[Linny]

Havre de Grace is the Horse of the Year for 2011. This marks the third consecutive year when the HOY is a female. Congrats to Grace and her connections, owner Rick Porter and trainer Larry Jones.

[Flashy Gray VA]

Linny, I felt a little bad that your emphatic GRACE! posting didn't get more responses but seems the Eclipse discussion and HdG kudos were over on the other thread.

That said, I figured this was the best place to link to a nice Bawlmer Sun article via the Paulick Report on Havre de Grace, MD's reaction to her HOTY win:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/...,5315943.story

[Elly Mae II]

So what is the correct pronunciation of her name?

[Laurierace]

Have er duh gray sss

[FalseImpression]

Havre de Grace the a is pronounced more like the ah you would do at the doctor's office... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah in both Havre and Grace... but that's my take on the French name. All bets are off because of the way Americans like to pronounce French words.. ie Hermès!

[Laurierace]

Definitely nothing French about MD!

[Flashy Gray VA]

My Merlin kin always said "Hawv da Gra" (the R in 'Havre' being mostly silent) but they were from Ann Arundel County by way of Pennsylvania so there ya go, Hon. I've also heard "Hawv de Graw."

I think the general butchering of the original French resulting in a variety of pronunciations of the town's name is accepted as a funny regional oddity. I don't think there IS a "correct" way to say it!

As for the 2012 Horse of the Year? Everyone I know just calls her "the filly" at times so it avoids any mishaps!

[Laurierace]

Well since she is supposed to be named as the town in MD and that town is right up the road from me I would think the locals get to dictate the pronunciation however incorrect it may be. Just like I am from Duh Moynes and not Dez Playnes (Des Moines and Des Plaines)

[alspharmd]

Have er duh gray sss

This, definitely this!

And Taneytown is pronounced "Tawneytown".

[Laurierace]

Told ya!

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/pe...avre-de-grace/

[Glimmerglass]

This, definitely this!

And Taneytown is pronounced "Tawneytown".

And Versailles, Kentucky is pronounced Ver-SAILs.

Do not use the French variation!

[ASB Stars]

Not if you do not want your ass drop kicked back up over the Mason-Dixon!

[vineyridge]

Lord help me, but she has the best mare group that I've seen in a pedigree in a while. As a group, it's platinum plated.

Too bad Saint Liam died so young.