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 Author: smokin
Timestamp:- 4/7/2003 9:21:42 AM
Subject: Hoty: Time for a New Start?
Message:
H.O.T.Y
Northerly 132, Lonhro 27
Stayer
Media Puzzle (USA) 94 votes, Northerly 65
Middle Distance
Northerly 89, Lonhro 70
Sprinter
Yell 87, Spinning Hill 38, Choisir 27, Defier 2, Bel Esprit 1, Belle du Jour 1, Lonhro 1, Private Steer 1, Rubitano 1
2yo
Hasna 128, Polar Success 30, Ambulance 1
3yo
Helenus 73, Yell 54, Choisir 17, Clangalang 8, Innovation Girl 5, Bel Esprit 1, Natural Blitz 1
Popular
Northerly 57.9%, Lonhro 26.9%, Mr Trickster 6.2%, Dash for Cash 5.4%, Belle du Jour 3.6%
For those of you who didn't get the voting rundown, there it is.
But the point here is why is this system of voting for horse of the year still in place, by being that Journalists, Racing Administrators and associated affiliates get to vote for the Horse of the Year, when the actual performance on the racetrack is left by the way-side?
On track performance is what H.O.T.Y is about, and in the last couple of seasons to me it seems to be becoming a popularity contest as opposed to looking at a criteria for a properly endorsed award.
In my opinion, what is achived on the racetrack is important, but what of other factors? Group 1 wins count sure, but what about the difference between W.F.A and Handicaps? Season Consistancy is a big factor which seems to be forgotten year in year out, what happens in the spring doesn't cast a ruling shadow over what is achieved in the Autumn, although this seems to be the case more and more.
The way this system seems to work now, if a 2yo won the Blue Diamond, and the Sydney Triple Crown, would it have a chance at being named Horse of the Year? I don't think so.
I am a fan of seeing the way the Shu formulate's his horse of the year contenders but I think the human element needs to be taken out of it, leave the racetrack performances to speak for themselves and make the voting only count for 25% of it, not the whole hog.
smokin..........
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Author: smokin
Timestamp:- 4/7/2003 4:27:07 PM
Subject: Re: Hoty: Time for a New Start?
Message:
As I read today's daily telegraph, the one and only John Hawkes comes on board requesting the scrapping of the current system and recommending some type of less human intervention.
In this piece Ray Thomas went on a scathing attack of the current H.O.T.Y system and was obivous in his unliking that Choisir couldn't be nominated for HOTY and his overseas jaunts were not even looked at for champion sprinter or champion 3yo.
A few of the Quotes from Ray Thomas:
"With Media Puzzle being trained in Ireland, this sets a precedent for international horses. Say if an international raider won the Cox plate by 8L, would it be automatic choice for HOTY?"
"Currently victoria has 60% of the vote, this needs to be equalled up"
"Hawkes suggested that a system of allocation of points for Group 1 performances, thus taking the subjectivity out of the award"
"Maybe a panel should be established of club officials, handicappers, retired trainers/jockys, and media decide the catergories"
Media Puzzle was an unpopular choice for stayer of the year, but I cannot see how this could be wrong. There was no consistancy in the staying ranks at all and to have a horse come across the world and win not one but two feature staying events is good enough for me to be stayer of the year.
I totally disagree with the awarding of Yell as Champion sprinter, Spinning Hill was more consistant in both halves of the season.
What happened to the champion Mare or Filly award, another catergory that needs to be awarded. Regardless of current catergories, there needs to be recognition of the girls out there.
SO can any of us come up with a model or scale that would work without any stupid ratings or handicaps, just a simple race to race guide that enables the most consistant on the track become H.O.T.Y?
smokin........
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 Author: catweazle
Timestamp:- 4/7/2003 1:10:17 PM
Subject: Re: Hoty: Time for a New Start?
Message:
Smokin', you say that springs casts a shadow over the autumn more and more, yet last years HOTY won nothing at G1 level in the spring and won purely on autumn performances.
This year the HOTY won at G1 level in both the Spring and the autumn, 3YO of the year won at G1 level in both the Spring and the autumn and sprinter of the year won at G1 level in the autumn only. The only horse that won anything based purely on spring performances only is Media Puzzle as stayer of the year, and I doubt few would question his victory.
Given the above, your point does not seem to align itself with the facts.
With regard to your point about 2YO winners not being awarded HOTY under the current system, there was a 2YO controversially awarded HOTY in the 1980's, I'm not 100% but I believe it may have been Bounding Away.
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 Author: dark horse
Timestamp:- 4/7/2003 12:48:44 PM
Subject: Re: Hoty: Time for a New Start?
Message:
In agreeance with you here smoker.
Definitely a ratings system would have much more credibility.
The media deciding the HOTY??
A bunch of scurrilous individuals who think they are all proffesional gamblers telling everyone else how it is - now thats a laugh.
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