Vox Populi Award Reaching New Heights
With the votes already pouring in, this is your opportunity to cast your vote for the Secretariat Vox Populi Award. But be prepared, this year’s finalists may be the strongest and deeper ever. ~ Steve Haskin
Vox Populi Award Reaching New Heights
By Steve Haskin
Joyce Carol Oates wrote: “Popular! In America, what else matters?”
It’s as if Penny Chenery read that quote when she decided to inaugurate the Secretariat Vox Populi Award in 2010, which reflects the “Voice of the People.” It was Chenery’s intention to “recognize the racehorse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for the sport during the past year.”
So, as Joyce Carol Oates said in not so many words, you can have your Eclipse Awards and whatever other awards there are for productivity, but if you can be the most popular; if you can capture the hearts of the people, what else matters?
That is why a California-bred named California Chrome, who rose from humble beginnings to become a two-time Horse of the Year and Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, will be remembered as much for his avid fan base that stretched from coast to coast, and even to England and Dubai.
That is why a horse named Paynter, who battled back from an illness that nearly killed him to compete at the highest level, was able to develop a loyal legion of fans who were touched by the courage he displayed.
That is why a $6,250 claim named Rapid Redux, who went on to win a record 22 consecutive races, was able to reach out to fans all over the country, despite racing at small tracks such as Mountaineer, Charles Town. Timonium, Thistledown, and Penn National.
That is why a tough, resilient horse named Ben’s Cat, who competed on a small stage, but still managed to win 26 stakes, including one stakes (the Mister Diz) six times, was able to become a hero in the Mid-Atlantic States.
That is why a foal, later named Mucho Macho Man, who was believed to have been born dead only to suddenly leap up off the ground and dash across the field, was able to keep running until he had captured America’s richest race, the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
That is why a national hero in Australia named Winx, who won 33 races in a row, was able to capture the imagination of racing fans 10,000 miles away, many of whom stayed up until 1 a.m. to watch her race.
That is why the winners of the Vox Populi Award, like those mentioned above, will be remembered as much, if not more, than many of our champions.
Now, in 2020, we have an opportunity to add another horse worthy enough to join the list of previous Vox Populi Award winners, which also includes two of the greatest horses of the past decade, Zenyatta and American Pharoah, who were able to build two of the largest fan bases in the history of the sport.
This is a deep and contentious group, any one of whom would be worthy of the award, which is a stunning hand patinated solid bronze image of Secretariat. With voting, previously done through Secretariat.com, now extended to the popular America’s Best Racing website, as it was in 2019, this year’s voting with its strong contenders promises to have a record turnout.
Listed in alphabetical order, the finalists are:
AUTHENTIC – His inclusion as a finalist is not based solely on his victories in the Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Haskell Invitational, which earned him a $1 million bonus for winning those three races, it is the joy and excitement he brought to 5,314 racing fans who were able to purchase a micro share in the colt through MyRacehorse.com for only $206, enabling them to rejoice in his victories and share in his stud value, and to say that they owned part of a Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner. This no doubt will popularize this new concept of horse ownership and get more people involved in the sport who will now strive to duplicate the thrills experienced by the numerous common-folk owners of Authentic. Never before have racing fans been able to share in a racehorse of this caliber and on this large a scale. MyRacehorse and the thousands of future shareholders that come on board can thank Authentic for opening the door to such a magical experience.
MONOMOY GIRL – Here is a filly who could have easily been retired at the top of her game, going out a Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner and champion and a much sought after broodmare. Many horses would surely have been retired, but for her to return after being sidelined for 18 months, first with a serious case of colic, in which she lost a great deal of weight, and then a nagging hamstring injury, is a rarity in this sport and demonstrates the sportsmanship of her owners and the determination and resilience of the filly. And then to come back at age 5, go undefeated and win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff again to increase her lifetime earnings to over $4.4 million, and just a few days later sell for $9.5 million and amazingly kept in training for a 6-year-old campaign is a feel-good story that makes Monomoy Girl a poster child for what Thoroughbred racing stands for and why it is embraced with such affection and fervor by the public.
SWISS SKYDIVER – Don’t let Swiss Skydiver’s bad stumble at the start of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and her subsequent sixth-place finish alter your opinion of her even in the slightest, especially after seeing how badly she grabbed herself and the unsightly wound with which she ran that required antibiotics and forced her to sidelines for the remainder of the year. It is what she accomplished before that race and her reputation as a throwback to a different era that made her one of the most popular horses in recent years. Purchased for a bargain price of $35,000, Swiss Skydiver in 2020 won stakes in Florida, Arkansas, California, New York, and Maryland and finished second in Louisiana and Kentucky. In her first nine starts of the year she competed at nine different racetracks from coast to coast, north to south, and defeated Kentucky Derby winner and eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Authentic in the Preakness Stakes in one of the gutsiest performances in years. To demonstrate her toughness and resilience, she competed in stakes races in January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November, during which she faced 22 male horses and finished ahead of 21 of them.
TIZ THE LAW – If you believe Yogi Berra’s often used phrase, “It was déjà vu all over again,” then you surely will be amazed at how history in many ways repeated itself for Sackatoga Stable, which began nearly 20 years ago with a group of high school friends from tiny Sackets Harbor, New York chipping in to buy a racehorse, which led to an incredible journey with the popular Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide. Now, 17 years later, Sackatoga Stable, made up mostly of new faces, has returned with another New York-bred named Tiz the Law, who, under the care of Funny Cide’s trainer, 82-year-old Barclay Tagg, developed a large fan base of his own with his victories in the Grade 1 Champagne, Florida Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers. The Kentucky Derby, however, eluded him, coming in September this year instead of May when he had towered over his fellow 3-year-olds. He still managed to finish second at Churchill Downs to Authentic, who had caught up to him by then. But until that point, it was Tiz the Law who ruled the 3-year-old division and brought the magic of Funny Cide and Sackatoga Stable back to public consciousness, singlehandedly keeping this year’s sophomores in the national headlines.
WHITMORE – If you want an equine version of perseverance, look no further than the 7-year-old warrior Whitmore, who captured this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint by a resounding 3 1/4 lengths in his fourth attempt, having finished third in 2019 and second in 2018. Looking back on his career, during the seven-month layoff between his 19th-place finish in the 2016 Kentucky Derby and his next start, a victory in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race at Aqueduct, Whitmore was transformed into a top-class sprinter. Four years later he has amassed earnings of $4.2 million while racing at 10 different tracks from New York to California, finished first or second in 22 stakes, and at an age when most horses are long retired he finally has his Breeders’ Cup victory, which brought a wave of emotion from racing fans and countless tears from his co-owner Robert La Penta. In his 30 starts since that initial sprint race at Aqueduct, Whitmore has finished on the board in 25 of them, while racing against the fastest horses in the country. It was La Penta who summed him up best after this year’s Breeders’ Cup when said, “What a legend; what a horse.”
Good luck making your selection from this group.
Great tributes to all these remarkable, memorable horses, Steve. My personal favorite is Tiz the Law, but all are worthy of recognition. Thanks for posting!
I would vote for Swiss Skydiver, but Monomoy Girl is right there, what a fabulous comeback from her colic episode! Surprised not to see Mighty Heart on that list, I probably would have voted for the small one-eyed horse with the humble bloodlines.
You can only have 5 and who would you leave off? I believe both Canadians deserved recognition — Mighty Heart and Starship Jubilee.
I tossed it between Whitmore and Monomoy Girl. The irrepressible Monomoy Girl won.
Authintic
This is a tough one. I’ve been trying to figure out which one has elevated horse racing into a positive light more than the others. All my horse racing buddies are torn between Swiss Skydiver and Monomoy Girl, People in the industry seem to be leaning toward Swiss Skydiver and Whitmire. When I asked people who know nothing about horse racing, the only name on the list they recognize is Tiz the Law. They know about Sakatoga Stable and remember the school bus from the Funny Cide campaign. For me, the consistent bravery of Swiss Skydiver has my vote.. But I’m still not sure that is what this award is all about. I think Tiz the Law elevated horse racing more than the others, but….. Decisions, decisions…
Authentic
Swiss skydiver ♥️✨
I love Swiss Slydiver bit have to go with Whitmore
Swiss Skydiver
Make sure you vote. She needs your vote 🙂
…..I’ve backed TtL from day one…….must be something about that KY dirt he doesn’t take found to…..but here WHITMORE hands down…..a throwback to when I used to drive to a small pool hall in Niles Ohio and bet Belmont when Forego ran…….NOTHING like seeing a SEASONED VET come thru!
Max’s Saudi trip may have cost him too. There have been other horses that
went overseas and that was it. Just too much for them. I do not think Baffert
was the best fit for him although I do not know if that had anything to do with
it or not. Could be whatever they were giving him was covering up joint issues
too.
Steve, you made a good case for each one of the contenders. In the end, I gave my vote to Whitmore whom I’ve long admired. I have a soft spot for all the old timers on the racetrack, as I am one myself. The great racing that we’ve seen this year was the only thing that kept me sane during this pandemic and political circus.
P.S. I’m saddened for one of my favorite horses, Maximum Security, post Saudi Cup. His career ended on a downturn and I am now of the mindset that perhaps his accomplishments were drug induced. I hope I’m wrong, but he just wasn’t the same horse since he was transferred to Baffert. Wishing him success as a stallion.
He did win the Pacific Classic and San Diego, but against lesser competition than he faced in his last two. It is a shame that he had to retire on a down note.
Max’s Saudi trip may have cost him too. There have been other horses that
went overseas and that was it. Just too much for them. I do not think Baffert
was the best fit for him although I do not know if that had anything to do with
it or not. Could be whatever they were giving him was covering up joint issues
too.
It’s sad that we’ll never know just how good Max was.
I feel the same way about Max
I’ve followed Whitmore for so long and gave him my note. If Whitmore wasn’t in this I’d have gone with the Skydiver
A Whitmore fan for years. This will be the first time in many years I won’t be there to see him win at Oaklawn.
Well, at least on here and on my Facebook page it’s between Monomoy Girl and Whitmore, but I would exepct a lot of votes to come in from member of MyRacehorse..com for Authentic, so i should be close.
He brought people into racing that never had an opportunity to be an owner before. Not only did he bring people in as owners, but won the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders cup Classic. I can’t imagine how many more people will become fans of horse racing because of him.
I voted for Whitmore. I think the fact that he is still racing and winning (at the Breeders Cup no less)
is very impressive. To have raced 30 times and hit the board 25 is pretty amazing also.
He deserves this award and so do his connections. Having said that, all on
the list are deserving and I certainly understand why you might vote for any one of them. Nice write up
of all the candidates Steve and a trip down memory lane with the past candidates. Paynter and Rapid
Redux certainly were memorable for me.
As a micro owner of Authentic I am a very happy that sometimes a dream has come true! My vote is for this one of a kind lifetime horse. I am very sad he was retired for the greedy breeding shed… But un this bussines there is no democracy at all and despite of the 5,314 proud micro owners thoughts, majority owner Mr. Hughes has other priorities than horse racing irself… $$$$$$$…. so sad for the fans… One question Steve, why it is not added in equibase and other webs in the total earnings of Authentic the $1 million bonus?
Best wishes from Vigo Spain!
First off, I admire your comments about the retirement and the “greedy breding shed” when whatever you are going to profit from financially will be his stud earnings. Also, I dont think bonus earnings should be included. If you earn $100,000salary at your job and you get a $10,000 Christmas bonus you dont tell someone that your salary in $110,000 a year.
Yes Steve, but this is not the same case, remember the $2 million bonus Spend a Buck received in 1985 for winning the Cherry Hill mile, the Garden State stakes, Ky derby and the Jersey derby!!! That was the reason Spend a Buck owners refused to participate in the Preakness and Belmont, with this $ 2 M bucks Spend a Buck reached 4,2 M $ instead of his $ 2,2 M he earned without that bonus, so equibase and everybody else say he earned $ 4,2 M. It was as well the same with Sunday Silence with his $ 1 M bonus for being the best in the 1989 Triple Crown series, so why is different this time with Authentic?
And what about the $ 10 M Maximun Security earned in the Saudi Cup but the Saudí authorities have not yet paid because his performance in under investigation? He could be DQ!
The whole process is flawed. I believe Spend a Buck was a one shot deal and they stopped including bonuses after that, but I wont swear to it. The saudi Cup is just a regular purse and not a bonus so that doesnt figure into it.
Authentic and Into Mischief Get $1 Million Bump
Equibase officially recognized the $1 million BetMakers Bonanza Nov. 24.By Eric Mitchell in Bloodhorse yesterday.
Steve, finally I was right, Authentic won that bonus as well as Spend a Buck and Sunday Silence in the past!
I think they started having that million dollar bonus for winning the Triple Crown (The VISA Challenge?) after Spend A Buck didn’t run in the Preakness, after his five length tour de force in the Kentucky Derby—but remember also Gato Del Sol came home after his Derby win before that—Edwin Gregson refused to ask a horse to run ten furlongs in a large field, then come back in 2 weeks.
All are of course worthy. If I narrowed it down to 3 Whitmore, Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver. But Swiss Skydiver gets my vote. Whitmire. Of course who couldn’t root for him. 7 yr Old gelding finally gets his Breeders Cup Trophy (yay!). Monomoy Girl comes back off her recovery and long lay off and is again fantastic, but Swiss Skydiver was shipped everywhere, if there was a race she was sent off to run in it and she was always in contention with the exception of the Distaff, but she was fighting in every stride in that race. She had 3 different jockeys, probably due to COVID restrictions and all these races being rescheduled, but it didn’t matter it didn’t bother her, but then she wins a Triple Crown race in a time only better by the legendary Secretariat and beating the recent Kentucky Derby Winner, and welcoming her to a club where 12 Fillies have won one of the 3 Triple Crown races in the entire history of these races. She wasn’t a multi million dollar purchase, she’s not in the Super Star barn if Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, Steve Assmussen or Chad Brown and her Sire isn’t Tapit, Into Mischief, Medaglin d Oro, but a very economically/ thrifty priced Daredevil- that WinStar culled from their roster. She’s the female Chrome, she even had a hoof injury in one of her biggest moments! She had my vote after her brilliant Alabama!
Good rundown, Tori, and you make excellent points for Swiss Skydiver. Knowing how people think and vote I have my doubts she will win, but she sure should be right there in contention. I just hope all the filly lovers out there dont cancel the two fillies out.
I really liked all the finalist this year but I had to vote for Swiss Skydiver because she ran the schedule I wish all the top horses would run. Secondly, she ran the second fastest Preakness of all time and held off a legit beast in Authentic while doing it. When you are second all time to Secretariat you have my attention.
After watching Swiss Skydiver give Authentic the eye in the Preakness Stretch and refuse to give up she gets my vote. I agree with Tori, humble beginnings, not a huge mare like Zenyatta, great personality and all heart.
Definitely Mononmoy Girl. WHY? All you have to do is read what Steve wrote.
I tried to make a good case for all of them, but Monomoy Girl certainly would be a great choice.
Monomoy Girl
#RollCyrusRoll has made tens of thousands of smiles this year.
By doing what? I’m not getting it.
By not rolling. More precisely, by how hard he tries but fails. Have you seen Chad Brown’s videos or Cyrus’ press in print and video? I can point you to them if you aren’t a twitter user. (I became one, just to follow Cyrus and Poe.)
Chris, not Chad, Brown. Oops.
Steve, I really labored over this one. I was screaming for Whitmore and picked him to win, which he did in grand way. I also picked Monomoy Girl to win. She did it with style. My vote went to Swiss Skydiver. Such a gutsy performance after that hard stumble. She did not give up. She ran with her heart. Vox Populi should go to Swiss Skydiver.
I thought this was a wonderful year of racing! I am a huge fan of Tiz the Law – my favorite horse of all year! ❤️ And Swiss Skydiver – Incredible! I finally saw a filly/ mare win The Preakness & her races at so many different tracks & racing against the Boys! – Awesome! ❤️ And Whitmore. ❤️ Always giving his all! It was so cool to see him win his Breeders’ Cup race! But after much consideration, I have to go with Monomoy Girl for The 2020 Vox Populi Award! How many creatures can go through what she did & come back on top of their game & I think even better?! She was magnificent! ❤️ She has such heart! This is so neat that the fans choose the winner of this award. It makes it that much more special. I’m so glad to be a part of this & to love this sport so much! May 2021, have as many wonderful horses as we have had in 2020! They were a bright light in a solemn year. ❤️
Tiz the Law. I’m thinking we might have had a drug-free Triple Crown winner this year if the schedule had been the usual one. In addition to deserving horse, deserving connections, just look at the breeding.
Monomoy Girl’s return to racing after 18 months off and still be so successful is the story of the year.
However, Whitmore winning his Breeders’ Cup at the age of seven is a close second with the never- give-an-inch Preakness score by Swiss Skydiver another heart stopping moment.
Deep field, but MG gets my vote.
Whitmore deserves it because he has been around the longest and he is awesome.
I’m one if the MRH group. I vote for Authntib, but won’t be mad whover wins
I would go with SWISS SKYDIVER. Winning the Preakness is quite an accomplishment.
If I could add one, it would be Gamine. Positives or not, she’s the first racehorse my mom ever texted me about after one of her dazzling performances. Mom getting into horseracing and foaling at seventy something has been an all too rare high point of 2020! But of these, Whitmore seems to fit the spirit of the Vox.
My vote goes to Monomoy Girl with Whitmore a close second❤️
The old man who keeps showing the youngsters up is my pick.
How could I not vote for a crabby old gelding who would kick me into next Tuesday if I stood behind him?
That’s rational thinking 🙂
I would have to go with Swiss Skydiver