Vox Populi Award | Horse Racing Free Tips

Online voting is officially open for the 12th annual Secretariat 'Vox Populi' Award. Won by Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief) last year, the Vox Populi was created by Secretariat's late owner Penny Chenery and recognizes the racehorse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for the sport during the previous year.

Fans can vote on one of six nominees selected by the award's committee or choose a write-in option. This year's nominees, along with their most recent winning race, are: GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Echo Zulu (Gun Runner); GI Travers S. champ Essential Quality (Tapit); GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow); GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Knicks Go (Paynter); GI Spinster S. victress Letruska (Super Saver); and GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile scorer Life Is Good (Into Mischief).

“Our nominees this year represent some of the brightest moments for the sport in 2021,” said Chenery's daughter, Kate Chenery Tweedy. “We look forward to the fans celebrating their favorites by voting for the horses who thrilled them, who inspired them, and who provided them the most joy during another challenging year.”

In addition to 2020's Authentic, previous Vox Populi winners have included inaugural 2010 winner Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}), Ben's Cat (Parker's Storm Cat), and two-time honoree California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit).

For more information about the Vox Populi Award, visit Secretariat.com. Voting will be open through Nov. 30 and the winner will be announced in December.

The post Voting Underway for Vox Populi Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Authentic, wire-to-wire victor in both the 2020 Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic, has been voted winner of the 2020 Secretariat Vox Populi Award, an online poll. Created by Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery, the award annually recognizes the horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the general public and gained recognition for Thoroughbred racing.

A frontrunning favorite among the record number of fans who voted in the year-end online poll, Authentic burst onto the racing scene early in 2020. In the unusual calendar that followed for 3-year-olds, the speedy colt by Into Mischief returned five wins and two second-place finishes in his seven starts.

Authentic is owned in a partnership with B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm, Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing. In March, Spendthrift offered an interest in Authentic to My Racehorse Stable, a new venture that sells affordable micro-shares of racehorses to casual fans. Thus, when Authentic was victorious in this year's Run for the Roses, he fulfilled the Derby dreams of more than 5,300 racing enthusiasts with a vested interest in him.

“Offering racing fans the opportunity to share in the joy of horse ownership is an innovation that holds much promise for the industry and an idea that my mother would have applauded,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy, family historian and daughter of Penny Chenery. “These Authentic interests and the affection they share for their personal champion has parlayed into widespread attraction and support for the sport. Authentic's athleticism speaks for itself, but in a resounding and new way, Authentic has emerged as a horse of the people.”

Hughes, representing the ownership interests, expressed gratitude for the honor, given the talented field of nominees.

“We were so pleased with the ride that Authentic gave us this year,” Hughes said. “He carried with him the hopes and dreams of all of us who love horse racing, and he delivered time and again on racing's largest stages. We'll remember that thrill for a long time to come — one of the few good stories of 2020. And I, for one, am hopeful that this new kind of partnership will lead to more fans taking an active interest as owners in our magical sport.”

Authentic was retired to Spendthrift following the Breeders' Cup and will enter stud in 2021.

Trained by Bob Baffert and piloted by jockey John Velazquez in his final three starts, Authentic was one of a select group of five nominees submitted by the Vox Populi Committee and presented to thousands of voters in more than 50 countries who spoke as the “Voice of the People” in online polls on both Secretariat.com and AmericasBestRacing.net, where the Vox Populi was featured in the Fan Choice Awards. Other nominees were Monomoy Girl. Swiss Skydiver, Tiz the Law, and Whitmore. Voters also had the option to write in their own favorite candidate, where other exceptional horses were noted.

Authentic now joins a list of cherished racing stars who have also received the Vox Populi Award: Bricks and Mortar (2019), Winx (2018), Ben's Cat (2017), California Chrome (2016 and 2014), American Pharoah (2015), Mucho Macho Man (2013), Paynter (2012), Rapid Redux (2011), and Zenyatta (inaugural 2010).

The post Secretariat Vos Populi Award To Kentucky Derby, BC Classic Winner Authentic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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