Main Sequence wins the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Photo by © Breeders’ Cup/Gary Bogdon 2014
From a Maryland Racing Media Association release
Four-time Grade 1 winner Main Sequence is the Maryland-based Horse of the Year for 2014, the Maryland Racing Media Association announced today.
He received the honor via a unanimous vote of the organization’s membership. The Maryland-based Horse of the Year program honors the best horse trained primarily in Maryland, regardless of where they race or where they were bred.
Main Sequence, trained by Graham Motion at the Fair Hill Training Center for owner-breeder Flaxman Holdings, Ltd., was imported to the United States following a disappointing winless 2013 campaign. But once installed in his new Fair Hill home, the gelded son of Aldebaran-Ikat, by Pivotal became a different horse.
He won all four of his 2014 starts, all in Grade 1 company. After narrow scores in the United Nations, Sword Dancer, and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, Main Sequence punctuated his banner year with a flashy half-length win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
That win wrapped up divisional Eclipse Awards for Main Sequence in the Turf Male and Older Male categories. He also finished second, to California Chrome, for Horse of the Year.
“I want to commend Main Sequence for his exceptional 2014 campaign,” said Maryland Racing Media Association president Ted Black. “His accomplishments this year certainly make him worthy of becoming our first-ever unanimous choice for Maryland-based Horse of the Year.”
For the year, Main Sequence earned more than $2.6 million, pushing his career earnings to $3,298,386 with eight wins from 18 starts.
“Anytime you have a horse win four Grade 1 races in a row and get recognized with the Eclipse Award, then it definitely gives you plenty to remember and it gives people something to remember you for, ” reflected trainer Graham Motion, who described himself as “thrilled” with the added honor. “It’s difficult enough to win four races in a row, let alone four Grade 1 races without a chink in the armor along the way.”
Main Sequence and his connections will be honored at a February 14 luncheon at Laurel Park. That is also the day of the Maryland Racing Media Stakes, as well as the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie.
Founded in 1937, the Maryland Racing Media Association includes professionals involved in disseminating information about Thoroughbred racing and breeding. The organization runs a scholarship fund, which provides scholarships to people working in the state’s Thoroughbred industry seeking to further their educations; and it was one of the founding organizations, along with the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, of the Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame.
This is a hokey award, MD. breds have not sunk so far that we need to make awards yet for horses who are based here but bred elsewhere. “Maryland-based Horse of the Year” is meaningless, and a cry of desperation.
Thanks for checking in, Roscoe — but …well… nonsense. The Md-based Horse of the Year has been given out for decades by the Racing Media Association. The Horse Breeders Assoc. continues to give out, as it always has, the Md-bred Horse of the Year awards. This is a separate program recognizing the best based in Maryland — nothing hokey or desperate about it.