Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta Among 2016 Hall of Fame Finalists

2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta is among this year's Hall of Fame Finalists. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
By Blood-Horse Staff
Four jockeys, four Thoroughbreds and two trainers comprise the 10 finalists on the National Museum of Racing's 2016 Hall of Fame ballot, as selected by the Museum's Hall of Fame nominating committee.
The finalists are jockeys Ramon Dominguez, Victor Espinoza, Garrett Gomez and Craig Perret; Thoroughbreds English Channel, Kona Gold, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta; and trainers Steve Asmussen and David Whiteley. Dominguez, English Channel, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta are first-time finalists.
Hall of Fame voters may select as many candidates as they believe are worthy of induction to the Hall of Fame. A maximum of four candidates with the highest vote totals—provided they receive majority approval (50.1 percent) of the voting panel—will be elected to the Hall of Fame. If less than than four candidates receive "yes" votes from a majority of voters, there will be fewer than four inductees in 2016. The results of the voting on contemporary candidates will be announced on Monday, April 25.
The induction ceremony will be held at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Friday, Aug. 12 at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony is free and open to the public.
The finalists were selected by the Hall of Fame's 16-member nominating committee from a total of 82 initial candidates suggested by turf journalists, Thoroughbred industry participants, and racing fans. To be eligible, trainers must have been licensed for 25 years, while jockeys must have been licensed for 20 years.
Thoroughbreds are required to be retired for five calendar years before becoming eligible.
RACHEL ALEXANDRA

All candidates must have been active within the past 25 years. Candidates not active within the past 25 years are eligible through the historic review process. The 20- and 25-year requirements for jockeys and trainers, respectively, may be waived, at the discretion of the Museum's executive committee. Dominguez, who rode from 1996 through 2013 before suffering a career-ending injury, had the 20-year requirement waived by the executive committee.
This story will be updated.