NTRA ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR ECLIPSE AWARDS

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), National Turf Writers Association (NTWA) and Daily Racing Form (DRF) today announced the finalists for the 2002 Eclipse Awards, voted on and presented by the three organizations in recognition of excellence in Thoroughbred racing. Winners in all categories will be announced at the 32nd annual Eclipse Awards ceremony, to be held Monday, Jan. 27, 2003 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

For hotel accommodations and Eclipse Awards dinner reservations, contact Debbie Blair at the NTRA’s Lexington office, (800) 792-6872, or e-mail dblair@ntra.com.

The finalists are (in alphabetical order):

Horse of the Year: Azeri, Left Bank, Rock of Gibraltar (IRE), War Emblem

Two-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Sky Mesa, Toccet, Vindication

Two-Year-Old Filly: Awesome Humor, Storm Flag Flying

Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Came Home, Medaglia d’Oro, War Emblem

Three-Year-Old Filly: Farda Amiga, Imperial Gesture, Take Charge Lady

Older Colt, Horse or Gelding: Left Bank, Street Cry (IRE), Volponi

Older Filly or Mare: Azeri (unanimous)

Sprinter: Left Bank, Orientate, Xtra Heat

Male Turf Horse: High Chaparral (IRE), Rock of Gibraltar (IRE), With Anticipation

Female Turf Horse: Astra, Golden Apples (IRE), Starine (FR)

Steeplechase: Flat Top, It’s a Giggle, McDynamo

Owner: Richard Englander, Juddmonte Farms, The Thoroughbred Corp.

Breeder: Edward Evans, Juddmonte Farms, Harry T. Mangurian, Allen E. Paulson

Jockey: Jerry Bailey, Edgar Prado, Mike Smith, John R. Velazquez

Apprentice Jockey: Francisco Duran, Ryan Fogelsonger, John McKee

Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Laura De Seroux, Robert Frankel

The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies.

The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of horseracing interests, including the American Quarter Horse Association, charged with increasing popularity of horseracing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA and Breeders’ Cup Limited also conduct the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships consisting of eight races and $13 million in purses and awards, the Breeders’ Cup Stakes Program and the Great State Challenge. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and New York City. NTRA press releases appear on the NTRA Web site, www.ntra.com.