Despite results indicating that reigning Horse of the Year Curlin and his human connections were dominant in several performance and popular categories, undefeated filly champion Zenyatta was voted Horse of the Year 2008 in a poll of HRI Readers.

Zenyatta’s trainer John Sherriffs finished in a statistical dead heat with Curlin’s mentor Steve Asmussen for Trainer of the Year and Garrett Gomez’s domination of big ticket stakes races earned him recognition as HRI Readers’ Jockey of the Year.

In an interesting and entertaining racing year but one marred by tragedy and continuing controversy, HRI’s best and brightest fans and horseplayers have chosen the best of the best and, in other cases, the most disappointing.

Here, then, our staff’s questions and the readers’ responses, listed by category:

On Betting Synthetic Surfaces: No upset here, as 56 percent of responders indicated they bet less on synthetic surfaces than they do on conventional tracks.

Somewhat surprisingly, in our view, 30 percent said the surface didn’t matter where as only seven percent said they avoid synthetic tracks totally.

Given the amount of copy dedicated to this subject in all media, the editors thought more bettors would be inclined to reject the ersatz ovals.

Synthetic Performer of the Year: Zenyatta, by an overwhelming total of 82 percent of responders over the runnerup Colonel John with 14 percent.

Apparently, HRI readers are quite provincial about their horses: Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Raven’s Pass didn’t get a single vote. Tough crowd.

Most Profitable Type of Race to Bet On: This was surprising and indicates that the intellectual rift between fans and horseplayers is clearly delineated line.

Sixty percent of the responders voted down the middle, 30 percent each, on stakes horses and claimers.

Maidens were next at 17 percent, with allowance horses a profitable proposition with only five percent of the voters. HRI editors believed the claiming figure would be lower; allowance horses higher.

(Have to wonder whether regular contributor Wendell Corrow stuffed the ballot box?)

Best News We Could Read in 2009: We thought the 12th Triple Crown champion was the odds-on choice, but it finished second at 33 percent to Hialeah’s Reopening at 38 percent. Appointing a Racing Commissioner was third with 29 percent of the vote.

With all racing’s problems, if that doesn’t speak to the romance of the sport, nothing does.

Most Fan-Friendly Racetrack: As anticipated, Saratoga finished first. What was surprising, however, was a margin of 52 percent, compared to the unexpected runnerup, Tampa Bay Downs, at 22 percent.

Keeneland and Del Mar finished next, in that order.

Most Fan-Unfriendly Racetrack: Magna Entertainment, unfortunately, also as anticipated, completed the shameful exacta. Gulfstream Park garnered 50 percent of the vote, followed by Pimlico at 33 percent and Churchill Downs with 17 percent of the vote.

Best 2008 Race Meet: Also as expected, Saratoga finished first with a lofty 63 percent. Del Mar was next at 19 percent and Keeneland Fall at 11 percent, followed by Belmont Fall.

Disappointment of the Year: This one turned out to be a horse race, with Big Brown’s Belmont Stakes at 50 percent edging out Industry Leadership, which attracted 46 percent of responders.

Problem of the Year: Again, the largest focus was on the animals, as 44 percent of the voters thought Catastrophic Injury did the most harm to the sport‘s fans, followed by ADW Disputes (26 percent) and High Parimutuel Takeout (15 percent).

Most Under-Appreciated Rider: Somewhat arguably, the result was formful but the margins surprising. Rajiv Maragh out-voted Channing Hill by a 56 percent to 32 percent margin.

Our staff was surprised that E.T. Baird (12 percent) didn’t get more respect in this category, but the people have spoken.

Overrated Big Race Rider: Kent Desormeaux in a landslide, attracting 64 percent of the responders, over Javier Castellano, with 23.

Best Big Race Rider: Another landslide. Garrett Gomez received a whopping 61 percent of the vote with Edgar Prado a distant runnerup at 26.

Shockingly, there was no support for either Rafael Bejarano or Ramon Dominguez.

Owner of the Year: Jess Jackson (Curlin) by open lengths, 65 percent over the closest pursuer, Jerome Moss (Zenyatta), at 17 percent, with a dead heat for third between IEAH Stables (Big Brown) and Joe Allen (Peppers Pride).

Trainer of the Year: A dead-heat! Steve Asmussen (Curlin) and John Sherriffs (Zenyatta), each with 43 percent of the vote. Rick Dutrow (Big Brown) finished third.

Jockey of the Year: Again, Garrett Gomez with a resounding 57 percent, over Julien Leparoux at 29 percent. Robby Albarado was next with 11 percent.

Retired Horse We’re Going To Miss Most: Despite all the attendant publicity surrounding a Kentucky Derby winner attempting to sweep the Triple Crown, it is Curlin HRI readers will miss most by a margin of 51-to-29 percent over runnerup Big Brown.

Interesting, too, was the fact that 6 percent of the responders won’t miss any horse.

Fantastic Finishing Kick: Half our responders thought that recognition belonged to Stardom Bound for her championship defining performance in the Juvenile Fillies. Pyro’s Risen Star finish was the runnerup at 25 percent.

Performance of the Year: Zenyatta’s Ladies Classic impressed 44 percent of HRI’s responders by a solid margin over Big Brown’s Preakness.

Colonel John’s Travers and Proud Spell’s courageous Alabama effort received honorable mentions.