Romero, Azeri, PG, Best Pal make Hall; Vets add 3 inc. Pierce

[Kasept]

Jockey Romero, Three Horses to Hall of Fame
By Ron Mitchell

Jockey Randy Romero and three horses--Azeri, Best Pal, and Point Given —have been elected into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. for 2010.

The induction ceremony will take place Aug. 13 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga.

Under a new voting format undertaken by the Hall of Fame committee for this year, candidates were no longer segmented by category. Voters could vote for up to four of the horses and individuals listed on the ballot, and the four with the highest number of votes were elected. As a result of the new process, neither of the two trainers who were among the finalists—Gary Jones and Robert Wheeler—were elected to the Hall of Fame this year.

As the only jockey elected to the Hall this year, Romero will be inducted on the basis of a career in which he won 4,294 races from 26,091 from 1973-99. With a career win rate of 16%, Romero’s mounts earned more than $75.2 million. Included among his 122 graded stakes victories were Breeders’ Cup World Championship wins with top distaffers Go for Wand and the undefeated Personal Ensign. With 342 total stakes wins to his credit, Romero won titles at 10 tracks, including Belmont Park, Arlington Park, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland, and Fair Grounds.

[randallscott35]

Point Given? Really?

[philcski]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Point Given? Really?

It's his success as a sire that propelled him in.

Meanwhile, Awesome Again isn't in and he deserves to be in over Point Given.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Finally, both Randy Romero & Best Pal get in!

[blackthroatedwind]

How exactly is Romero qualified?

[philcski]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

How exactly is Romero qualified?

It's close, but I can see why he got in. 3 BC wins, probably 50 G1 wins, rode some of the biggest names of the 80's, and over 4,000 wins overall- but most of all he's become kind of the poster child for jockeys struggling with health issues.

I like the guy but I don't know if I would have voted for him. Strictly on merit, John Velazquez should get in over him (1 Belmont, 6 BC's, almost 5,000 wins, 6th on the all time money list).

[Slewbopper]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

How exactly is Romero qualified?

Sympathy vote...much like Turcotte

[FATPIANO]

Originally Posted by Hickory Hill Hoff

Finally, both Randy Romero & Best Pal get in!

Really glad Best Pal finally made it in, and Point Given deserved it too

[blackthroatedwind]

Ridiculous.

[geeker2]

Bob insisted...

[randallscott35]

Lookin At Lucky is a lock.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Ridiculous.

Just wait til Smarty Jones is put in!

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

Just wait til Smarty Jones is put in!

Thankfully that won't be happening.

However, I still remain hopeful that one day the Hall will recognize Dynever.

[foregos nuts]

Based on the last six weeks trainer Rudy Rodriguez should be eligible for the hall.How can a guy with zero experience win at 30% while veteren trainers like Gary Sciacca go zero for the month of May? Not one winner in a month.What a great job the drug testers are doing in N.Y...

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by foregos nuts

Based on the last six weeks trainer Rudy Rodriguez should be eligible for the hall.How can a guy with zero experience win at 30% while veteren trainers like Gary Sciacca go zero for the month of May? Not one winner in a month.What a great job the drug testers are doing in N.Y...

Please, oh wise one, tell us about all the success other racetracks are having in this area.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Thankfully that won't be happening.

However, I still remain hopeful that one day the Hall will recognize Dynever.

I'd be willing to make a friendly wager on that one.

If Point Given got in... Smarty Jones is getting in.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by philcski

I'd be willing to make a friendly wager on that one.

If Point Given got in... Smarty Jones is getting in.

There is no love affair with Servais vs. the constant adulation that Baffert gets.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by philcski

I'd be willing to make a friendly wager on that one.

If Point Given got in... Smarty Jones is getting in.

I would make a friendly or unfriendly wager. He got zero support this year. The day horses that win two legs of a Triple Crown and never race again make the Hall of Fame is the day all sanity leaves this sport.

[Danzig]

they need to get rid of annual voting. every year now we'll get inductees who really don't belong. no one should get in unless they really deserve it. annual choices means a watered down event most years going forward, with one possible deserving nominee, and others getting in because someone has to.

I don't care much about hall of fame and award show deals. If it helps bring new people to the sport, fine. Other than that it's an attention whore fest.

The true greats will stand the test of time.