Dateline: 01/24/2005
The glitterati of the racing world came to the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on Monday night January 24th for the 2004 Eclipse Awards. Frank Stronach came out the big winner, as his homebred Ghostzapper was named champion older male and Horse of the Year. As well, Stronach received the Eclipse for champion breeder. In the Horse of the Year balloting, there was much debate as to whether it should go to Ghostzapper or Smarty Jones. In the final count, Ghostzapper got 174 votes while champion 3-year-old male Smarty Jones only got 95. Only 83% of eligible ballots were cast.
There were few surprises on the night. Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez took home trainer and jockey honors, Sweet Catomine was champion 2-year-old filly, and champion sprinter Speightstown gave owner Eugene Melnyk his first Eclipse Award. Despite racing just once in North America, Ouija Board was named champion turf female.
All the winners for 2004 are listed below with the actual vote totals. A link to a full profile with 2004 past performances is given for each horse. To see all this years finalists with profiles for each, check here. You can look up past year's winners here. You can see how the awards are decided here.
Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male: Ghostzapper
Horse of the Year: Ghostzapper, 174; Smarty Jones, 95; Ashado, 1; Kitten's Joy, 1. Voter Abstentions, 3
Older Male: Ghostzapper, 269; Pleasantly Perfect, 4; Roses in May, 1.
Two-Year-Old Male: Declan's Moon
Vote totals: Declan's Moon, 188; Afleet Alex, 44; Wilko, 22; Rockport Harbor 17; Roman Ruler 1. Voter Abstentions, 2
Two-Year-Old Filly: Sweet Catomine
Vote totals: Sweet Catomine, 273; Runway Model, 1.
Three-Year-Old Male: Smarty Jones
Vote totals: Smarty Jones, 265; Kitten's Joy, 7; Birdstone, 2.
Three-Year-Old Female: Ashado
Vote totals: Ashado, 257; Ouija Board (GB), 14; Stellar Jayne, 1. Voter Abstentions, 2.
Older Female: Azeri
Vote totals: Azeri, 179; Sightseek, 91; Storm Flag Flying 3; Adoration, 1.
Sprinter: Speightstown
Vote totals: Speightstown, 157; Pico Central (BRZ), 101; Ghostzapper, 15. Voter Abstentions, 1.
Male Turf Horse: Kitten's Joy
Vote totals: Kitten's Joy, 247; Singletary, 12; Better Talk Now, 9; Soaring Free, 2; Sulamani, 2; Leroidesanimaux, 1; Nothing to Lose, 1.
Female Turf Horse: Ouija Board
Vote totals: Ouija Board (GB), 235; Ticker Tape (GB), 24; Intercontinental (GB), 6; Light Jig (GB), 2; Megahertz (GB), 2; Wonder Again, 2; Commercante (FR), 1; Lucifer's Stone, 1.
Steeplechase: Hirapour
Vote totals: Hirapour (IRE), 216; Sur La Tete, 10; McDynamo, 8; Preemptive Strike, 2; Tres Touche, 2; Cherokee in the Hills, 1. Voter Abstentions, 35.
Owner: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey
Vote totals: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, 100; Michael Gill, 79; Someday Farm, 41; Adena Springs/Stronach Entities, 27; Juddmonte Farms, 12; Gary Tanaka, 2, Eugene and Laura Melnyk, 2; Sam-Son Farm, 2; Robert Bone,1; Robert and Beverly Lewis, 1; Louis O'Brien, 1. Voter Abstentions, 6.
Breeder: Adena Springs
Vote totals: Adena Springs, 166; Juddmonte Farms 26; John Franks, 18; Someday Farm, 16; Aaron and Marie Jones, 13; Farnsworth Farms, 9; Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, 9; William S. Farish, 3; Arthur Appleton, 1; Mr. and Mrs. Martin J. Wygod, 1. Voter Abstentions, 12.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Todd Pletcher, 155; Steve Asmussen, 71; Robert Frankel 35; John Servis 12; Voter Abstentions, 1.
Jockey: John Velazquez
Vote totals: John Velazquez, 241; Edgar Prado, 14; Rafael Bejarano, 6; Jerry Bailey, 4; Stewart Elliott, 4; Ramon Dominguez, 3; Alex Solis, 1. Voter Abstentions, 1.
Apprentice Jockey: Brian Hernandez
Vote totals: Brian Hernandez, Jr., 164; Pablo Fragoso, 84; Mick Ruis, 5; James Graham, 2; Eric Camacho, 1; Brandon Whitacre, 1. Voter Abstentions, 17.
