Hall of fame

[Jasonm921]

Best Pal and Romero really???? Both were solid but Hall of Fame worthy....I don't think so.

[joanied]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/57225/jockey-romero-three-horses-to-hall-of-fame

You forgot Azeri. I added the link ...he definetly derserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Great rider and one of the nicest jocks we've ever had.
IIMO, Randy deserves it as well as the other threee...Azeri, Point Given and best Pal...

From the story:


"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."

Still think Romero doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?

[Jasonm921]

I'm not sure if Craig Perret is in the Hall of Fame but if he isn't and Romero got in before he did then that's wrong.

[Stevie Belmont]

Best Pal amassed $5,668,245 in career earnings.

[Jasonm921]

Best Pal's earnings were over how many years? In a mythical race of the best 20 horses over the past 20 years do you think Best Pal even makes it into the starting gate? This is the hall of fame not an all star game.

[joanied]

Best Pal's earnings were over how many years? In a mythical race of the best 20 horses over the past 20 years do you think Best Pal even makes it into the starting gate? This is the hall of fame not an all star game.

Ohboy...let's not not start this 'mythical', 'dream', 'hypothetical' race with 20 of the best horses from the last 20 years stuff :bang:

Romero and Best Pal are more than worthy of getting into the Hall of Fame.
You mentioned Craig Perret...he's been nominated, but as yet, he's not in...I tried to find his stats, win % ect. with no luck...he won a ton of stakes races, and won 4,400 races total...which is less than 200 more than Randy Romero...maybe you can come up with his % of wins in both Grade 1's and Stakes...then compare them to Romero. No doubt, he'll get in one day...but please don't say Romero isn't worthy.

As for Best Pal...besides his earnings, below is a list of his major wins...now tell me this beloved gelding isn't worthy :faint: (he also finished 2nd in the Kentucky Derby)

Best Pal's major wins:
Hollywood Futurity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Futurity) (1990)
Del Mar Futurity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Mar_Futurity) (1990)
Norfolk Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Stakes_(United_States)) (1990)
Balboa Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_Pal_Stakes) (1990)
Pacific Classic Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Classic_Stakes) (1991)
Swaps Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaps_Stakes) (1991)
Santa Anita Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Anita_Handicap) (1992)
Charles H. Strub Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_H._Strub_Stakes) (1992)
Oaklawn Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oaklawn_Handicap) (1992)
San Fernando Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Fernando_Stakes) (1992)
Hollywood Gold Cup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Gold_Cup) (1993)
California Cup Classic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Cup_Classic) (1993)
Native Diver Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Diver_Handicap) (1994)
San Antonio Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Handicap) (1995)

[colonial]

randy should have been in hall long ago
record speaks for itself

[Jasonm921]

So an average of 3 stakes wins a year gets you in the hall of fame?

[kenwoodall2]

Of course, Best Pal was on tge wrong coast! No plubber excuse, anyway!LOL!!

[GaryG]

Randy Romero was the best rider to come out of Louisiana. Better than Eddie D, Perret or any of them. He is most deserving.

[46zilzal]

When voting for the Hall of Fame you have to consider the body of work and then compare it to the members already in....It has to be significant to garner entrance as we just voted in a great jockey/trainer over a very good, but trainer only since 1991 competitor.

[Jasonm921]

Joanie the Hall of Fame is mythical best of the best. That is the entire point of a Hall of Fame.

[46zilzal]

Joanie the Hall of Fame is mythical best of the best. That is the entire point of a Hall of Fame.
I would have to disagree because we had voted in fellows from small venues who were great in that environment but not compared to the grade one circuit.....

[Jasonm921]

Because the voters feel that someone has to get in. However the purpose of the hall of fame is to put the cream of the crop in a separate category.

[Steve R]

Point Given is in and Spend a Buck still isn't? Idiotic!

[Jasonm921]

Regarding Point Given- I don't agree with him getting in but if they put AP Indy in the I guess you have to include Point Given. I wish they would take another look at Lure. How many Turf milers were better than him? Not too many.

[46zilzal]

Because the voters feel that someone has to get in. However the purpose of the hall of fame is to put the cream of the crop in a separate category.
Wrong again....The voting criteria is that ONE individual in each category must garner a MINIMUM number of votes so if the vote is strongly displaced among three, NONE may meet the minimum for entrance

[only11]

Randy Romero was the best rider to come out of Louisiana. Better than Eddie D, Perret or any of them. He is most deserving.
Eddie D. what are you smoking...randy never stayed healthy enough...

[Jasonm921]

I thought they changed it this year where someone from each category always gets in based on highest "yes" votes.

[46zilzal]

I thought they changed it this year where someone from each category always gets in based on highest "yes" votes.
guess they did...................


The Voting Panel will be asked to vote Yes or No for each candidate on the ballot. The candidate with the most Yes votes in each category will be inducted. Should a dead-heat occur all candidates who finish in the tie would be elected.

[Jasonm921]

Bottom line....it's all about money. They need the tourism dollars of all the people behind these farms to fly in for the inductions.

[joanied]

Joanie the Hall of Fame is mythical best of the best. That is the entire point of a Hall of Fame.

HUH:confused: ...the Hall of Fame is to honor the best horses & people in the sport...I don't know what you mean by mythical.

I don't like the new voting format, I still think it's best to have catagories...but, this year's inductees are good choices.

[joanied]

Point Given is in and Spend a Buck still isn't? Idiotic!

He'll get in eventually...I actually thought he already was. They have a new voting format now and I don't quite get it.

[joanied]

Bottom line....it's all about money. They need the tourism dollars of all the people behind these farms to fly in for the inductions.

That seems kind of cynical to me, Jason...besides, just how much will these few people do for the economy in Saratoga...buy some high priced meals, have a few drinks...not much for the tourism aspect of it all, IMO.

[Jasonm921]

Who doesn't want millionaires in their restaurants. Do you think they come for an hour? They stay for the week. If they don't induct anybody who is going to show up?????

[Stillriledup]

Hall of Fames in all sports are getting softer and softer. People are confusing the hall of fame with the hall of popularity.

[46zilzal]

Hall of Fames in all sports are getting softer and softer. People are confusing the hall of fame with the hall of popularity.
NOT all voters look at it that way

[Stillriledup]

NOT all voters look at it that way

No, not all, but some.

[joanied]

Who doesn't want millionaires in their restaurants. Do you think they come for an hour? They stay for the week. If they don't induct anybody who is going to show up?????

Oh, gee...I dunno...more millionaires :jump:
Point is, I don't think it's about money...sure, it's great to get a few extra spenders up there...but the Hall of Fame is about prestige and honoring the best in racing...I guess I have my take on it and you have yours...different opinions make the world go 'round:)

[Stevie Belmont]

Who cares how many years?


Best Pal's earnings were over how many years? In a mythical race of the best 20 horses over the past 20 years do you think Best Pal even makes it into the starting gate? This is the hall of fame not an all star game.

[sandpit]

Point Given is in and Spend a Buck still isn't? Idiotic!

While I don't disagree, Point Given won the Preakness, Belmont, Haskell and Travers; I think he was the first horse to win all four, but I could be wrong about that. I know he was the first to win 4 $1million races in a row. And if he hadn't gone to the track the morning of the Derby, we would be looking at him as one of the greats.

Spend a Buck has an unfortunate bias against him because his owners blew off the Preakness and Belmont for the Jersey Derby. Too bad, he sure looked like he had the good to be TC winner #12.

[sandpit]

Regarding Point Given- I don't agree with him getting in but if they put AP Indy in the I guess you have to include Point Given. I wish they would take another look at Lure. How many Turf milers were better than him? Not too many.

Lure is and always will be the greatest horse ever not to win an Eclipse Award or be named a champion. Other than Secretariat, he is the only horse I know of to run a two turn race where every quarter mile was faster than the previous one.

[Jasonm921]

Who cares how many years?

I can show you high level claiming horses that have impressive earnings over a 6 year career. Come on Stevie gotta give a little better than that.

[kenwoodall2]

Lure is and always will be the greatest horse ever not to win an Eclipse Award or be named a champion. Other than Secretariat, he is the only horse I know of to run a two turn race where every quarter mile was faster than the previous one.
Track, surface, splits?

[sandpit]

Track, surface, splits?

It was the Bernard Baruch on the grass at Saratoga...can't find my pps, but he came from off the pace that day to best Paradise Creek and Fourstardave.

[Jasonm921]

1994 Bernard Baruch-24 3/5 (1 1/2 lengths back), 48 1/5 (1/2 length back), 1:11 2/5 (1/2 length back), 1:34 3/5 (lead), 1:46 (won). 112 Beyer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2y2b0UZWdw

When anyone of us is asked who was a better turf miler (an original Breeder's Cup race) than Lure and it is followed by a sigh, pause and a few seconds of pondering....then yeah it's time to put this horse in the Hall of Fame. If you put him in the starting gate with all the best turf milers in American history my guess is that he would be 8-1 or less. Put him in!

[keithw84]

While I don't disagree, Point Given won the Preakness, Belmont, Haskell and Travers; I think he was the first horse to win all four, but I could be wrong about that. I know he was the first to win 4 $1million races in a row. And if he hadn't gone to the track the morning of the Derby, we would be looking at him as one of the greats.

Spend a Buck has an unfortunate bias against him because his owners blew off the Preakness and Belmont for the Jersey Derby. Too bad, he sure looked like he had the good to be TC winner #12.

I'm also surprised people are questioning Point Given's credentials. Is there a good reason he should not be in the hall? Do people think his career was too short or something?

[affirmedny]

I'm not sure if Craig Perret is in the Hall of Fame but if he isn't and Romero got in before he did then that's wrong.

Perret won a Derby, Belmont and four BC races. Romero won 3 BC races.

[Jasonm921]

The length is the issue...unfortunately that is the game now.

[Jasonm921]

I think Perret belonged more so than Romero. Anyway, this system that they have now is jacked up. A jockey and trainer will be enshrined every year. How many worthy jockeys are there? There is going to be a point where they are enshrining faster than new jockeys (and trainers for that matter) are coming into the game. Nobody in the HOF sees this?

[Jasonm921]

I've always thought they have made some odd induction choices.....One that always thought was odd for it's timing was (and read carefully) Jerry Bailey's selection in 1995. Yeah he came off three BC Classic wins but he was just beginning to roll in his career. It's sought of like putting Tiger Woods into the HOF after his second Masters or Derek Jeter's Yankeeography.....the story is not fully told. Bailey was an exceptional rider (personally I thought he wasthe best) but 75 percent of his accomplishments have to be added to the plaque in Saratoga because they happened after he was inducted. Heck, if he was Hall of Fame caliber in May of 1995 then what status was he when he retired in 2006?

New York Handicap Triple (1984)
Jaipur Stakes
(1984, 1991, 1993, 1998, 2001, 2002)
Bonnie Miss Stakes
(1993, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2005)
Dubai World Cup (1996, 1997, 2001, 2002)
Prince of Wales's Stakes (2000)
Hollywood Gold Cup
(1992, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2003)
Pacific Classic Stakes (2004)
Del Mar Futurity (2000)
Palomar Breeders' Cup Handicap (2005)
Madison Stakes (2005)
Pimlico Special (1995, 1997, 2001)
Jockey Club Gold Cup (1995, 1997, 2001)
Arlington Million (2000, 2002)
Kentucky Oaks (1993, 2001, 2005)
American Classics / Breeders' Cup wins:
Kentucky Derby (1993, 1996)
Preakness Stakes (1991, 2000)
Belmont Stakes (1991, 2003)
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (1995, 1999)
Breeders' Cup Juvenile (1996, 1998, 2000)
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (1999, 2000)
Breeders' Cup Sprint (2001, 2002)
Breeders' Cup Mile (2003)
Breeders' Cup Classic
(1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2005)
Racing awards
George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (1992)
Mike Venezia Memorial Award (1993)
United States Champion Jockey by earnings
(1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Big Sport of Turfdom Award (1996)
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey
(1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Honours
United States Racing Hall of Fame (1995)

[Stevie Belmont]

Best Pal and Randy Romero are Hall of Famer's whether you like it or not. Both had super careers and earned it on the track.

I was able to see Point Given in person once. Hall of Famer hands down. A total monster. Belmont Stakes effort was one of the most impressive wins at a mile and a half I have ever seen. Simply spectacular.

I can show you high level claiming horses that have impressive earnings over a 6 year career. Come on Stevie gotta give a little better than that.

[joanied]

Best Pal and Randy Romero are Hall of Famer's whether you like it or not. Both had super careers and earned it on the track.

I was able to see Point Given in person once. Hall of Famer hands down. A total monster. Belmont Stakes effort was one of the most impressive wins at a mile and a half I have ever seen. Simply spectacular.

Right...they do belong:ThmbUp:
Point Given should have been a TC winner...and Gary Stevens knows it better than anyone...except maybe Baffert.

[Lasix67]

Congratulations to a homeboy in Randy Romero who without a doubt deserves the honor of being recognized in the Hall of Fame.

[Jasonm921]

If Best Pal is in ....I guess you think Lava Man is a hall of famer as well? If that is the case then Invasor would have to be....correct? Then actually so would Bernardini....since he was more dominant than Lava Man was in the "Man's" best year... When does the watering down stop?

[Pace Cap'n]

It's called the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of Exemplary Achievements. Therefore it would seem likely that as many are included for their renown as well as their accomplishments.