Eclipse Award voting for Horse of the Year opens December 13. Leading up to the day, we will ask a series of industry participants–some with a vote and some without–who they think should be Horse of the Year.
Steve Cauthen, winner of the 1978 Triple Crown aboard Affirmed:
For me, the Triple Crown winner is definitely Horse of the Year, anytime there is one, in my opinion. I think what Justify did was pretty special, not even accounting for who he beat, but just considering he won his first race in January and supposedly bruised his foot after the Derby. Maybe that's some of the reason the Preakness was closer than any of others, but basically, that's what great horses do. They overcome stuff and still win. I think he had more in the tank, had that horse come to him sooner. He was just an impressive horse, the way he did it. I would have loved to have seen him run on and finish the year, and run in the Classic, but obviously, he was such a valuable horse that I understand why they wouldn't want to take the risk. The only other horse who could be Horse of the Year is Accelerate and obviously, he had a great year, but I don't see how you could say it was a better year. I always have to lean toward the Triple Crown winner. Nothing less than a great horse wins the Triple Crown. There have been a lot who have gotten close, but it takes a great one to win it.
Cauthen does not a have a vote.
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