Curlin wins Horse of the Year again January 27th, 2009
With Big Browns chase for a Triple Crown ending in disappointment, Curlin was able to double.
Curlin became the first repeat winner of Horse of the Year in 12 years at the 38th annual Eclipse Awards on Monday.
The highest money winner in North America with career earnings over $10 million, Curlin won five of seven races last year, including a triumph in the Dubai World Cup.
Behind that, Curlin became the first back-to-back winner since Cigar in 1995-96.
Curlin captured 153 of the 240 first-place votes, while unbeaten Zenyatta garnered 69. Big Brown ended up a distant third with 13 votes.
Besides winning Horse of the Year again, Curlin also took home the award for the older male horse, getting 239 of 242 votes.
The performance of Curlin also figured into his trainer Steve Asmussen capturing Trainer of the Year. He finished with a single-season record of 622 winners in 2008.
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, Big Brown also picked up some hardware, receiving the award for the top 3-year-old male horse to put the cap on a career that had a disappointing finish.
After his scintillating wins in the Derby and Preakness, Big Brown was slowed by a quarter crack on his left front hoof, then finished last in the Belmont Stakes in June as he attempted to become horse racings first Triple Crown winner since 1978.
Big Brown returned over the summer to win the Haskell Invitational and Monmouth Stakes but was retired in October after injuring himself in training. He finished his career with seven wins in eight starts.
Big Brown dominated the polling, getting 219 of the 242 first-place votes.
Zenyatta, who is 9-for-9 in her career, also did not go home empty-handed, taking the award for the older female with all but two of the 242 votes.
Zenyatta put an exclamation point on her 2008 campaign by winning the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic. The 5-year-old ended up winning all seven of her races last year.
The award for the top owner went to Stronach Stables while Garrett Gomez was named Jockey of the Year and Adena Springs was selected as the top breeder.