Japan's Breeders' Cup victories are voted Moment of the Year
The breakthrough performances by Japanese horses Loves Only You and Marche Lorraine in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar last November were voted the 2021 National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Moment of the Year, based on the results of 3,000 votes cast via Twitter and an online poll.
The NTRA Moment of the Year will be recognized Thursday evening at the 51st Annual Eclipse Awards.
In voting concluded last Wednesday, fans voted for #JapaneseDuo as the top moment of 2021. On 13 previous occasions, Japan-based horses had failed to win a race at the Breeders’ Cup, but that changed dramatically at Del Mar.
On Nov. 6, DMM Dream Club’s 5-year-old mare Loves Only You slipped between horses and won the Filly & Mare Turf. Two hours later, U. Carrot Farm’s Marche Lorraine pulled off shocker in the Distaff, winning by a nose at 49-1 and awarding Japan its second win at the World Championships.
Moment of the Year voters chose from 11 occurrences in 2021 illustrating a range of human emotions as well as outstanding displays of equine athleticism. Following #JapaneseDuo in second place was #DiversityStepForward, when George Leonard became the first African American trainer to compete in the Breeders’ Cup.
Past moments of the year
1999. The first NTRA Moment of the Year was the touching scene between Charismatic and jockey Chris Antley following the Belmont Stakes.
2000. The winner was the stretch run of the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Classic, which saw Tiznow hold on for a dramatic victory against Giant’s Causeway.
2001. Tiznow won again as fans selected his stirring repeat victory in the Classic over Sakhee.
2002. Fans cited the passing of the last living Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew.
2003. The popular Kentucky Derby win by Funny Cide was selected.
2004. Birdstone’s upset win in the Belmont Stakes over Smarty Jones took down top honors.
2005. Fans selected Afleet Alex’s spectacular victory in the Preakness.
2006. Voters chose Barbaro’s gallant struggle to recover from his Preakness injury while at the New Bolton Center.
2007. The Moment of the Year was a historic victory by the filly Rags to Riches over Curlin in the Belmont Stakes.
2008. It was Zenyatta’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic.
2009. Zenyatta “repeated” when fans selected her triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
2010. Fans selected Blame’s narrow Breeders’ Cup Classic victory over Zenyatta.
2011. Drosselmeyer’s hard-fought win over Game on Dude in the Breeders’ Cup Classic was the public’s choice.
2012. The recovery of Paynter from near-deadly battles with laminitis and colitis captured the hearts of voters like no other story.
2013. Fans recognized Mucho Macho Man’s nose victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic for his popular connections.
2014. The award went to California Chrome’s dominant win in the Kentucky Derby.
2015. There was a landslide vote in favor of American Pharoah’s historic Triple Crown-clinching Belmont Stakes win.
2016. California Chrome was again part of the winning moment, a dramatic Dubai World Cup victory that came as Victor Espinoza’s saddle slipped out from underneath him.
2017. The tragic fire at San Luis Rey and the industry’s response led the way among the votes cast.
2018. Justify’s sweep of the classics to become just the 13th Triple Crown winner was the clear pick.
2019. Maximum Security’s historic disqualification in the Kentucky Derby, making him the first winner in the race's history to be demoted for a racing infraction, earned the distinction.
2020. Authentic’s stirring triumph in the Kentucky Derby was voted the Moment of the Year.
The Eclipse Awards were named after the great, 18th century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age 5 and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies.