Hot Rod Charlie , the intrepid 3-year-old pony has been a force along the Triple Crown trail and throughout the season, has been named the winner of the 2021 Secretariat Vox Populi Award, it was announced today. December 11th.
Created by Secretariat owner Penny Chenery, the annual award recognizes a horse whose popularity and excellence in the race most resonates with the public each year, recognized for the Thoroughbred race.
Emerging as the favorite among thousands of fans who voted in an online year-end poll, the son of Oxbow He started the season off as a long shot but consistently displayed the pace and determination that saw him finish fourth in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Hot Rod Charlie, who is watching the season finale in the San Antonio Stakes (G2) on December 26 before his bid at the Dubai World Cup (G1) in Meydan in March 2022, is owned by relations. partners with Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and Bill Strauss. Coached by Doug O’Neill, he surprisingly won the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) and finished third in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). He kept running second to Necessary quality at the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1), where his blistering score in the first quarter of a mile matched the record-setting pace set by the Secretariat in 1973. Late in the year, Hot Rod Charlie was then eliminated in TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) with a score in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), his first grade 1 win.
SEE: 3 things you probably didn’t know about Hot Rod Charlie
The foal’s thrilling performances and his tenacity on the track have won the hearts of racing fans. Completing the money for 5 of his 7 starts in 2021, Hot Rod Charlie has racked up over $2 million in earnings in 2021 and is poised for a sensational 4-year season in 2022. racetrack, his owner donated a portion of Hot Rod Charlie’s Earnings to activities such as the Melanoma Research Coalition to honor members of the O’Neill family who have battled cancer. disease, as well as the Folds of Honor Foundation and the Jake Panus Walk-On Football Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of South Carolina.
Penny Chenery’s daughter and family historian Kate Chenery Tweedy said: “Hot Rod Charlie represents the heart and purpose of the Secretariat’s Vox Populi Awards, and the story is as exciting as it is daring. His performance as a competitor reminds us why we love racing.” “Traditional awards may overlook his achievements, but this award honors his esteemed relationship with his fans.”
Roadrunner Racing’s Greg Helm, representing Hot Rod Charlie’s ownership, expressed gratitude for the honor, bestowed upon the field of talent of the candidates.
“This pony has given our team an incredible ride this year and we are delighted that it has been recognized as the winner of the Vox Populi Award,” said Helm. “We saw something special in him early on, and ‘Charlie’ has attested to that time and time again. It means a lot to us that fans have also connected. with him.”
Hot Rod Charlie was one of a group of six candidates selected by the Vox Populi Commission and presented to thousands of voters in all 50 states and more than 40 countries, who spoke as “Voices” of the People” in Secretary.com online poll. The other nominees are Echo Zulu , Basic Quality, Knicks Go , Letruska , and Life is good . Voters also have the option of writing in their own favorite candidate to recognize other exceptional horses, such as the recently retired Canadian Sprinter. Pink Lloyd .
Hot Rod Charlie joins Real (2020), Brick and mortar (2019), Winx (2018), Ben’s Cat (2017), California Chrome (2016 and 2014), American pharoah (2015), Mucho Macho Man (two thousand and thirteen), Payer (2012), Rapid Redux (2011), and Zenyatta (2010).
