Ghostzapper: finest hour came at Lone Star Park in Breeders' Cup Classic
PICTURE: Edward WhitakerGhostzapper and Velazquez honoured
USA: Top jockey John Velazquez and 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Ghostzapper are among four names set to be inducted into the US Racing Hall of Fame as the class of 2012.
British-born trainer Roger Attfield, who emigrated to Canada in 1970, and the late Bob Wheeler will join them in the Hall of Fame after the induction ceremony at Saratoga in August.
Among the six who failed to make the cut this year from a list of ten possibles were jockeys Calvin Borel, Garrett Gomez and Alex Solis.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES 2012
Ghostzapper
Horse of the Year in 2004 when the son of Awesome Again was unbeaten in four starts for the late Bobby Frankel, including an all-the-way victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Lone Star Park. Owned by Frank Stronach, he won nine of his 11 career starts and is now a stallion at Adena Springs in Paris, Kentucky.
John Velazquez
Dual Eclipse Award-winning jockey (2004 and 2005) who has won 4,803 races in the USA earning more than $263 million. Has won nine Breeders' Cup races and 22 riding titles on the New York circuit. Won first Kentucky Derby last year with Animal Kingdom. Age 40.
Roger Attfield
Newbury-bornAttfield is recognised as Canada's finest trainer, having emigrated in 1970. Based at Woodbine in Toronto, he has won that nation's Sovereign Award eight times. Among his 1,700-plus winners are three Canadian Triple Crown winners (Izvestia, With Approvaland Peteski) and eight Queen's Plate victors. Won first Breeders' Cup race in 2011 with Perfect Shirl (Filly & Mare Turf). Age 67.
Bob Wheeler
All-time great on west coast, sending out more than 1,300 winners over six decades in a training career spanned nearly 45 years from 1938 to 1992, among them 56 stakes-winning horses for owners CV Whitney, Greentree Stable and Nelson Bunker Hunt. Died 1992.
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