Eclipse stragglers
 

I was just looking at the Eclipse award final balloting numbers...and I'm just shocked at how some of these horses get votes. Does anyone know how some horses get first place votes?

Ie, in the 2yo filly category, Octave, Point Ashley and Boca Grande all got votes. Granted, they got a total of 5 votes combined, but still -- who are those five people?

Ermine for 3 votes for champion 3yo filly. What?!

Pool Land snuck a vote for older female.

Bishop Court Hill got a vote for Sprinter of the year.


I guess I just don't get it.

Bishop Court Hill got a vote for Sprinter of the year.

Thats just down right funny! I bet I know who voted for him too but I wont name drop.

I have an Eclipse question. Obviously a horse must make an American start to be elgible such as Ouija Board. Are their foreign races then taken in to consideration or just the 1 American start. Also, do foreign starts get consideration for American horses such as Thor's Echo's 2nd in Dubai?

I believe the eclipse award should not be based on votes but rather a weighted point system based on the graded races won. This way owners/trainers will be more encouraged to enter their horses more in graded stakes having fuller fatter fields.

In general the awards are a big joke, the east coast races and horses always receive tremendous favortism. If Tin Man was based on the east coast he would have won the eclipse. He did after all come to Chicago and kick butt in the best race all year as far as quality fields go. This east coast bias thing will not go away anytime soon either.