Features

Story of the year? Like it or not – strangely some don’t seem to admit it – came and went in a pretty short stretch of time from February 18 to June 9. That’s exactly the stretch of time Justify went from unraced maiden looking to defy history to undefeated and dominating Triple Crown winner.

And then there were two. We’re down to the final pair of most popular stories according to you, our valuable readers, here at This Is Horse Racing. Any guesses what they’ll be? Certainly you’ve formulated an opinion following along for the better part of a week.

We said it a few days ago on the countdown, remarking that 2018 will be remembered for everything from Justify, Accelerate, Monomoy Girl, Diversify, Mind Your Biscuits and other stars of the sport. Sadly the year will also be remembered like many others for the losses the sport endured, from some notable pillars of the game to those behind the scenes but not less heartbreaking.

Gun Runner dominated racing in 2017, winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic and three other Grade 1s and his brilliant run stretched into the start of 2018 with a Horse of the Year title and one final victory in the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park.

The year will be remembered for many things, from Justify’s odds-defying run through the Triple Crown, Monomoy Girl’s definitive campaign and Accelerate’s door-slamming dominance at the classic distance.

One of our favorite things at This Is Horse Racing, The Saratoga Special or anything else we do is meeting the horses that make our great game go.

We follow the mantra “stick to horse racing” for the most part all year long. Not because anyone tells us to, because for the most part they don’t. We stick to it because it’s what we know best and we know there are more than enough outlets in the world for people to satisfy their appetite for views on politics or current events.

The countdown rolls on hopefully while you’re settling in for some wonderful Christmas Eve celebrations and traditions.

The Saratoga meet always figures prominently into everything we do throughout the year, especially the days leading up to and including the season itself, and 2018 proved no exception.

Three days before Christmas means one thing and one thing only at This Is Horse Racing. No, it’s not time for a slate of four bowl games, last-minute shopping quality time on the couch or perhaps a little jazzed up eggnog – not that those are bad things. The end of 2018 means it is time to start the countdown of the most well read stories of the year here at TIHR.