Here's an award after my own heart: the Secretariat Vox Populi Award created by Penny Chenery to be awarded February 5th to Zenyatta. On that day, she will be celebrated at Santa Anita as the inaugural recipient.
The award recognizes a horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the American public and gained recognition for the sport during the past year. Secretariat, as you know, filled those criteria and more.
"Horse racing already has established avenues to award outstanding accomplishments, and we certainly should honor superior performance," Chenery said. "But achievement can be measured in many ways, and fans occasionally feel a disconnect when the horses who most impacted the public are not recognized through the traditional equine awards. The industry is long overdue in annually acknowledging the star horse who brings the most excitement and attention to the sport. It is my hope that the Secretariat Vox Populi Award will achieve that purpose."
Bravo to Ms. Chenery who has probably done more to promote the sport of horse racing than anyone else in the last ten years, except of course, the horses. One question: Can we nominate Barbaro posthumously?
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