Keywords: Athlete of the Year 2008, Curlin, Racing, Thoroughbreds
Top Athlete of 2008 - Curlin
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January 24, 2009
Jan Hoadley
Top Athlete of 2008 - Curlin
A horse as the top athlete of 2008? Have I been sniffing the liniment? I mean what a year for sports! Any year that the Olympics is held that certainly brings outstanding achievements on top of the "normal" sports that happen and there are many athletes that are worthy of being named the best athlete of 2008. However my consideration within the athlete realm doesn't include just humans, is based on athletic accomplishment alone.He is, indeed, an athlete who rose to the top of his game taking on the best the world has to offer. He never assaulted a photographer or was involved in indiscretions, although his name was linked to legal battles. He never saw a dime of the money himself and his means of celebration was the same for winning a million dollar competition as he did in his lone off the board start. Curlin has little use for the things people value.He's got a fan website of GoCurlin.com and the son of Smart Strike out of Sherriff's Deputy by Deputy Minister was named for soldier, coal miner and farmer Charles Curlin, a slave in Kentucky who died in Tennessee in 1925. Curlin the horse came into the 2007 Kentucky Derby with undefeated credentials but ran third before a winning effort bounce in the Preakness. He returned to win the Jockey Gold Cup and the Breeders Cup Classic.Of course that was last year. That doesn't and shouldn't affect this year's accomplishments so returning as a four year old Curlin was unaware of anything but the job ahead. He won the Dubai World Cup taking on the best horses in the world. Returning to the USA he then won the Stephen Foster Handicap, was second on the grass in the Man O War Stakes then won the Woodward Stakes.He'd accomplished much but he was taking on history when entered in the Jockey Gold Cup again. He not only won the race but in doing so became the all time money earning Thoroughbred in history. He holds the record of $10,501,800 and has back to back wins of the race. The chestnut with the bold white stripe on the face was fourth in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic, which was run on a synthetic track.Unlike human counterparts Curlin doesn't rely on his own achievements but looks for his buddy Pancho, a 16 year old quarter horse. Curlin entered the Breeder's Cup with a 6-4-1-0 record for 2008 and just shy of $5.3 million in 2008 only.He was the first Thoroughbred to break the $10million ceiling; he's campaigned on the Triple Crown and Breeders Cup trail as a three year old and unlike many competitors returned at 4 to travel to Dubai, then return to the USA to compete at the top level. There was consideration of traveling to Japan but there were quarantine regulations that prevented a Japan Cup Dirt start.Curlin bid farewell to the track at Churchill Downs in late November. Now retired to Lane's End where he will stand stud beginning in 2009 for $75,000, Curlin. He has proved his meddle on the track. He now must prove he can pass on his soundness, speed and heart. He is a candidate for Horse of the Year honors, a title he earned last year. His overall record lifetime is 15 starts, 11 wins with 9 of those black type wins, twice second and twice third. He won from 7 furlongs to a mile and a quarter. In defending his Gold Cup win he came three wide from the turn and was hand ridden to a seemingly easy win without ever feeling the whip.He's taken on the best. He's set records. He's presented himself as a professional and gave a solid effort every time out with no excuses. As an athlete this warrants athlete of 2008 consideration.
Posted by Jan Hoadley
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