Meet Azeri: Horse of the Year


It's time to talk Horse of the Year, but I believe there are only two thoroughbreds in contention for the 2002 honor.

And the winner is . . .

Azeri, who convincingly won the Breeders' Cup Distaff. The 4-year-old went eight for nine during the year and defeated every major female contender at 1 1/8 miles. She also posted the most victories of any candidate for the grand prize, including five Grade 1 triumphs, and earned more than $2 million.

Azeri's trainer put it best: "Who else would you give it to?" Laura de Seroux asked. "Wouldn't she deserve it? She didn't let anyone down, and she did it in great style. She's simply the fastest filly in the world now. You can't catch her early, and you can't catch her late." (Editor's Note: Azeri, named for an aviation checkpoint in Turkey, was officially decalred Horse of the Year on Jan. 27.)

The other horse deserving recognition is also a 4-year-old: Orientate, who captured the BC Sprint and went six for six at distances from six furlongs to seven on the dirt between April and October. The colt's performance extended D. Wayne Lukas' BC record for victories to 17 while Jerry Bailey won his 13th BC race -- the most of any jockey. (Editor's Note: Orientate was named the top sprinter.)

You have to go back nearly three decades to find the top sprinter who also was named Horse of the Year. It happened twice: Forego, '74, and Ack Ack, '71. However, both champions also took Handicap Male honors, underlining their versatility and greatness.

The main drawback for Azeri is she never raced against the opposite sex during 2002. Since voting began in 1971 for the Eclipse Awards, two females have garnered the top prize: Lady's Secret in '86 and All Along three years earlier. Both, however, defeated males during those years.

But as Jason Levin, writing for NTRA.com, pointed out:
"The award is 'Horse of the Year.' It's not 'Male Horse of the Year,' and in 2002, no male distinguished himself with class and consistency. Azeri, on the other hand, did exactly that, punctuating her brilliant season with a thoroughly dominant win when it mattered most in the Breeders' Cup.

"Azeri didn't face males, but that wasn't her fault. Babe Ruth never faced a black or Latin pitcher, but there are no asterisks next to his records. When the Houston Rockets played the New York Knicks in the 1995 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan was playing minor league baseball.
The copyright of the article Meet Azeri: Horse of the Year in Horse Racing is owned by Greg Melikov. Permission to republish Meet Azeri: Horse of the Year in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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