Zenyatta Horse of the Year?

Filly's Nine-for-Nine Year Could Beat Curlin and History of HOY

Oct 26, 2008

In the history of Thoroughbred Horse of the Year awards, few fillies have won the honor. Will the 2008 season of the giant female Zenyatta loom over Curlin?

Zenyatta has left the track, but not the minds of spectators who caught their collective breath as they witnessed the gargantuan filly sweep under the wire at the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships Ladies Classic after powering her way from a not-so-unusual last place position early on to become Queen For a Day. Was her performance enough to be voted Queen Horse for the Year? If those in attendance had the vote, Zenyatta's victory, one which added to an unbeaten string of triumphs in her nine-for-nine season, the answer may well be "yes".

In the history of the Horse of the Year awards in Thoroughbred racing, Azeri was the last female to win that honor. She did it in 2002. Before Azeri was Lady's Secret, a daughter of the great Secretariat, in 1986. All Along (France) won in 1983. And before that, the list becomes faded and yellowed with male HOYs, reaching as far back as 1945, when the unstoppable Busher reigned.

Kelso is the only horse in Thoroughbred history to win five Horse of the Year titles. He did that in five consecutive years (1960-1964). Forego won three HOY trophies, again consecutively, in 1974-1976. Oddly, Forego accomplished his three straight titles in the midst of a decade that saw (the last) three Triple Crown winners: Secretariat, 1973; Seattle Slew, 1977; and Affirmed, 1978.

History of Horse of the Year:

2007 -- Curlin; 2006 -- Invasor; 2005 -- Saint Liam; 2004 -- Ghostzapper; 2003 -- Mineshaft; 2002 -- Azeri (female); 2001 -- Point Given; 2000 -- Tiznow.

1999 -- Charismatic; 1998 -- Skip Away; 1997 -- Favorite Trick; 1996 -- Cigar; 1995 -- Cigar; 1994 -- Holy Bull; 1993 -- Kotashaan; 1992 -- A.P. Indy; 1991 -- Black Tie Affair; 1990 -- Criminal Type.

1989 -- Sunday Silence; 1988 -- Alysheba; 1987 -- Ferdinand; 1986 -- Lady's Secret (female); 1985 -- Spend a Buck; 1984 -- John Henry; 1983 -- All Along (French-bred female); 1982 -- Conquistador Cielo; 1981 -- John Henry; 1980 -- Spectacular Bid.

1979 -- Affirmed; 1978 -- Affirmed; 1977 -- Seattle Slew; 1976 -- Forego; 1975 -- Forego; 1974 -- Forego; 1973 -- Secretariat; 1972 -- Secretariat; 1971 -- Ack Ack; 1970 -- Fort Marcy.

1969 -- Arts and Letters; 1968 -- Dr. Fager; 1967 -- Damascus; 1966 -- Buckpasser; 1965 -- Roman Brother; 1964 -- Kelso; 1963 -- Kelso; 1962 -- Kelso; 1961 -- Kelso; 1960 -- Kelso.

1959 -- Sword Dancer; 1958 -- Round Table; 1957 -- Bold Ruler; 1956 -- Swaps; 1955 -- Nashua; 1954 -- Native Dancer; 1953 -- Tom Fool; 1952 -- One Count; 1951 -- Counterpoint; 1950 -- Hill Prince.

1949 -- Capot; 1948 -- Citation; 1947 -- Armed; 1946 -- Assault; 1945 -- Busher (female); 1944 -- Twilight Tear; 1943 -- Count Fleet; 1942 -- Whirlaway; 1941 -- Whirlaway; 1940 -- Challedon.

Triple Crown HOYs

The only two horses of the 11 Triple Crown titleists to win Horse of the Year honors in their four-year-old seasons as well as in their triumphant three-year-old seasons were Whirlaway (1941-1942) and Affirmed (1978-1979).

Secretariat is the only horse to win Horse of the Year as a two-year-old and follow up to win the same trophy in his three-year-old Triple Crown title year (1972-1973).

The copyright of the article Zenyatta Horse of the Year? in Thoroughbred Racing is owned by BarbaraAnne Helberg. Permission to republish Zenyatta Horse of the Year? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.