Rachel Alexandra has won the first match-up between racing's leading ladies, beating out undefeated mare Zenyatta for Horse of the Year.Voters chose the fabulous filly for the year-end honour at the Eclipse Awards on Monday night (Tuesday pm AEDT) at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.Rachel Alexandra received 130 votes to 99 for Zenyatta in one of the tightest, most widely debated competitions in years.Now the question is whether Zenyatta will get to avenge the defeat.Owners Jerry and Ann Moss announce

Rachel Alexandra has won the first match-up between racing's leading ladies, beating out undefeated mare Zenyatta for Horse of the Year.

Voters chose the fabulous filly for the year-end honour at the Eclipse Awards on Monday night (Tuesday pm AEDT) at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Rachel Alexandra received 130 votes to 99 for Zenyatta in one of the tightest, most widely debated competitions in years.

Now the question is whether Zenyatta will get to avenge the defeat.

Owners Jerry and Ann Moss announced on Saturday the mighty mare would run as a six-year-old, perhaps setting up that long-awaited meeting with Rachel Alexandra.

As expected, Zenyatta won the Eclipse Award as the top older female for the second straight year while Rachel Alexandra was voted top three-year-old filly.

Her trainer, Steve Asmussen, took home the award for top trainer after breaking his own record for victories in a year.

Rachel Alexandra had one of the most impressive campaigns in history for a three-year-old, beating males three times and becoming the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness Stakes.

Her regal nature endeared her to countless fans as she travelled around the country, breaking records for largest margin of victory at the Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose.

As the announcement was made, people began shouting the names of both superstars in a room filled with finely dressed owners, breeders, jockeys and others in the industry.

When the winner's name was read, principal owner Jess Jackson moved forward to accept the award on behalf of Rachel Alexandra.

The Eclipse Awards are voted on by members of the National Turf Writers' Association, the Daily Racing Form and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

Zenyatta's connections have not said where or when Zenyatta will return to the track, although she has spent almost all of her career in Southern California.

One possibility for a showdown could be the Grade One Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas where she won on the dirt two years ago.

If they avoid each other until November, the Breeders' Cup is scheduled for Churchill Downs.

Zenyatta, with her incredible size and unequivocal heart, and Rachel Alexandra, with her speed and majesty, gave thoroughbred racing some much-needed positive publicity after lagging business and the high-profile breakdowns of Barbaro and Eight Belles in recent years.

Their fame stretched beyond the racetrack, too. Zenyatta recently ran second to tennis star Serena Williams in voting for the Female Athlete of the Year by members of The Associated Press.

Kenny Rice, who hosted Monday's black-tie awards dinner, called them the Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston of racing.

Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird, who lost to Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell and Zenyatta in the Classic, was top three-year-old colt.

Julien Leparoux, who rode three winners at the Breeders' Cup, was the year's best jockey.

Leparoux's Breeders' Cup winners included Informed Decision, who won an Eclipse Award as top female sprinter, and She Be Wild, who took top two-year-old filly honours.

Lookin at Lucky, whose only loss of the year was a close second at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, was voted top two-year-old male.

Gio Ponti was top older male, Kodiak Kowboy won for male sprinter, and Goldikova was top female turf horse.

Godolphin Racing was honoured as the best owner and Juddmonte Farms won top breeder.

The ritzy affair, where horsemen ditch their boots and baseball caps for tuxedos, was held one night after and just a few blocks away from Hollywood's Golden Globe Awards.

This year's ceremony was dedicated to Bobby Frankel, who died of cancer in November.

Winners throughout the night paid tribute to the Hall of Fame trainer, who won five Eclipse Awards as top trainer.