And the Award for Outstanding Jockey goes to…

Most other bloggers have given you their picks for Horse of the Year and you have heard over and over who should get the Three-year old honors, but it’s my turn to give my pick for the award I look forward to the most: Outstanding Jockey. I know that Champion Three Year Old and Horse of the Year are bigger and more anticipated in our sport, but these usually go to the horses that I would pick as the winners. The Outstanding Jockey award NEVER goes to who I think Jock of the Year should be, so let me start shooting off my facts and figures and see if anyone is listening.
 
John Velazquez came into 2011 with the Champion 2-Year Old and the Derby favorite. Derby favorite is familiar ground to Mr. Velazquez, but this would be the first Derby win for him. Congrats to him! I know that does not win you an Eclipse Award (even ask Calvin Borel) but lets dissect his year and then you will see how I came up with Johnny V.
 
The Road to the Roses was a pretty smooth ride to him; he had his choice of horses on the way, but none like the undefeated Uncle Mo. Johnny won the Timely Writer, finished in the money in the Wood, won the Swale, finished third in the Fountain of Youth but then his choice Uncle Mo was scratched from the Derby. Luckily for John, Animal Kingdom was available (not so lucky for Robby Albarado who should have won his first Derby this year).
 
With Animal Kingdom he won the Derby, came in second in the Preakness and did not do too bad considering the trip he had in the Belmont. But the Belmont would be our possible 2012 Dubai World Cup champs last race of the season. But no worries for Johnny…after that he managed a win in the Clarke Handicap (another pick up mount), the E.P. Taylor, the Knickerbocker, the Alcibiades, the Kelso, the Hall of Fame and the Sanford to name a few.
 
How about the Breeders’ Cup you ask? Well, Johnny finished in the money 6 times, including 2 wins for the weekend. The Bill Shoemaker award was given to him because of this consistency over the biggest two days of racing.
 
Now if it is riding titles or money that impresses you, I can see you trying to find a way to put other names in the hat like Julien Leparoux or Rafael Bejarano but let me remind you that it is none other than Jockey Guild President John Velazquez that finished 2nd in wins at Gulfstream, 4th in wins at Belmont, 1st in wins at Saratoga and then back to Belmont to finish 3rd. Talk about consistent. If its money you like, how about taking the fact that Johnny V. is second in that division as well.
 
Seems like every year I am stunned at who wins that award as opposed to who should have won (Calvin Borel 2009 and Garrett Gomez 2010) so I am curious to see what the voters will do this year. Best of luck to all the jockeys nominated!
 
P.S. Speaking of jockeys, has anyone tried to write a letter to Churchill on behalf of the jockeys? I have been sending my letter every week. Let me know.

Read More

Zipse: Retiring Post Time leads the age brigade on Saturday
Forget the youth, at my rapidly advancing age I can’t help but to root for the old guys....
Santa Anita postpones opening day to Sunday because of rain
Blame it on the rain that is forecast to fall all week in Southern California. The forecast led...
Turfway: Encino much the best in Sunday's Prairie Bayou
Encino seized control from the break and never looked back, powering to a gate-to-wire victory in Sunday's 30th...
Turfway: Caitlinhergrtness wins 1st of 3 undercard stakes
Caitlinhergrtness rallied late to win Sunday's 37th running of the $219,000 My Charmer at Turfway Park. The 4-year-old...
Saturday's speed figures: Wolfie's Dynaghost leads top 10
Wolfie's Dynaghost led all performers with a 141 Horse Racing Nation speed figure at Gulfstream Park in the...