Whosleavingwho, 'Sin Tacha' co-champs

The race for the 2002 world champion title was the closest Quarter Horse race of the year with Streakin Sin Tacha and Whosleavingwho finishing in a dead heat and being named co-world champions.

The last co-world champions were Monita and Maddon's Bright Eyes, who shared the honor in 1951.

The announcement of the award presented by the American Quarter Horse Association came Wednesday night at the Heritage Place Sale in Oklahoma City.

In the voting conducted by the AQHA racing committee and selected media members, Streakin Sin Tacha and Whosleavingwho each failed to receive 50 percent of the initial vote, forcing a runoff. In the initial voting, Streakin Sin Tacha received 34 votes to Whosleavingwho's 26.

In the runoff, voters who didn't vote for Streakin Sin Tacha or Whosleavingwho were asked to choose between the two geldings. When the runoff votes were added to the original tally, each horse had 42 votes.

Streakin Sin Tacha, owned and trained by Janet VanBebber, won 4 of 6 starts last year with each of his wins coming in graded stakes races. He won three Grade 1 races - the MBNA America Texas Challenge, the MBNA America Challenge Championship, and the Championship at Sunland Park. He also won the Grade 2 Sam Houston Classic.

Whosleavingwho, owned by Jim Geiler and Kim Kessinger and trained by Paul Jones, won 3 of 6 starts with two Grade 1 stakes wins - the Go Man Go Handicap and the Champion of Champions. In the Champion of Champions he defeated Streakin Sin Tacha, who finished sixth. It was their only meeting.

Streakin Sin Tacha took the champion aged gelding and the champion aged horse titles in a runoff with Whosleavingwho. If one person who voted for Streakin Sin Tacha had voted for Whosleavingwho, the result would also have been a tie.

The champion aged mare title went to All American Gold Cup winner Significant Speed, who was the champion 3-year-old filly in 2000.

MBNA America East Challenge winner Jess Louisiana Blue was named champion aged stallion.

All American Futurity winner AB What a Runner, undefeated in four 2002 starts, is the champion 2-year-old and champion 2-year-old filly. In her All American Futurity trial, she ran the fastest 440 yards ever by a juvenile with a 20.993-second time. She won the overall 2-year-old title in a runoff with two-time Grade 1 winner First Place Queen.

Rainbow Futurity winner First to Flash was named champion 2-year-old colt.

West Texas Futurity winner Eye Opening Episode was voted champion 2-year-old gelding.

Two-time Grade 1 derby winner A Real Man won honors as champion 3-year-old and champion 3-year-old gelding. He won the Grade 1 Heritage Place Derby and the Grade 1 Remington Park Derby. He also placed in two Grade 1 derbies.

Bayer Legend Challenge Championship winner One Rare Bug was voted champion 3-year-old colt.

Dash For Cash Derby winner First Regards was named champion 3-year-old filly.

Sign of Lanty won his third straight champion distance horse title with two stakes wins, including the Grade 1 Marathon National. The only other horse to win three straight distance titles was Griswold (1991-93).

Jones, Sanchez win titles

Leading Los Alamitos trainer Paul Jones was named the 2002 champion trainer and leading Los Alamitos rider Ramon Sanchez took the 2002 title as champion jockey.

Jones, who trains Whosleavingwho, won 166 races in 2002, including 20 stakes.

Sanchez won 214 races last year, including 20 stakes races. He won Grade 1 races with four different horses.

Sandy Erwin, owner of champion 2-year-old gelding Eye Opening Episode, was named champion owner.

Jerry Windham was named champion breeder. He bred three horses who won Grade 1 stakes in 2002.