You may know it’s going to happen and you’re as prepared as you can be, but sometimes the best things in life just spark an emotional response anyway—as happened more than once at Eclipse Awards January 26 at The Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Fla.
Co-host Britney Eurton opened the event by encouraging guests to “laugh, cry, scream at their best.” The 500 stars that filled the luxurious ballroom did just that, right from participating in the announcement of Flight route as Horse of the Year.
Let’s face it. The official results have been deeply kept secret by the competition organizers but there is no doubt that Flightline will be crowned Horse of the Year and Oldest Man of 2022.
Anything else would be unthinkable, especially after he was named Longines World’s Best Racehorse just a week earlier in London. With an official rating of 140, equaling the record held by Frankel . After all the comparisons with the all-time greats, up to and including Secretary .
So when it came time to announce the winner, Tom Rooney, CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, said: “I won’t even open the envelope. Let’s all announce it together. …One. Two. Three….” And the crowd shouted, “FLIGHTLINE!”
Flight path, by faucet get out Charlie India mare hairy is the final prize of Jane Lyon’s Summer Wind Horse breeding and is owned by a partnership that includes Lyon, Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing.
While his owners, fans and defeated rivals celebrate in a black-tie feast, filled with premium drinks, raw bar and filet mignon at a venue that once hosted the other royals such as Prince Charles and Princess Diana at the time, Flightline himself embarked on the second phase of the career in which he was raised.
Under the watchful eye of blood-agent David Ingordo basically since he became a pony, Flightline currently resides and toils, if that’s the right word, at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles , Ky.
“It’s the thrill of a lifetime,” says Lyon. “More than I could have imagined.”
Coach John Sadler cited the call for Flightline’s dominant win in the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar.
“Flightline is the horse of a generation,” he said. “In the words of Trevor Denman, ‘We may not see this again.'”
Flightline’s coronation was indeed among many foretold at the ceremony with victory at the Breeders’ Cup World Championship, as usual, a key factor in determining the winners. award.
The exceptions are the widely held categories of close calls — 3-year-old male, male sprinter and female on the field.
Once again, some emotion followed the announcement of the winners.
The connection of 3-year-old male champion Epicenter
epicenter in fact, it was the focus of 3-year-old competitions for most of the year, especially after winning the Louisiana Derby (G2). But his shock defeat in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and a second-place finish in the Preakness Stakes (G1) made Travers Stakes (G1) his only top score. He could have settled things with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), but instead he suffered a career-ending injury and was unable to finish while the Santa Anita Derby winner (G1) G1) Taiba third place, best among 3-year-olds.
Whether or not there’s some sympathy votes for trauma or not, Eclipse Award voters have settled the matter fairly firmly, choosing Epicenter over Taiba by a margin of 155 votes to 63. Modern game winner of three level/group 1 grass races for Godolphin, finished in distant third — typical of the fate of grass-court runners in a division that includes the United States Triple Crown .
“It’s like watching the Kentucky Derby,” said Ron Winchell, owner of Epicenter. “You can’t call it until the line goes up.”
The modern game has made a good comeback, running away with Eclipse for the top men’s turf horse of the year, leading a victory parade for Godolphin, including a repeat in owner competitions owners and breeders.
There are many emotions throughout 2022 surrounding the story of Cody’s Wish . The story of an instant connection between a pony and its crippled eponym, teenage Cody Dorman, grows as Cody’s Wish wins and wins, ending the year with a dramatic victory. calculated in the last steps first electronic knife in Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
However, the story was cut short because Cody’s Wish lost to the Eclipse elite power in a three-way close race with Jackie’s Warrior on third in the vote.
The loss of the Eclipse Awards has been softened, what more, an emotional performance as winning Dirt Mile was named Moment of the Year 2022, complete with video of Cody Dorman seen from his wheelchair he.
Tears were shed in the room during a short recorded presentation as the boy said through his speaking device, “Thank you to everyone who followed Cody’s Wish and supported me.”
The train of emotions slowed down when announcing the women’s turf tournament. That belongs to three runners in the United States—In Italy , regal glory , and war like a goddess. Neither Bill Mott, who trained War Like a Goddess, nor Chad Brown, who had the other two, did not cause much emotion in the public. Regal Glory received a nod.
However, Regal Glory owner Peter Brant was moved to honor his late friend and Regal Glory breeder, Paul Pompa.
Brant said: “It was my relationship with him as a friend that brought me to Regal Glory. “Paul, I know you’re up there somewhere and so proud of Regal Glory.”
Todd Pletcher and Michael Repole
The tender emotion turns to comedy as the side plays between Todd Pletcher, who won the trainer’s Eclipse, and owner Mike Repole, who won two festival figurines. Among his 2022 coaching feats, Pletcher knocked out the finishers 1-2 in the Belmont Stakes (G1), Mo Donegal and Nest both are owned by the Repole partnership.
“We’ve accomplished something that I thought was impossible in 2022,” Pletcher said. “We left Mike Repole speechless a few minutes after Belmont Stakes.”
Repole, one of the most enthusiastic owners in the race, followed Pletcher onto the stage shortly after to claim the prize for Nest.
“I will not say anything!” he cheered.
Repole worked overtime for his acceptance speech earlier when Forte won the best 2-year-old male Eclipse of 2022. He was followed by Jonathan Green, who has magic wheel won the 2 year old baby award.
“Mike, I’ll give you 30 seconds of my time,” Green said, then continued to find himself intoxicated after using up his one minute.
Jay Privman
It was with deep appreciation and respect that longtime racing journalist and broadcaster Jay Privman received the special Eclipse Award to honor his contributions to the sport. Privman gratefully thanked many of his supporters, including many in the room for taking the time to make his report possible, and was honored with a standing ovation.
A bit of a light hit back when David Harrison, winner of the 2022 National Equestrian Championships, a $725,000 win, was named the NTRA Equestrian of the Year.
Even before Harrison began his acceptance speech, his daughter, Lauren O’Reilly, started cheering wildly from the back of the room, standing out in a bright red dress, jumping for joy.
When asked if she plays horses, O’Reilly said: “No. But my dad does and I love him.”
The awards are determined by the 258 eligible members of NTRA (including track racing member officials and Equibase field staff), the National Lawn Field Writers and Broadcasters, and Forms. Racing Daily. The finalists are determined by the top three choices of voters, using a 10-5-1 score basis. The winners of the Eclipse Prize are determined only by votes in first place.
