ECLIPSE AWARDS Funny Cide beats out Empire Maker

Mineshaft was named Horse of the Year.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) -- Empire Maker had the best owner, jockey, trainer and breeder in thoroughbred racing last year. He also beat Funny Cide in two of their three head-to-head matchups.
But in the Eclipse Award balloting, he was no match for the gritty gelding who captivated racing in 2003.
Eight months after failing to run his rival down in a bid for the Triple Crown, Funny Cide won the battle for top 3-year-old honors at the Eclipse Awards on Monday night.
Mineshaft's seven victories and more than $2.2 million in 2003 earnings easily earned him Horse of the Year, one of several runaways in the annual voting for thoroughbred racing's most prestigious awards.
Yet Mineshaft was reduced to a mere subplot, as the most intriguing story had voters weighing Funny Cide's emergence as racing's darling against Empire Maker's three Grade I wins -- including at the Belmont, denying Funny Cide's shot at racing's first Triple Crown since 1978.
Big victories
Ultimately, Funny Cide's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes wins couldn't be ignored, and the gelding owned by Sackatoga Stable collected 150 of 247 votes cast. Empire Maker got 92.
Empire Maker's connections all took Eclipses in their respective categories. Juddmonte Farms won as top breeder for the third straight year, plus outstanding owner honors. Jockey Jerry Bailey joined Frankel in winning four straight Eclipses, increasing his record total to seven.
Azeri, the 2002 Horse of the Year who was 4-for-5 in 2003, edged Sightseek for the older female Eclipse. Sightseek won four Grade I races, but was a well-beaten fourth at the Breeders' Cup Distaff.
Richard Mandella-trainees swept the juvenile Eclipses. Action This Day won for 2-year-old male and Halfbridled, who won all four of her starts, took 247 of 248 votes in the 2-year-old filly balloting.
The closest vote was the 3-year-old fillies division, where Bird Town edged Six Perfections 96-94. Bird Town won the Acorn and Kentucky Oaks; Six Perfections won the Breeders' Cup mile and earned $1,256,076, but went winless in her last three starts.
Aldebaran took the sprinter Eclipse after winning five of eight starts and more than $1.1 million.
Irish-breds took both turf awards. High Chaparral won his second straight male turf Eclipse after winning more than $1.7 million and three of four starts. Islington took female honors, in large part for her win in the Breeders' Cup filly and mare turf.
McDynamo, who easily won all three of his starts, took top steeplechase honors. Eddie Castro won the Eclipse for top apprentice jockey after riding 216 winners in 2003.