds off Mucho Macho Man to take the Breeders’ Cup Classic
Shackleford ends his career on a winning note in the Clark Handicap
Fans can vote now through January 2, 2013. Fans 18 years and older can register to vote online at www.ntra.com [3]. There is a limit of one vote per valid email address. Multiple votes from the same email address will be disqualified.
All fans selecting the winning moment will be entered into a random drawing for a $100 gift certificate for Breeders’ Cup merchandise. The winning moment will be announced at the Eclipse Awards Ceremony January 19, 2013 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida.
Photo: Preakness.com