Vox Populi

The second annual Thoroughbred Times Best Of survey is underway, giving our readers a voice in the Best Of 2009.

The questions are a mix of typical Best Of fare, such as who the best horse or jockey was, as well as some more off beat topics like, "Which was the gutsiest decision by an owner in 2009?"

Here are my answers to the 20 questions:

Who was the best horse to race in 2009?
     Rachel Alexandra
          I think any of the choices are appropriate especially if restricted to their preferred surface, but I give Rachel Alexandra a boost for winning on dirt and putting together one of the most impressive three-year-old filly campaigns in the history of the North American Turf.

Who was the best male horse to race in North America in 2009?
     Gio Ponti
          Gio Ponti's second in the Classic shored this up for him following four consecutive Grade 1 wins earlier this year, including a dominating victory in the Arlington Million and a narrow decision over Ventura in her home region.

Who was the best turf horse to race in North America in 2009?
     Conduit
          I chose Conduit here because of the turf qualifier. I think Summer Bird is better than Gio Ponti on dirt, but the latter has the edge on synthetic and turf. By restricting it to turf only, though, I think Conduit has to be given the edge especially at the traditional turf distances of 1 1/4-1 1/2 miles.

Which was the best race contested outside North America in 2009?
     Epsom Derby
          I picked this race because Sea The Stars stretched out to 1 1/2 miles off his Guineas victory at a flat mile beating horses who went on to win Group 1 races throughout Europe.

Which was the best racing surface in 2009?
     Turf
          I like betting turf races--short or long--and there are fewer low-class events on Turf. If a race is on turf at the circuits I play then it's usually an open claimer at worst. Turf let's you handicap using a variety of angles (pedigree, final times, pace, jockeys, etc.). I like seeing turf races as part of sequences as long as rain's not in the forecast!

What was the best North American race of 2009?
     Breeders' Cup Classic
          Racing needs to sort out where synthetic surfaces fit in the hierarchy of the sport, but that can't take away from Zenyatta capping a perfect career in front of the hometown crowd.

Who is your pick for outstanding owner in 2009?
     Jess Jackson
          Buying Rachel Alexandra after the Oaks and wheeling her back in the Preakness was a huge gamble that paid off and is deserving of accolades.

Who is your pick for outstanding trainer of 2009?
     Bob Baffert
          They guy just seemed loaded this year at every level of the game spotting his horses better than ever before.

Which trainer had the biggest breakthrough season in 2009?
     Chip Woolley
          This was a tough call because I think Rice and Ice are more likely to maintain their current level of success than is Woolley, but Chip's ascent to the top on a pair of crutches and a pick-up truck is one of racing's best stories in a year that didn't lack for drama.

Who is your pick for outstanding jockey of 2009?
     Leparoux
          Similar thinking to my Baffert selection earlier. Julien just seemed to make a lot of right moves this year.

Which was the best ride by a jockey in 2009?
     Borel aboard Mine That Bird in Derby
          The blimp shot helps make this ride famous, and it was a beauty. I can't imagine any other jockey getting Mine That Bird home in that race, which is tragic for me because my tickets relied heavily not only on Pioneerof The Nile and Musket Man hitting but also on one of them winning! Still, that ride had to guarantee Borel a Derby mount for life.

Which jockey had the biggest breakthrough in 2009?
     Talamo
          Joe Talamo was no secret before this year, but having the mount on a Derby favorite and winning a Breeders' Cup race is a breakthrough for sure.

Which was the gutsiest decision by an owner in 2009?
     Jackson buying Rachel, running her in Preakness
          Jackson's decision was not just a $10-million gamble, but he put his reputation on the line as well especially in the year following Eight Belle's breakdown.

What was the best fan-friendly innovation in 2009?
     Night racing at Churchill
          I loved the idea of night racing and didn't mind the $10 charge (maybe because I don't have to pay it), so it was gratifying to see record crowds turn out for the events even after a lot of my media brethren poo-pooed Churchill for charging more for the festivities.

Best racetrack website?
     Keeneland
          This website has it all. Just explore it for yourself if you're not familiar with it already.

Which is the best U.S.-based account wagering platform?
     TwinSpires
          TwinSpiresTV is fantastic, and I've never had an issue phoning in my wagers even on really busy days. And there's no per bet charge.

Which was the best broadcast of a major racing event this year?
     Abstain
          I didn't watch any so I didn't think it fair to vote.

Which is the better channel dedicated to horse racing?
     HRTV
          I've warmed to both over the past year and definitely view both as having their strengths, but I give the nod to HRTV for a more seamless presentation of racing. They show more races on time.

Who is your favorite simulcast analyst?
     Englehardt
          There's a lot of great options on here, and I think one of the more underrated talent pools of racing is the people who do the simulcast shows, but I chose John Englehardt from River Downs for his Regular Show.

Which general interest daily newspaper provided the best coverage of Thoroughbred racing in 2009?
     Courier-Journal
          Its Derby coverage is second to none among the choices. I wish it put some of that effort into other big events because it has a great staff, but even when it's just Jennie covering something you know you're getting the whole story.