Which Horse Is Your Horse Of The Year?

[One Man Fan]

Zarkava is mine. (I'm biased cos I was there to witness the race!) An absolutely fantastic performance by a three year old filly up against the colts and an historic moment to boot! The reaction of the crowd after she crossed the winning line was something I will never forget! What about you guys? Which horses have stood out for you this year?

[LaurieB]

Zenyatta--not that I expect her to win the award. She was perfect all year. You can't ask for more than that. :)

[Laurierace]

Zenyatta--not that I expect her to win the award. She was perfect all year. You can't ask for more than that. :)

She gets my vote as well, if I had a vote.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Zarkava was more perfect.
Unbeaten in her whole career; -won the Prix Vermeille after spotting the field a 10 length head start, perhaps the most sensational performance of the year; -beat the top Miler in the world, and most impressive BC race winner, Goldikova twice; -and to cap it all won the biggest race in the world beating the boys.
Don't think it's even close.

[Blinkers On]

Curlin/Zenyatta in any order

[VirginiaBred]

Zenyatta!!!

[Texarkana]

If we're talking international... Zarkava! By a landslide!

For the US: Curlin

Sorry Zenyatta. I adore and admire her talent, but I really can't cast a (fictitious) vote for a horse who never raced in open company.

[Blinkers On]

I hate to say but HOY will come from this side of the pond

[Texarkana]

I hate to say but HOY will come from this side of the pond

As always. ;)

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Curlin/Zenyatta in any order

The OP is in England, so I imagine the intent of this thread was HOY in a global sense.
Zarkava, it's not even close.

[Blinkers On]

Aaahhh... ;)
In which case Zarkava!

[JER]

Zarkava.

But my personal HOY of 2008 is Denman.

[Gestalt]

Curlin, but I love Zarkava!

[One Man Fan]

Yeah, just wanted folks thoughts on which horse stood out for them this year whether on the flat or over the jumps whichever country the horse was from or won in! There have been some great performances this year, Stardom Bound particularly impressed me from the American racing and of course Curlin! Zarkava's win was just really special which was why she gets my vote. The proper horse of the year awards have already been and gone though!

[Andrew]

Z E N Y A T T A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[summerhorse]

Curlin (and he's not even my favorite!)

[Barnfairy]

Peppers Pride *BF ducks and runs*
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
:uhoh:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
:lol:

[Glimmerglass]

Not Horse of the Year but 'honorable mention' ;)

I'll toss in one of the unsung 'actors' who show up and win to little applause and have to go back to the grind all over again. Last year this same award would've gone to Golden Hare (http://therail.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/a-true-racehorse/) who went in just 2007 17 starts 14-3-0 but was sadly claimed in May 2008 and hasn't been the same.

So for 2008 I'll put forth in the honorable mention slot: Chickster.

Yep, a "low level" claimer who punched his time card for work in 2008 more times (15 starts thus far) then many of the big-league horses' total career starts before they head off to the shed in some Bush-esq "Mission Accomplished" pat on the back.

A 7-year-old gelding claimed at Turf Paradise in March 2008 by Trainer Justin Evans for $3,200. Chickster on Friday Dec 12th (http://horseracing.sportsline.com/cbs/headlines/showarticle.aspx?articleId=32762) notched the North American leading victory tally to 11 wins. Yep just a $4k claiming event but do you really think he knows what he's racing for any more then Curlin did?

He is expected to start again just after Christmas.

Chickster's PPs: 45 lifetime 20-6-4 $111,658 (http://www.scribd.com/doc/8944813/Chickster-2008-Pps)

Equibase racing leaders 2008 (http://www.equibase.com/static/statistics/2008/winintl100.html) Chickster on top and note Zenyatta not too far behind

[DickHertz]

Zenyatta

She didn't lose and she actually ran more than a whopping five races...

[Blinkers On]

LOL Barnfairy! She surely made her mark didn't she!
I would be happy if Zenyatta beat Curlin in the US. Anyone else and I'd be not thrilled. Either way and I am happy.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Zenyatta

She didn't lose and she actually ran more than a whopping five races...

If that is meant to be a backhanded dig at Zarkava then you're way off the mark. Zenyatta is based in SoCal which has year round racing. Zarkava is based in Europe where the Flat racing season starts at the end of Mar and ends in Oct. During that time frame she ran just as often as Zenyatta, who as has been pointed out a zillion times now never ran outside of restricted company. Plus not only did Zenyatta just beat up on girls, but she only ever ran at either 8.5f or 9f, that's a whopping ½f spread there, yeah, way to show your versatility.
Zarkava on the other hand won G1's at 1m, 1¼m, 1½m, beating specialist milers at a mile and beating the best middle distance horses in the world of both sexes at 1½m.
Once again, there's no comparison.

[One Man Fan]

All respect to Zenyatta but Zarkava really did do the business! Looking forward to her offspring!

[Glimmerglass]

Not Horse of the Year but 'honorable mention' ;)

So for 2008 I'll put forth in the honorable mention slot: Chickster.

A 7-year-old gelding claimed at Turf Paradise in March 2008 by Trainer Justin Evans for $3,200. Chickster on Friday Dec 12th (http://horseracing.sportsline.com/cbs/headlines/showarticle.aspx?articleId=32762) notched the North American leading victory tally to 11 wins. [/url]

As an aside Chickster just won yesterday - Jan 3rd - at Turf Paradise. He knows his job and does it exceptionally well! He's got soul but he's not a soldier ... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ae3tFI8wXE&feature=related)

[summerly]

CURLIN...of course.......home team....