The 54th annual Eclipse Awards will likely be offered on Jan. 23, 2025, at The Breakers Palm Seashore, a resort in Florida. There are 17 classes, for each people and horses, to find out the most effective in Thoroughbred racing annually.
One such class is the Eclipse Award for excellent apprentice jockey. The award has been offered yearly because the first ceremony in 1971, and has been received by 54 completely different riders in that stretch (there was a tie in 1997). It’s the equal of a Rookie of the 12 months award in different sports activities, and plenty of of its recipients have gone on to realize nice success within the saddle.
Let’s have a look again on the prime ten riders to win this prestigious award.
All statistics listed below are as of Jan. 6, 2025, and embody North American totals solely.
10. DRAYDEN VAN DYKE (2014 OUTSTANDING APPRENTICE)
CAREER WINS: 861
CAREER EARNINGS: $55,013,243
Van Dyke burst onto the scene in Southern California in his rookie yr, profitable 192 races from 1,178 mounts. In 2014, he received his first graded stakes, taking the Pucker Up Stakes on Sistas Stroll, and added his first Grade 1 win a number of months afterward Ring Weekend within the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes.
Van Dyke had his finest yr so far in 2018. That yr, he received each the summer time and fall driving titles on the prestigious Del Mar meet, and received his first Breeders’ Cup race on Stormy Liberal within the Turf Dash. His 22% profitable share that yr is the very best of his profession so far. Van Dyke stepped away in October 2023 and took a hiatus from driving to deal with himself, however returned to driving with a brand new base at Gulfstream Park and received 52 races in 2024.
9. SHAUN BRIDGMOHAN (1998)
CAREER WINS: 3,404
CAREER EARNINGS: $143,997,020
A local of Jamaica, Bridgmohan moved to the USA within the early Nineteen Nineties, and commenced driving at Calder Race Course in Miami in 1997. In early 1998, he started driving on the robust New York circuit, however instantly started to ascertain his presence. On Feb. 15, he received six races on the day at Aqueduct. At yr’s finish, he had received 199 races, incomes him the apprentice Eclipse.
After spending his first few years in New York, Bridgmohan has spent most of his profession driving within the Midwest. Throughout his profession prime, he primarily spent winters driving at Truthful Grounds in New Orleans and at Churchill Downs within the spring and fall. Maybe his greatest second within the saddle got here in 2002, when he guided the grey New York veteran Night Apparel to victory within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup. Bridgmohan’s 3,404 wins are seventh amongst jockeys to win the apprentice Eclipse.
8. PACO LOPEZ (2008)
CAREER WINS: 4,038
CAREER EARNINGS: $152,575,440
A local of Mexico, Lopez additionally began off on the South Florida circuit. He rode his first winner at Calder in 2007 and earned the apprentice Eclipse the next yr with a 229-win season. His 22% win price that yr stays tied for the third-highest of his profession.
Lopez has finished his finest work at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. He’s been the main rider there 11 instances, the second-most titles in monitor historical past. In the course of the 2019 meet, he received 109 races from 325 mounts for an unimaginable 34% win price. That yr, he set profession highs for wins (283) and earnings ($10.9 million), which he surpassed in 2021 with 321 wins and $12.2 million in earnings. He additionally grew to become in 2021 the seventh apprentice Eclipse Award-winning jockey to succeed in 3,000 profession wins.
On Oct. 6, 2024, Lopez guided Governor Sam to victory within the Indian Summer season Stakes Introduced by Keeneland Choose at Keeneland Race Course to earn the 4,000th win of his profession. He closed the 2024 season with $12,380,715, a brand new career-best mark edging his earlier prime set in 2021.
7. TYLER GAFFALIONE (2015)
CAREER WINS: 2,512
CAREER EARNINGS: $173,257,455
The son of former jockey Steve Gaffalione, Tyler started driving at Gulfstream Park in 2014 and nearly immediately grew to become one in every of Florida’s prime riders. In 2015, he received 217 races from 1,419 mounts, with nearly all of them at Gulfstream. In 2016, he received the summer time meet driving title at Gulfstream for the primary of three consecutive instances.
Gaffalione has since taken his driving abilities to a nationwide stage. In 2018, he started driving at Keeneland throughout their fall and spring meets, and he rode at Saratoga Race Course for his or her whole meet for the primary time the following yr. He received his first Grade 1 on Salty within the 2018 La Troienne Stakes offered by Twinspires.com and earned his first Triple Crown race win on Struggle of Will within the 2019 Preakness Stakes. In 2021, he reached a brand new profession finest in purse earnings with $19.2 million, a short-lived benchmark that he obliterated in 2022 when he earned $27.3 million throughout a marketing campaign that included Breeders’ Cup wins on Caravel (Turf Dash) and Marvel Wheel (Juvenile FIllies) amongst seven Grade 1 victories.
Gaffalione’s profession trajectory continued the upward pattern in 2024 as he ranked third amongst all North American jockeys by purse earnings with $28,987,644 and sixth nationally by wins with 250. He’s a finalist for the Eclipse Award as excellent jockey.
6. RICHARD MIGLIORE (1981)
CAREER WINS: 4,450
CAREER EARNINGS: $160,205,725
Though maybe better-known now as an analyst on America’s Day on the Races, Migliore was a longtime presence within the New York jockey colony for many years. A local of Lengthy Island, N.Y., Migliore received the apprentice Eclipse in 1981 with 298 wins. That mark remained a career-high all through Migliore’s profession, though he received 200-plus races in a yr three extra instances.
Aside from some years in Southern California towards the tip of his profession, Migliore spent just about his whole 30-year profession in New York. He received 25 Grade 1 races in his profession, together with three on the John Kimmel-trained mare Hidden Lake in 1997. In 2008, he received his first Breeders’ Cup race by guiding Desert Code to an upset win within the inaugural Turf Dash.
Throughout his tenure in New York, Migliore was the recipient of a number of awards. In 1981 and 1985, he received the Eddie Arcaro Award because the excellent rider in New York. In 2003, he received the Mike Venezia Award, for excellent sportsmanship and citizenship.
An accident in January 2010 ended Migliore’s driving profession. Along with his work with NYRA on FOX Sports activities, he’s additionally labored for HRTV and XBTV.
5. JULIEN LEPAROUX (2006)
CAREER WINS: 3,009
CAREER EARNINGS: $200,086,969
The French-born Leparoux moved to the USA in 2003 and commenced his driving profession at Saratoga in 2005. In 2006, he received three driving titles, taking the winter title at Turfway Park, the spring title at Keeneland, and the spring-summer title at Churchill Downs. He received 12 graded stakes that yr with three of them approaching the highest grass mare Gorella. He received 403 races in whole in 2006 to guide all American jockeys. For that season, he was an almost unanimous winner of the excellent apprentice Eclipse Award, whereas ending in fourth place within the voting for excellent jockey.
Since then, Leparoux has established himself as one of many prime grass jockeys within the nation. He’s received 10 driving titles at Keeneland alone and has completed within the prime 10 in yearly earnings for American jockeys eight instances. In 2009, Leparoux received the Eclipse Award as excellent jockey, turning into the fourth rider to win the award as an apprentice after which as a journeyman. He loved maybe his biggest success because the common rider of the good racemare Tepin. In 2015, they teamed as much as win 4 graded stakes, together with the Breeders’ Cup Mile, one in every of seven Breeders’ Cup wins in Leparoux’s profession. In 2016, Tepin and Leparoux received the Queen Anne Stakes on the prestigious Royal Ascot meet.
Leparoux achieved a major milestone in 2024 as he earned his 3,000th profession win Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs with a victory aboard Pike Place, turning into the eighth Eclipse Award winner within the apprentice class to take action, and in January 2025 he surpassed $200 million in profession purse earnings.
4. CASH ASMUSSEN (1979)
CAREER WINS: 923
CAREER EARNINGS: $24,406,833
Asmussen is likely one of the few riders to expertise nice success on two continents. Born in South Dakota and raised in Texas, Asmussen started his profession in 1978 on the age of 16, spending the summer time driving at Monmouth Park. That fall, he would usually pull doubleheaders, driving at Belmont Park in the course of the day and on the Meadowlands at evening.
In 1979, he captured the excellent apprentice Eclipse Award with a 236-win season, whereas driving nearly completely in New York. He was even higher the next yr, profitable 279 races whereas incomes greater than $5.3 million.
In 1982, Asmussen moved his tack to France, driving first name for the legendary proprietor Stavros Niarchos. Virtually instantly, Asmussen loved nice success in Europe. In 1985, he received the Cravache d’Or award as France’s prime jockey, an award he would win 5 instances. He received the French Derby 4 instances and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as soon as, guiding Suave Dancer residence in 1991. Asmussen introduced a special driving model to Europe, protecting himself low and crouched on the horse. This was in distinction to the frequent model in Europe on the time, however Asmussen’s model was rapidly adopted by lots of the native riders.
Asmussen spent his winters on his ranch in Laredo, Texas, and sometimes picked up mounts in main American races. Lots of his American rides have been on horses educated by his youthful brother, Corridor of Famer Steve Asmussen. He received his lone Breeders’ Cup race in 1997 when guiding Spinning World to victory within the Mile for coach Jonathan Pease. He additionally received the Arlington Million twice (1988 and 1992).
In 2000, Asmussen retired from the saddle, at age 39. He retired having received greater than 3,000 races, together with Grade or Group 1 wins in seven international locations.
3. KENT DESORMEAUX (1987)
CAREER WINS: 6,175
CAREER EARNINGS: $294,648,234
A local of Maurice, La., Desormeaux obtained his begin driving on small, non-wagering tracks in Cajun nation at age 12. In 1986, when he was 16, he started driving at Evangeline Downs. 4 months later, he started driving in Maryland, and nearly immediately grew to become the highest jockey on the circuit.
His Eclipse Award-winning season in 1987 was spectacular, as he received 450 races from greater than 2,200 mounts. After a dominant yr in 1988, Desormeaux set one in every of racing’s unbreakable information in 1989. That yr, Desormeaux received an unimaginable 597 races, breaking Chris McCarron’s file by 50 wins. To place that in perspective, solely three jockeys have received 400 races in a yr over the previous decade. He received the Eclipse Award as excellent jockey that yr, turning into the third rider to win the Eclipse for excellent apprentice and excellent jockey. He additionally received the award with out profitable a Grade 1 race, the final jockey so far to take action.
Off that unimaginable season, Desormeaux moved to Southern California in 1990. That yr, he received his first Grade 1 on Delegant within the San Juan Capistrano Stakes. He received his second excellent jockey Eclipse Award in 1992 and was the common rider on 1993 Horse of the 12 months Kotashaan. That very same yr, he received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, as voted upon by his fellow jockeys, for demonstrating excessive requirements of conduct on and off the monitor.
Through the years, Desormeaux has received six Breeders’ Cup races and 7 Triple Crown races. Three of these Triple Crown wins got here within the Kentucky Derby on Actual Quiet in 1998, Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000, and Massive Brown in 2008. In 2004, Desormeaux was inducted into the Racing Corridor of Fame. In 2019, he received his 6,000th race and is one in every of solely 21 North American jockeys to realize that milestone. Desormeaux stays lively at the moment, notching eight wins in 2024.
2. STEVE CAUTHEN (1977)
CAREER WINS: 954
CAREER EARNINGS: $13,526,857
Few, if any, jockeys have captured the creativeness of the American public the best way Steve Cauthen did in 1977. He started his driving profession simply 10 days after his sixteenth birthday, driving at Churchill Downs in Could 1976. Six months later, he started driving at Aqueduct, and instantly set the racing world on hearth.
Cauthen introduced the racing world to full consideration in January 1977. From Jan. 11 to Jan. 15, he received 21 races in simply 5 days at Aqueduct, profitable 5 races in a day thrice in that stretch. He by no means slowed down all yr, profitable 487 races, together with 18 graded stakes, at a 24% strike price. Not solely did he win the excellent apprentice Eclipse Award, he additionally received the award for excellent jockey, turning into the one jockey so far to win each awards in the identical yr. He was additionally given a particular Eclipse Award of Benefit, one in every of solely two lively jockeys to win one. His presence prolonged past the racing world: he was voted the Sports activities Illustrated Sportsman of the 12 months, the Sporting Information Sportsman of the 12 months, and the Related Press Male Athlete of the 12 months. Cauthen had turn out to be one of many highest-profile sports activities figures within the nation earlier than he turned 18.
It didn’t appear doable for his profile to develop larger in 1978, however he achieved even larger heights that yr. He received the Triple Crown on the good colt Affirmed, guiding him to victories within the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes over his archrival Alydar.
Sadly, the American magic ended for Cauthen not lengthy after the Triple Crown. In 1979, he struggled by means of a disastrous Santa Anita Park meet, which included a 110-race shedding streak. That stretch value him the mount on Affirmed, who was ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr. for the remainder of his profession. On the lookout for a recent begin, Cauthen determined to relocate his profession to Europe. Aside from a quick sojourn at Santa Anita within the winter of 1984, he by no means once more rode recurrently in the USA.
In Europe, Cauthen as soon as once more discovered his stride. He was voted champion jockey in England thrice and received six English Triple Crown races. He’s the one jockey to win each the Kentucky Derby and the Epsom Derby. Over his 12 years driving in Europe, he added the One Thousand Guineas, Epsom Oaks, Irish One Thousand Guineas, Irish Oaks, Irish Derby, Irish St. Leger, French Derby, and Italian Derby to his resume.
Cauthen retired from the saddle in 1992. He was inducted into the Racing Corridor of Fame in 1994.
1. CHRIS MCCARRON (1974)
CAREER WINS: 7,141
CAREER EARNINGS: $263,986,005
For nearly three a long time, McCarron was one of many prime jockeys in the USA. He burst onto the scene with model in 1974, when he set the all-time file for many wins in a season with 547 victories. That file stood for 15 years till Desormeaux broke it in 1989.
That season was simply the beginning of an unimaginable profession. McCarron led the nation in wins two extra instances and in earnings 4 instances. He received six Triple Crown races, together with two Kentucky Derbys (Alysheba, 1987; Go for Gin, 1994), 5 Breeders’ Cup Classics, and the Eclipse Award for excellent jockey in 1980. In his whole profession, most of which was spent on the robust Southern California circuit, he by no means received at a price under 15%. He was the common rider for 3 Horses of the 12 months: John Henry in 1984, Alysheba in 1988, and Tiznow in 2000.
In 1989, McCarron was inducted into the Racing Corridor of Fame. He competed for some time after that, retiring from full-time driving after profitable the 2002 Affirmed Handicap with Got here House. His 7,141 wins rank seventh on the all-time listing for North American jockeys, whereas his $263.9 million in earnings ranks eleventh. Of the ten forward of him on that listing, solely Pat Day has the next profession profitable share than McCarron’s 21%.
NOTE: This story was initially printed in 2021 and has been up to date.
