Voting Underway for NTRA Moment of the Year
Description:
Voting for 2015 NTRA Moment of the Year is underway via Twitter through Jan. 3, 2016.
Votes can be cast by tweeting at the NTRA's official Twitter handle, @NTRA, using one of the designated hashtags listed below, or retweeting someone else's vote.
Fans can choose from among 10 of most memorable, moving, or significant events from Thoroughbred racing in 2015, four of which involve Triple Crown winner American Pharoah . The winning moment will be revealed January 15 at the annual ThoroFan Awards Breakfast at Gulfstream Park and recognized at the following evening's 45th annual Eclipse Awards, also at the South Florda track.
The eligible 2015 moments were selected to illustrate a wide range of human emotions and achievements as well as outstanding displays of equine athleticism. The events that fans can choose from are listed chronologically as follows, along with the designated hashtag required to register a vote:
#TheChief—Beloved Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens, known as "The Chief" and "Giant Killer" (for training the winners of major upsets over the likes of Secretariat and Kelso), dies at the age of 85 due to complications from an infection. (March 18). To vote tweet @NTRA: #TheChief
#APDerby—A record 170,513 fans at Churchill Downs watch favored American Pharoah and jockey Victor Espinoza grind out a win in Kentucky Derby 141 at Churchill Downs for owner Ahmed Zayat and trainer Bob Baffert. (May 2). To vote tweet @NTRA: #APDerby
#BensCat—Venerable gelding Ben's Cat, trained by 2015 Hall of Fame inductee King Leatherbury, reels in Bold Thunder in deep stretch to win the Jim McKay Turf Sprint on Preakness Day at Pimlico Race Course for the third straight year and fourth time overall. It is his 24th career stakes win. (May 15). To vote tweet @NTRA: #BensCat
#HonorCode—Closing from nearly 20 lengths back, Honor Code rallies to win the Whitney (gr. I) by a neck over Liam's Map at Saratoga Race Course. It's the second straight grade I win for Honor Code, who also took the Met Mile (gr. I) in June for owners Lane's End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm, trainer Shug McGaughey and jockey Javier Castellano. (Aug. 8). To vote tweet @NTRA: #HonorCode
#Beholder—Beholder becomes the first female to win Del Mar's TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I) in a dazzling performance, scoring by 8 1/4 lengths under jockey Gary Stevens for owner B. Wayne Hughes and trainer Richard Mandella. (Aug. 22). To vote tweet @NTRA: #Beholder
#JesssDream—Jess's Dream, the first foal out of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin , wins his long-awaited career debut in dramatic fashion, making up nearly 20 lengths in a last-to-first effort at Saratoga. The 3-year-old was named for wine magnate Jess Jackson, who owned both Curlin and Rachel Alexandra and long anticipated their mating before his passing in 2011. (Aug. 24). To vote tweet @NTRA: #JesssDream
#KeenIce—Keen Ice sweeps past Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the final strides of the Travers Stakes (gr. I), delivering a stunning 16-1 upset in the "Midsummer Derby" at Saratoga. It is the only win of the year for Keen Ice and the only loss of the year for American Pharoah, over the track known as the "Graveyard of Champions." (Aug. 29). To vote tweet @NTRA: #KeenIce
#Found—Three-year-old filly Found wins America's richest grass race, the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), while besting a field that includes Arc de Triomphe and Irish Champion Stakes winner Golden Horn. (Oct. 31). To vote tweet @NTRA: #Found
#APClassic—In his final start, American Pharoah runs away with the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), winning North America's richest race by 6 1/2 lengths at Keeneland. In the process American Pharoah becomes the first horse to complete what some refer to as racing's "Grand Slam"—a Triple Crown topped by a Breeders' Cup Classic win in the same season. (Oct. 31). To vote tweet @NTRA: #APClassic
Fans are permitted to vote for multiple moments but there is a limit of one vote per moment from every Twitter account. Subsequent votes from an account will be disqualified. Votes must be received by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, January 3, 2016.
"NTRA Moment of the Year voting is a natural for Twitter as it's the home to many of the most passionate discussions on Thoroughbred racing," said Keith Chamblin, NTRA chief operating officer. "This is a vote for the fans and it's time to take the process to where the conversation is already happening."