Wise Dan wins 2012 Horse of the Year

by | 01.18.2013 | 3:25pm
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Wise Dan, a major stakes winner in the United States and Canada last year, was named the 2012 Horse of the Year Saturday evening at the 42nd Annual Eclipse Awards, presented by Daily Racing Form, The Stronach Group and Breeders’ Cup. The Eclipse Awards, held at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., honor excellence in Thoroughbred racing and are voted on by representatives of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form (DRF) and National Turf Writers And Broadcasters (NTWAB).

Owned and bred by Morton Fink of Northbrook, Ill., Wise Dan finished first in the balloting with 194 votes, followed by Reddam Racing’s I’ll Have Another, winner of the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, with 30 votes, and Mrs. Janis Whitham’s Fort Larned, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, with 12 votes. Fourth was Besilu Stables’ Royal Delta, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, with eight votes. (Complete Horse of the Year results are listed below.)

Wise Dan also won the Older Male and Male Turf Eclipse Awards this evening, and becomes the first horse since John Henry in 1981 to win those two awards and Horse of the Year in the same year.

As a 5-year-old in 2012, Wise Dan—trained by Charles Lopresti—won five races from six starts and competed on synthetic, dirt and turf surfaces. He began the year with a track record setting 10 ½-length victory in the Grade III Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland on Polytrack in April. After losing the Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap on dirt at Churchill Downs in June by just a head, Wise Dan won four consecutive races on turf: the Grade II Fourstardave at Saratoga; the Grade I Woodbine Mile at Woodbine in suburban Toronto; the Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland, and the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park in November. In the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Wise Dan broke a course record that had stood since 1989. He finished 2012 with $2,622,037 in total earnings. John Velazquez rode Wise Dan in all of his races during 2012 except for the Shadwell Turf Mile. On that occasion, he was ridden by Jose Lezcano.

Wise Dan is a chestnut Kentucky bred gelded son of Wiseman’s Ferry out of Lisa Danielle by Wolf Power. He is expected to begin his 2013 campaign this spring.

The 2012 Eclipse Award winners and results for each category appear below.

A complete composite of finalist voting is also available here.

Voting Overview

In voting that concluded January 3, 2013, Eclipse Awards voters cast their ballots to rank the top three horses and individuals in each Championship division on a 10-5-1 point system basis. This voting established the top three finalists in each division, whose names were released on Jan. 5, 2012.

The tallies below represent only first-place votes from members of the consolidated voting entities, NTRA, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers And Broadcasters.

Voter participation rate: 254/272 = 93.38%

Horse ages in parenthesis where applicable; Country codes indicate a foreign breeding designation)

•    Two-Year-Old Male: Shanghai Bobby
•    Two-Year-Old Filly:  Beholder
•    Three-Year-Old Male:  I’ll Have Another
•    Three-Year-Old Filly:  Questing (GB)
•    Older Male:  Wise Dan (5)
•    Older Female: Royal Delta (4)
•    Male Sprinter:  Trinniberg (3)
•    Female Sprinter: Groupie Doll (4)
•    Male Turf Horse: Wise Dan (5)
•    Female Turf Horse: Zagora (FR) (5)
•    Steeplechase Horse: Pierrot Lunaire (8)
•    Horse of the Year: Wise Dan (5)
•    Owner: Godolphin Racing LLC
•    Breeder:  Darley
•    Jockey: Ramon Dominguez
•    Apprentice Jockey: Jose Montano
•    Trainer: Dale Romans


Complete list of winners and vote tallies:

Two-Year-Old Male
Shanghai Bobby, 253; Uncaptured, 1.  

Two-Year-Old Filly
Beholder, 225; Executiveprivilege, 27; Dreaming of Julia, 1; So Many Ways, 1.

Three-Year-Old Male
I’ll Have Another, 247; Bodemeister, 3; The Lumber Guy, 1; Paynter, 1; Union Rags, 1; Voter Abstention, 1.    

Three-Year-Old Filly
Questing (GB), 106; My Miss Aurelia, 102; Believe You Can, 17; Contested, 13; Dance Card, 6; Lady of Shamrock, 5; In Lingerie, 4; Zo Impressive, 1.

Older Male
Wise Dan, 139; Fort Larned, 109; Little Mike, 4; Game on Dude, 1; Shackleford, 1.

Older Female
Royal Delta, 231; Groupie Doll, 22; It’s Tricky, 1.

Male Sprinter
Trinniberg, 233; Shackleford, 11; The Lumber Guy, 8; Caixa Electronica, 1; Voter Abstention, 1.   

Female Sprinter
Groupie Doll, 250; Mizdirection, 3; Contested, 1.

Male Turf Horse
Wise Dan, 170; Little Mike, 78; Point of Entry, 5; No Vote, 1.   

Female Turf Horse
Zagora (FR) 242; Marketing Mix, 5; Lady of Shamrock, 4; Dayatthespa, 2; Voter Abstention, 1.

Steeplechase Horse
Pierrot Lunaire, 116; Demonstrative, 99; Arcadius, 1; Divine Fortune, 1; Woodmont, 1; Voter Abstentions, 36.

Horse of the Year
Wise Dan, 194; I’ll Have Another, 30; Fort Larned, 12; Royal Delta, 8; Little Mike, 6; Frankel, 1; Groupie Doll, 1; Shanghai Bobby, 1; Voter Abstentions, 1.

Owner
Godolphin Racing, LLC, 138; Midwest Thoroughbreds, 50; Reddam Racing, LLC, 26; John C. Oxley, 13; Morton Fink, 12; Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, 2; Janis Whitham, 2; Zayat Stables, 2; Repole Racing, 1; Starlight Racing, 1; Voter Abstentions, 1.    

Breeder
Darley, 170; Adena Springs, 25; Morton Fink, 20; Brereton C. Jones, 15; Janis Whitham, 4; Phipps Stable, 3; Harvey Clarke, 2; Fred and William Bradley, 1; William D. Graham, 1; Palides Investments, 1; Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, 1; Stonestreet Thoroughbreds, 1;  Voter Abstentions, 10.    

Trainer
Dale Romans, 119; Todd Pletcher, 87; Bob Baffert, 35; Chad Brown, 2; Bill Mott, 2; Jamie Ness, 2; Doug O’Neill, 2; Steve Asmussen 1; Ian Wilkes, 1; Voter Abstentions, 3.

Jockey
Ramon Dominguez, 201; John Velazquez, 37; Rosie Napravnik, 4; Russell Baze, 2; Rafael Bejarano, 2;  Javier Castellano, 2;Mario Gutierrez, 1; Mike Smith, 1; Voter Abstentions, 3; No Vote, 1.  

Apprentice Jockey
Jose Montano, 127; Irad Ortiz, Jr., 34; Angel Suarez, 25; Eswan Flores, 16; Wilmer Garcia, 4; Eliska Kubinova, 4; C.J. McMahon, 2; Jose Ortiz, 2; Hugo Sanchez, 2; Nicolas Milford, 1; Voter Abstentions, 37.

Award of Merit

The winner of the Award of Merit, voted on by a panel of representatives from the three presenting organizations and previously announced, is Nick Nicholson. The Award of Merit is presented to honor outstanding lifetime achievement in the Thoroughbred industry.

Media Eclipse Awards also are given in the categories of photography, audio and multi-media Internet, news/enterprise writing, feature/commentary writing, national television–feature and national television–live racing programming to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing. The 2012 Media Eclipse Awards winners, determined by a judges’ panel for each category and previously announced, are:

•Photography:  Tom Keyser, Daily Racing Form; “Start of Brooklyn Handicap,, July 11, 2012.  

•Writing – Feature/Commentary: Ryan Goldberg, Daily Racing “Keiber Coa Presses on a Year After Father’s Fateful Spill,” July 7, 2012.

•Writing - News/Enterprise: Mary Simon, Thoroughbred Times, “Added Obstacle”   June 9, 2012.

        
•Television - Live Racing: NBC Sports, “The Kentucky Derby”; Rob Hyland, Coordinating Producer; May 5, 2012.

•Television – Feature: ESPN, “Notinrwilderstdremz”, Heather Lombardo, Producer; October 30, 2012.
 
•Audio and Multi-Media Internet: Glenye Cain Oakford, Daily Racing Form.com “Zenyatta: Wait for First Foal Combines Science, Art and Anticipation,” February 28, 2012. 

As was the case last year, Ray was on-site live blogging the event. You can read his comments from the live blog, and those of our readers, below.

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  • Don Reed

    My condolences, Ray.  Not even a dozen streakers running across the stage could enliven this annual snoozefest. 

  • MA

    In person it’s not as bad because you can actually hear clapping/cheering/laughing etc. This production’s always had crappy audio that makes it sound like everyone but the person at the speaker is dead. HRTV producing won’t help matters, as you can’t hear the hosts on their channel half the time.

  • Don Reed

    Any doctors on call this year, for a two-hour acceptance speech?

  • Larry Ensor

    I agree it does not lend itself well to TV. But having been to quite a few in years past it used to be a lot of fun to attend. Hopefully it still is.

  • Blandes

    My favorite night of the year—I’ll keep everyone apprised of the scores from the JCPenney Bowling Tourney going on simultaneously.

  • Don Reed

    Don’t be surprised if Ray, bored out of his skull, drops in to bowl a few games with you.  Or gets his brand-new, spotless car washed. 

    Staying put, checks the out-of-town soccer (Asia) scores.  Counts the holes in the Eclipse ballroom acoustical tiles (more than once). 

    Sober, falls asleep under the table.  Writes notes about betting taxation (involuntary IRS withholdings) to all 535 Congressmen.  Maps out his Manitoba vacation drive plan. 

    Restless, goes out to the front desk in between awards to volunteer for snow shoveling duty (he’s always been an optimist).

    Calls Brad to complain that Doctor Number Two just won’t stop TALKING. 

    Builds six-story stove-match iconic structure with precision. Forgets project exists on dinner table & Ignites Structure Foolishly while currying favor with strange lady (Doctor Two’s dial-up-date for the evening), by attempting to light her cigarette.

    Find out during next call to Brad that his former vice-president had planted the phony doctor as an Eclipse winner that no one in the audience recognizes but is too timid to publicly question his credentials (or too sloshed to give a sh**).

    (DRF Headline tomorrow, getting it slightly wrong: “Eclipse Award Winner Is A Te’o Trainer”).

    Oh, what fun racing can be in January. 

  • tfly

    Don, how could you say that?  A bunch of people eating, then the frantic clearing of the tables, followed by the ‘blah blah blahs.’   All award shows are self serving to that particular industry, but don’t you think ours is best?  Only thing i can think of that would make it better is to dub in a ‘fan audience.’ 

  • Don Reed

    No, I actually think that even the Oscars, in its fallen state, still “moves” fastert and with a greater sense of purpose than the Eclipse Awards ceremonies. 

    But to single any one of them out is a mistake; I can’t think of one that produces the feeling of something selflessly constructive getting accomplished.  If that’s what you’re getting at, I’m agreeing.   

  • HappyHarriet

    Can’t wait for tonight, Ray.  Last year’s live streaming was so entertaining (the blog, not the awards) and I was laughing so hard I nearly fell off the sofa.

    Can we suggest “new rules” for the awards ceremony?  I know it’s kinda late, but remembering last year’s awards makes me want to pen some helpful hints:

    1)  Please, ladies, no purple spandex.
    2)  Please, cameraman, focus your fancy expensive equipment at a flattering angle, rather than straight at the hind quarters of the folks climbing up those rickety stairs to get their awards.
    3)  Please, audio folks, do a sound check – do two – so we can hear the speakers, the audience and very little clanking of glass and silver.
    4)  Please, winners, we know you love your horses.  So do we.  Please don’t make us hate you by taking up our time slobbering about them when you should say thanks and get off.  (Hansen springs to mind on this one.)
    5)  Trainers – consider a diet you feed your horses:  greens and grains.  You guys look like you are one bite of steak away from a quadruple bypass. 
    6)  Owners – please wear a neck brace so you cannot shake your head “no” when someone other than YOUR HORSES win awards.  Your ungraciousness will be broadcast and recorded for all posterity and your reputation, if you still have one, will be tarnished.  (Zenyatta’s win springs to mind.)

  • Gayleminello

    Good luck from Reddam Windsorites….go I’ll Have Another….you made us so proud!

  • Garyminello

    Right on girl!!

  • Nucky Thompson

    If Jeannine Edwards says “On a serious note” one more time I will throw my DRF at the tv. Jay Leno has no worries about Jeannine taking over the monologue. Total disaster. If you want funny lets get a comedian

  • Don Reed

    They poisoned Ray’s steak.

  • Don Reed

    “Hate to say it, but technical glitches for me and Gulfstream Park. Sound system “atrocious.”

     

    Live, From The Third World,
    The Eclipse Awards!

  • Don Reed

    Leno hasn’t been funny since the “Dancing Lewinskys” skit (1998).

  • Nucky Thompson

    My point exactly :) . Mary Simon from Thoroughbred Times was funnier speaking about their demise

  • Nucky Thompson

    Ray’s probably been taken to Broward General suffering from busted ribs after laughing at the opening monologue.

  • Nucky Thompson

    Video looks like my vacation movies from 30 years ago. Welcome to the twilight zone.

  • Nucky Thompson

    Godolphin. Who says nice guys never win.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=500075913 Renuncia Cupelluni

    Irad Ortiz, Jr. got robbed, and so did Little Mike. . .

  • Dianne

    Indeed he did!!  And so did “The Peoples Horse” I’ll Have Another!  For the first time in years horse racing was front and center.  They were spot on in not taking the risk him runnubg in the Belmont’ however, no doubt in my mind that had he run we would have had a Triple Crown Winner in 2012.   Too bad that after they ask the public to vote for these, those who actually voted did not vote the fans choices–just like congress!  We sent then to DC to look out for the interest of those who sent them to congress but they ALWAYS vote the way they desire.  Guess it’s all politica when you get down to it…..

  • Watcher1

    All I can add is that I’m sure glad our sport is about the HORSES and not the PEOPLE.

  • Jljohnson740

     I agree..however…is Mickey Rooney still alive??:)))))))))))

  • Lexmonger

    It would have violated the spirit of the award in some sense if Ortiz had prevailed. He lost the bug way back in February.

  • RayPaulick

    One clarification: Jeannine Edwards did not qualify as “best older female” because she is far too young.

  • swaps55

    I will represent the irrelevant alternative parties like the ones that collectively garnered two percent of the vote in the national presidential election and say Fort Larned is still unappreciated.

    And I will say Euro style turf racing is now the main stage in America.   The two and three year old turf breeder cup races will have to have their purses boosted significantly to reflect this new orientation.   Committees should study how quickly the Triple Crown can be transferred to the turf.   Like the Triple Crown in England and Ireland.   Then everything will be more standardized.   And the mile should be studied and debated as the new classic distance..  

    Dirt is dead.  Synthetic and turf is the new dirt…   

  • Eddie barker

    Congrats to wise Dan deserved all 3 cataogies , most off all well deserved trainer award
    DALE ROMANS a good guy an big time trainer

  • kate.myracingheart

    Enjoyed the blogs much more than the show. How can a sport called ‘the fastest 2 minutes’ have such a volatile fan base and still have the most boring show.

  • Rachel

    Fort Larned is the new Rodney Dangerfield…9 races, 5-1-1 (including 10F), the biggest race of the year as well as one of the most prestigious, track record breaking, multiple triple Beyers, even in losing efforts.

    I love Wise Dan, but a classic distance horse is the benchmark.

  • LL

    Happy for Wise Dan and Dale Romans. Not so happy for Midwest Thoroughbreds. Maybe they don’t have the graded winners but they have really done a lot with what they have. Keeps the sport going. Down to earth people!!!

  • 3875waldo

    We need an Eclipse award category for the blogs.

    The reason for “boring” is money.  People who have too much of it naturally gravitate to events (& end up running them). 

    Auxiliary people who are hired to liven up the proceedings discover theyve been hired to throw lit matches on wet gunpower.

  • Kris

    I’ve often thought that if I’m ever lucky enough to own a horse good enough to win an Eclipse then I’m going to watch the awards ceremony from a nearby bar, ala Woody Allen and the Academy Awards.  

  • Don Reed

    Can you play the sax?  Or is it the clarinet?  Are you harboring the illusion that you’ll be invited to play at Michael’s, merely because you have talent, without Manhattan connections?

  • Don Reed

    Ray, you never stop playing the smoothie, do you?

  • Forego

    Classic distance horses have lost their significance except in Japan

  • Ida Lee

    OK I’m going to vent…Wise Dan is wonderful BUT did he have to win everything? I’m surprised his name wasn’t called for Female Sprinter.  Also, the voting wasn’t even close for any of the categories except 3-year-old female…I would have voted for My Miss Aurelia. At least that voting seemed fair. But, Little Mike gets only 4 votes for older male? He was ignored in all the categories…That is unacceptable for the adored Little Mike. Don’t even get me started with Executiveprivilege…

  • Terri Zeitz

    Changing the subject, does anyone see the similarity of the muscle-bound build and fantastic conformation of Wise Dan and his great great grandsire, Secretariat?
    Ray, has any descendent of Big Red even approached the perfection of his conformation of Big Red?
    I was lucky enough to meet Morton Fink and Charlie Lopressi after the award ceremony; hopefully they don’t think I’m nuts. I told them they have the reincarnation of Big Red in their barn. Only this time he came back as a gelding; and he will be free to run as many years as his legs can carry him. He said he already showed who is King at the Belmont, so he only wants to run a mile in this lifetime.
    If Wise Dan weren’t a gelding, can you imagine the bidding war to have him at stud? Seth Hancock might be tempted to mortgage the farm.

  • Don Reed

    Splendid, original, compelling writing.  Thoughtful; original; ESPN-free of cliches.  Thank you.

  • convene

     The muscling on Dan was what struck me too. He’s a superb athlete. And I confess … yeah, I’m happy to see a grass-horse win!

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