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Sports are always a great source of debate and horse racing is no different. In fact, “the sport of kings” probably tops them all in this regard because it is such a participatory sport that allows one “to put their money where their mouth is” either through the betting windows or the auction rings. Beyond that, there figures to be plenty of debate in the coming months over who should comprise the 2012 class of inductees for the National Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY. A total of 10 finalists, comprising of horses, jockeys, and trainers, are up for enshrinement to the Hall of Fame this year, it was recently announced. Four champion Thoroughbreds were added to the list of finalist for the first time this year. They are Ashado, Ghostzapper, Housebuster and Xtra Heat. Also among the list of 2012 finalists for the Racing Hall of Fame are trainers Roger Attfield and Robert Wheeler and jockeys Calvin Borel, Garrett Gomez, Alex Solis and John Velasquez. Voters for the Hall of Fame can select as many nominees as they think are worthy of enshrinement on their ballot, but only the four with the most votes will be inducted. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, Thoroughbreds must have been retired for five years, trainers must have been active for 25 years and jockeys must have been active for 20 years. Below we will take a look at who, in this writer's opinion, merits induction into the Hall of Fame this year. Ashado--Retired with 12 wins in 21 career starts and earnings of $3,931,440. She was United States' champion 3-year-old filly in 2004 and champion older female in 2005. She also was a multiple Stakes winner as a 2-year-old for trainer Todd Pletcher. It's rare for a horse to be so consistent at the sport's highest level for three consecutive seasons. Ashado gets our vote. Xtra Heat—The daughter of Dixieland Heat was a true rags to riches story. She cost a relative pittance as a yearling at auction, but would go on to win 26 times in 35 starts and earn $2,389635 for her connections. Named champion 3-year-old filly in 2001, Xtra Heat won 10 stakes races and finished out of the money just twice in her entire career. Xtra Heat gets our vote. Housebuster—Trained by Hall of Famer Warren A. Croll Jr., Housebuster was the champion sprinter in both 1990 and 1991. He won 15 of 22 starts and earned $1,229,696 in his career. Housebuster has often been overlooked, but the son of Mt. Livermore shipped and won races all over the country, which should be seen as a true sign of quality. No fewer than 11 of his 15 career wins came in Grade Stakes. Housebuster gets our vote. Calvin Borel—The Kentucky-based jockey had toiled in relative obscurity for the majority of his career, but in 2007 that all changed when he guided Street Sense to victory in the 2007 Kentucky Derby. Borel would followed that up with Kentucky Derby wins in 2009 with Mine That Bird and in 2010 with Super Saver, making him the only jockey to have ever won America's greatest horse race three times in a four-year span. He is fourth on the all-time list of Kentucky Derby wins trailing only Hall of Famers Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack, who won five Kentucky Derbys; and Bill Shoemaker, who won four. Calvin Borel gets our vote. That's the 2012 Hall of Fame class in our view. So, what do you think? Do you agree or disagree with our selections/omissions? Want to own your own Hall of Fame Thoroughbred? Participate in the best online racing game available. Breed and care for a stable of top Thoroughbred horses competing to enter virtual horse racing’s Hall of Fame. Join a community of racing and gaming enthusiasts by participating in the most exciting race horse games available.
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