Is It Time We Revisited Determining HOTY Honors?

It seems that the argument keeps marching forward: Which horse deserves recognition as America's 2014 Horse of the Year? This dilemma became entirely apparent when TVG's Gino Buccola and I traded opinions via Twitter … During a live taping of that station's Trackside Live. With the spirit of two Heavyweight Championship Boxers, we both attempted to assert one opinion over the other.

Bob and weave, jab and counter….nearlly two hours we did this.

Gino is a Bayern supporter and me, California Chrome -- A tried and true Chromie, my friends -- if you did not already know. In Gino's mind, a win in the Breeders' Cup Classic should overshadow any other achievements that the horses had earlier in the racing season. Especially, if the success comes at the expense of a rival that is also being considered for the award.

I disagree! The reason comes in the name of the award itself (Horse of the Year). It is not an award for horses that get better later in the year. It is not an award for horse that ran well in the summer of the year. Likewise, it is not an award for horses that dominated the earlier part of the year.

Alternatively, the award should go to the horse that had the best overall year in racing period. So why the argument? Because, as Gino pointed out, there are not any guidelines determining what that means. Does winning a Breeders’ Cup race mean more than winning a race in the Triple Crown, or any other Grade 1 for that matter?

I suppose in some respect it does. However, if it so happens that it is the best race of a horse's year, and another horse's season was stronger cumulatively, do you then call that an HOTY performance?  

Recently, as you all know, we adopted a point system to determine which horses would have a starting gate spot for the Kentucky Derby. Every horse earns points by winning or running second or third in the important prep races leading up to the Derby.

The more difficult races are assigned more points. Why can we not develop a similar system to determine our HOTY? It just makes sense; the more a horse accomplishes on the track, the more points they would earn.

In that regard, I can not imagine any scenario in which a horse that wins the Triple Crown, is not also America's HOTY. Such was the case when Omaha captured the series in 1935, only to see an older Discovery take home the honors. A difficult task in 1935 and a seemingly more difficult task now: Winning the Triple Crown is too great a feat to go unaccounted for in this regard.

Hypothetically, let's consider that HOTY accomplishments were based on a 15 point system. With 15 points given for a win in the Breeders’ Cup races and 10 for all other Grade 1 races. Moreover, since many feel that a filly or mare beating the boys deserves extra credit lets give them 15 points when they do best the males in a Grade 1 contest. Then say a Grade 2 winner earns 7 points and a Grade 3 winner 5, and so on.

1.   Breeders’ Cup races: 15 points first, 13 second, 10 third, 7 fourth.

2.   Any Grade 1: 10 points first, 7 second, 5 third, 3 fourth

3.   Any Grade 2: 7 points first, 5 second, 3 third, 1 fourth

4.   Any Grade 3: 5 points first, 3 second, 1 third

 

   Try using this point system for this years five leading contenders -- Do the math, you might be surprised with the results, or perhaps not!

Meanwhile, Let me say this beforehand. Had Untapable beaten males in the William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1), would she not stand out as this year's most accomplished racehorse. Although, most everyone would consider that as the outcome anyhow.

While it might need some refining, this system could serve as a standard for crediting the difficulty of the races in which the horses compete. Thereby, we should not have arguments over which races hold the most importance in determining HOTY.

Additionally, for those that do not know already. Horse of the Year is currently part of the Eclipse Awards. These awards are decided on by a panel of voters gathered from members of the TRA, DRF, and members of The National Turf Writers and Broadcasters.

Furthermore, it's not that I believe that this panel is not capable of awarding the most deserving horse.  However, I have heard voting members expressing their concerns that they do not have any guidelines to follow. Therefore, let us put some in place, and at the same time ensure that the horse that has accomplished the most on the track is also the one chosen for this award.