Columnist Ralph Siraco: Eclipse Awards honor horse racing’s best of ‘03

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Jan. 26, 2004 | 10:02 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

The 33rd annual Eclipse Awards dinner will be tonight at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Fla. The Oscars of thoroughbred racing will honor top achievements and crown the Horse Of The Year as the main event.

Hall Of Fame jockey Gary Stevens will be the master of ceremonies. Stevens, who also had a role in the blockbuster movie "Seabiscuit," will be handing out hardware reflecting the top votes from the three bodies who cast ballots to determine each category winner.

Members of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers Association annually present the Eclipse Awards recognizing excellence in Thoroughbred racing.

As a voting member of the NTWA, here are my selections as cast by category for the best of 2003.

My vote: Action This Day.

My vote: Halfbridled.

My vote: Funny Cide.

My vote: Six Perfections.

My vote: Mineshaft.

My vote: Azeri.

My vote: Cajun Beat.

My vote: Storming Home.

My vote: Islington.

My vote: Robert Frankel.

My vote: Jerry Bailey.