The public has elected Big Buck鈥檚 their Horse of the Year after the inaugural vote for the prestigious title, announced at today鈥檚 Anglo-Irish Jump Racing Awards in London.
The Champion Staying Hurdler usurped stablemate Kauto Star, last year鈥檚 winner, securing an impressive 32% per cent of over 1,500 votes cast on britishhorseracing.com and was declared the winner at the Awards by special guest James Nesbitt.
While Big Buck鈥檚 unbeaten season won over the hearts of the voting public, Imperial Commander earned his place as runner-up in the contest following his courageous performance in the totesport Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Officials from both the British and Irish Authorities decided to make the celebrated Horse of the Year Award vote public to celebrate yet another vintage season for British and Irish Jump Racing, having nominated the shortlist based on the five horses鈥� official rating and role in promoting the sport.
Nic Coward, British Horseracing Authority Chief Executive, commented: 鈥淲ith such a stellar line up of contenders for this Award, it would have been difficult to predict the winner. However, the public has spoken and with four wins to his name, including three Grade 1 victories, there is no more deserving champion than Big Buck鈥檚.
鈥淭hank you to all those who cast their vote on britishhorseracing.com – we are delighted at the support and number of votes received. This only goes to show that British and Irish Jump Racing continues to go from strength to strength, underlined by the sheer quality of the horses shortlisted for this Horse of the Year Award.鈥�
The five shortlisted contenders (in the order voted by the public) were:
路听听听听听听听听 Big Buck鈥檚: Trained by 聽Paul Nicholls and owned by The Stewart Family
路听听听听听听听听 Imperial Commander: Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and owned by Our Friends In The North
路听听听听听听听听 Kauto Star: Trained by Paul Nicholls and owned by Clive Smith
路听听听听听听听听 Denman: Trained by Paul Nicholls and owned by Harry Findlay and Paul Barber
路听听听听听听听听 Binocular: Trained by Nicky Henderson and owned by J P McManus
