Matthew Stockman / Getty Images file

LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 06: Jockey Alex Solis sits atop Brother Derek #18 after the 132nd Kentucky Derby on May 6, 2006 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Must nominate Baffert (well, maybe next year)
Among the Top 100 trainers listed by earnings, sitting at No. 5 is Bob Baffert. Right, he’s NOT in the Hall of Fame, and he’s eligible. Got to nominate him.

But wait. What about Jerry Hollendorfer? Would there even be a Northern California circuit without him? Now look all the way down to No. 29. Are you kidding me? Carl Nafzger? He doesn’t have Baffert’s numbers, but he doesn’t have Baffert’s owners, either.

(I know I’m in the minority, but I must vote my Eclipse conscience: Curlin for Horse of Year; Nafzger for Trainer of the Year. Why? Because at the end of the day, Nafzger accomplished more working with a little less. And I‘m a huge Street Sense fan.)

Already mentioned Baird. But racing’s third winningest trainer, King Leatherbury, is eligible, as is Richard Hazelton, fifth on the all-time winners list. Will they, too, be victims of geography?

A glance at the Top 100 money earning jockeys shows Edgar Prado right behind Solis at No. 7, and he’s eligible. And did you know that Garrett Gomez, the new all-time single-season stakes king, is eligible, too.

At No. 35, nine slots behind Gomez, is Chris Antley. Does anyone deny his Hall of Fame talent? Or will a tragic off-track life and death be his legacy? Which begs the question, what about the eligible Patrick Valenzuela?

Don’t know if anyone’s thought of this, but if 500 home runs is one benchmark for entering the MLB Hall of Fame, so should members of the 6,000-win club, especially since only 15 jockeys have done it. Yet, David Gall (7,396), Larry Snyder, Carl Gambardella and, most recently, Mario Pino, are not Hall of Famers despite their qualifications.

It is with a measure of excitement and trepidation for my future workload, that I add these names (one per category limit) to the 2008 list of Hall of Fame nominees: Trainer: Carl Nafzger (Baffert next year, I promise). Jockey: Edgar Prado. Contemporary Male: Maybe Tiznow, maybe not. (Consecutive Classics loom large, an 8-for-15 career mark doesn’t). Female: Enough already.

The deadline is December 4. Probably will take that long to decide.

More news

Patrick Mcdermott / Getty Images

California board suspends O'Neill

Despite vigorously denying he gave one of his horses an illegal performance-enhancing mixture, trainer Doug O'Neill was suspended 45 days — a ban that won't take effect until after his superstar colt, I'll Have Another, tries to win the Triple Crown.

Mike Stewart / AP

Chasing the Crown

  Slideshow: I'll Have Another one win away from becoming the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.

Headlines

• Label

California board suspends O'Neill

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Judge allows suspended jockey back in saddle

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Analysis: I'll Have Another has a decent shot

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Bettor wins $71K-plus with Pick 9 at Arlington