BEST OF 2000
1: Sunline: Defended the Cox Plate, invaded Hong Kong for the Mile and smashed the Australasian stakes record. Need we say more?
2: Michael Walker: Won premiership in first season of riding. Won Hawkesbury Cup on first day's riding in Australia. And this is only the start.
3: Brew's Melbourne Cup: Son of two Kiwi champions won the big one for Mike Moroney, who also saddled third-placed Second Coming.
4: Lyell Creek: Went through last season undefeated, winning trotting's triple crown. Rated the best squaregaiter ever in NZ.
5: Yulestar's New Zealand Cup: Demolished world record for 3200m as trainer Lorraine Nolan became first woman to win the cup.
6: Boom baby: Karaka was stunned by the record $3.6 million paid for a yearling at the sales in February.
7: Royal Ways: The new King of the Hill after defending his Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie in June. Can he make it three?
8: Holmes D G'S Miracle Mile: Unbelievable training performance by Barry Purdon to overcome horror preparation into Sydney's sizzling sprint.
9: The boys are back in town: Champion jockeys Grant Cooksley and David Walsh come home to boost the local ranks, while Lance O'Sullivan returns from injury.
10: Bale invasion: The domination of greyhound racing by Aussie imports, headed by dogs with Bale in their name.
DISAPPOINTMENTS OF 2000
1: Losing Courage: Courage Under Fire left us a New Zealand champion, returned an Aussie joke. A shame.
2: Bye bye Buzz: The shock death of star 3-year-old Buzz Lightyear in Australia.
3: Cup call-off: The year started badly when the Auckland Cup and Railway were postponed from New Year's Day because of a slippery track. The worst of many similar incidents.
4: Ad Alta: The wonderful Matamata mare died of a heart attack on the way to the post for a Melbourne feature.
5: Creek dries up: If Lyell Creek hadn't been beaten on Show Day he would hold the record for consecutive wins by any New Zealand horse.
6: Interdominions: We sent Christian Cullen, Courage Under Fire, Holmes D G and Yulestar, and still got done. Again.
7: Golden boy: The death of exciting stallion Gold Brose.
8: Aussie mane drain: It is great winning all the big races in Aussie, but wouldn't you love to see Sunline, Kaapstad Way and Showella racing at home more often?
9: The NZ Derby: Stars And Stripes undoubtedly cost Hunka Hickling the race, but the JCA didn't see it that way.
10: Gallops Six Pack: How good, or lucky, do you have to be and why bother trying?
Herald Online features:
2000 - Year in Review
2000 - Month by month
2000 - The obituaries
Racing: The best and worst moments of 2000
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