Rachel Alexandra – 2009 Horse of the Year

Rachel Alexandra did through the ballot box what no horse could do on the racetrack. In a compelling, highly anticipated showdown, Rachel Alexandra defeated Zenyatta for the 2009 Horse of the Year award, a result that was announced on Monday night at the 39th annual Eclipse Awards at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Rachel Alexandra received 130 first-place votes to 99 for Zenyatta from the 232 voters who returned ballots. Three voters abstained or did not vote.

All three voting blocs went for Rachel Alexandra. The National Turf Writers Association preferred Rachel Alexandra by 71 votes to 51. Daily Racing Form went for Rachel Alexandra by a 31-23 margin. And the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, which includes racing secretaries and members of Equibase, had Rachel Alexandra by 28-25.

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