Steve Haskin

MODERATOR: We've had a tremendous response, so let's get right into it...

Ormond Beach, FL:
Do you think the Breeders' Cup has become the "benchmark" by which voters decide Horse of the Year or are they still able to look at the entire season with regards to deciding? I'm thinking here of Afleet Alex, who I think more than proved the term "heart" just by "surviving" the Preakness, never mind WINNING it!

Haskin:
I think the Breeders' Cup has been the benchmark for most of its existence. That is both good and bad. Although it provides racing with a big year-end event that was designed to decide championships it has also turned the sport's historic and prestigious races into mere preps. It was better in many ways when voters had to actually think about what they were doing and analyze each performance rather than simply go by one race, which often does not have the early-season heroes, for one reason or another. Afleet Alex did define the word heart, but many voters will feel heart is not enough to warrant being voted Horse of the Year. For those who don't rush their vote and really think about it, a case can certainly be made for Alex, based on what he accomplished in all his races. In my opinion, both he and Saint Liam would be a deserving winner, but like Smarty Jones last year, it'll be probably be decided by what have you done lately? That is just the nature of people.

Bloomsburg, PA:
Just read your Breeders' Cup retrospective article on the web site and enjoyed it as I do all of your writings. I have been a Henny Hughes fan since his impressive win at Saratoga this summer. How do you rate his effort in the Bessemer Trust Juvenile? Thanks as always and keep up the wonderful work you do.

Haskin:
Thanks so much. I wasn't surprised by Henny Hughes' performance; he took too much the worst of it in the Champagne. He has proven his brilliance, and you had to admire the way he fought back in the Juvenile. I'm still not sure if he'll be as effective at classic distances, but he could be a Lion Heart type who is capable of winning on any given day under the right circumstances. In short, I think a lot more of him now than I did when he was winning those sprint stakes.

To read the complete transcript of this chat, along with many others, check out Best of Talkin’ Horses.

Best of Talkin’ Horses features provocative “chats” with some of Thoroughbred racing’s most prominent names. Adapted from “Talkin’ Horses,” the popular weekly online chat series hosted by Bloodhorse.com, this edited collection provides additional insights by Ron Mitchell, editor and moderator of “Talkin’ Horses."