The America’s Best Racing Fan Choice Awards will include a dozen categories. (Photo credit: Penelope Miller/ABR)).
America’s Best Racing (ABR), a multimedia fan-development and awareness-building platform designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America’s best Thoroughbred racing events with a primary focus on the sport’s lifestyle and competition, announced the creation of the inaugural “America’s Best Racing Fan Choice Awards,” including a partnership with the Secretariat Vox Populi Award. To celebrate the Fan Choice Awards, Keeneland Select will offer one randomly chosen voter a $10,000 win bet.
The digital and social media-centric America’s Best Racing Fan Choice Awards will provide racing fans the opportunity to have their voices heard in a manner that is direct, meaningful, and interactive. Voting for the awards runs from November 6-20, shortly after the 2019 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
AmericasBestRacing.net will host the online voting process for the awards, which are designed to be fun, compelling, and fan-friendly. Voting will be limited to one vote per email address. There will be 12 award categories, with five finalists per category:
Secretariat Vox Populi Horse of 2019
Best Race of 2019
Best Trainer of 2019
Best Jockey of 2019
Best Racetrack to Watch a Race
Best Racetrack for Bettors
Best Racing Fashion Event of 2019
Best Racetrack Food
Best Racetrack Cocktail
Best Racing Podcast of 2019
Best Racing Analyst of 2019
Best Race Call of 2019
ABR will partner with the esteemed Secretariat Vox Populi Award and fold it into the America’s Best Racing Fan Choice Awards as it specifically relates to the most popular horse of 2019. The Secretariat Vox Populi Award was inaugurated in 2010 and annually recognizes the horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the general public and gained recognition for Thoroughbred racing. “Vox Populi” is a Latin expression that means “voice of the people,” indicative how this award has led the industry in engaging fans to acclaim their favorite equine stars.
As part of the agreement, voting for the Vox Populi Horse of 2019 will be jointly available at both AmericasBestRacing.net and Secretariat.com, while voting for the 11 remaining categories will be exclusively hosted at AmericasBestRacing.net.
Breeders’ Cup Sweepstakes
Additionally, every fan who votes and submits a ballot will be automatically entered into a sweepstakes giveaway wherein one lucky winner will be selected to win a VIP trip for two to the 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course, including the opportunity to place a $10,000 win bet presented by Keeneland Select on the Breeders’ Cup Classic, airfare, hotel, a tour of Horse Country, VIP Trophy Lounge seats, and more.
“We’re excited to provide the fans with an opportunity to have their voices heard through the inaugural America’s Best Racing Fan Choice Awards,” TJC Media Ventures President Stephen B. Panus said. “The awards will celebrate the best of the sport and lifestyle of Thoroughbred racing and honor the passion and avidity of fans of American horse racing. We’re also pleased to partner with the Secretariat Vox Populi Award, as we share a common goal of supporting the voice of the fans, and with Keeneland Select, for their commitment to enhance the sweepstakes giveaway for those who vote in the Fan Choice Awards. One lucky voter will be selected and rewarded with the chance to make a dream bet worth $10,000 on the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Classic hosted at Keeneland Race Course.”
“The Secretariat Vox Populi and the America’s Best Racing Awards is a collaboration that is promising for both racing fans and for the sport,” said Kate Tweedy, daughter of Vox Populi founder Penny Chenery. “It is an example of how the industry can forge partnerships, support one another’s efforts, and still maintain an organization’s own identity. My mother was proud of the way fans embraced the Vox Populi to share their love for their favorite equine stars, and she would have been thrilled to see the award joined with this innovative venture.”
“Keeneland Select is thrilled to be part of the America’s Best Racing Fan Choice Awards,” said Christa Marrillia, vice president and chief marketing officer, Keeneland Association Inc. “We share ABR’s passion for engaging with the fans and are excited to offer one lucky winner the opportunity to place the bet of a lifetime using Keeneland Select during next year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic hosted at Keeneland Race Course. And, of course, we will provide the winner with counsel from Keeneland’s fan education experts, the Keeneland BETologists.”
Upon the conclusion of the voting process, ABR will produce, in conjunction with NYRA, a digital video show to unveil the winners of the America’s Best Racing Fan Choice Awards, which will be hosted and aired at AmericasBestRacing.net in mid-December and subsequently will be aired on Fox Sports 2.
