Horse racing’s equal of the Academy Awards takes place Thursday, Jan. 23 with the 54th annual Eclipse Awards, held at The Breakers Resort in Palm Seashore, Fla. The Eclipse Awards acknowledge the very best of the very best in American Thoroughbred racing and are voted by the Nationwide Thoroughbred Racing Affiliation (NTRA), workers at Day by day Racing Type, and members of the Nationwide Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB). This yr’s occasion is sponsored by Resolute Racing and can air on FanDuel TV, beginning 6:30 p.m. with the Keeneland Pink Carpet Present main into the awards present beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Learn on for some enjoyable details concerning the Eclipse Awards:
1) The Eclipse Awards started in 1971 as a method to consolidate earlier awards and promote the game of horse racing. Day by day Racing Type and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations each honored champion racehorses through the mid-20th century, the DRF beginning in 1936 and the TRA in 1950. Once in a while, they acknowledged two totally different horses as Horse of the Yr, together with in 1970 when the DRF voted for Fort Marcy and the TRA honored Character. Racing publicist J.B. Faulconer chaired a committee in 1971 to carry collectively turf writers and executives, and a unified awards system was shaped.
2) The awards are named after one of the vital influential Thoroughbreds in historical past. Faulconer named the brand new awards after Eclipse, who was one of the vital profitable racehorses within the 18th century in England after which turned an much more achieved sire whose genetic affect will be present in round 95% of modern-day Thoroughbreds. Learn extra about this legend and his affect on the game – and the awards – in Keeler Johnson’s article.
3) There are 17 divisional Eclipse Awards together with the distinguished Horse of the Yr Award. The Eclipse Awards honors horses by age (2, 3, and older), intercourse, and floor (filth and turf), and there may be an award for champion steeplechase horse, too. Eclipse Awards are additionally granted to the very best jockey, apprentice jockey, proprietor, breeder, and coach.
4) Eight horses have been voted Horse of the Yr greater than as soon as. The primary three got here early within the awards’ historical past: Secretariat in 1972 and ’73; Forego (1974-’76); and Affirmed (1978-’79). The subsequent 5 are John Henry (1981 and ’84), Cigar (1994-’95), Curlin (1997-’98), Sensible Dan (2012-’13), and California Chrome (2014 and ’16). Final yr’s Horse of the Yr, Cody’s Want, was retired on the finish of his 2023 season, so there is no such thing as a probability for a repeat winner.
5) Seventeen 3-year-olds have been voted Horse of the Yr. The primary was Secretariat in 1973 and the latest was Genuine in 2020. Sixteen of the 17 had been males and, naturally, all of them had been additionally voted champions of their division. The lone feminine: Rachel Alexandra, who went unbeaten in 2009 by way of eight begins and defeated males thrice. That would change this yr as 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna seems to be a robust favourite to win Horse of the Yr.
6) Six fillies/mares have been voted Horse of the Yr. They’re: All Alongside (1983); Woman’s Secret (1986); Azeri (2002); Rachel Alexandra (2009); Zenyatta (2010); and Havre de Grace (2011). The aforementioned Rachel Alexandra is the one a type of half-dozen to have received the award at age 3, and All Alongside is the one feminine turf horse to win Horse of the Yr. Learn extra about these sensational six, and why Thorpedo Anna is predicted to hitch them.
7) 9 horses have been voted champion 2-year-old male after which gone on to win the Kentucky Derby of their 3-year-old season. That sequence was practically routine through the first decade of the Eclipse Awards, as Riva Ridge, Secretariat, Silly Pleasure, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, and Spectacular Bid all capitalized on their early potential by profitable the Derby (and three of them swept the Triple Crown). However there was a giant hole after that, all the way in which to 2006-’07 and Road Sense. Since then, American Pharoah and Nyquist have added to their juvenile championship status by capturing the run for the roses – American Pharoah doing so en path to a Triple Crown sweep.
8) 4 jockeys who had been honored with an Eclipse Award as Excellent Apprentice Jockey additionally acquired an Eclipse Award as Excellent Jockey throughout their careers. They’re Chris McCarron, Steve Cauthen, Kent Desormeaux, and Julien Leparoux. Cauthen, aka “The Child,” received the Eclipse in each divisions in 1977, the yr earlier than he rode Affirmed to Triple Crown glory. Cauthen was additionally named Sportsman of the Yr by Sports activities Illustrated in ’77. Tyler Gaffalione, the winner as excellent apprentice in 2015, is a finalist for excellent jockey for 2024.
9) Since 1995, solely eight trainers have received the Eclipse Award for his or her career. Over the previous quarter-century-plus, this class has been relegated to a choose few – seven of the eight have received a number of Eclipses throughout this timeframe. The listing: Todd Pletcher (eight, probably the most all time); Bob Baffert (4); Chad Brown (4); the late Bobby Frankel (4 out of his whole 5); Invoice Mott (4, inclduing final yr); Steve Asmussen (two); and Brad Cox (two). Dale Romans received his sole Eclipse in 2012. The 2024 finalists for excellent coach are Brown, Cox, and Kenny McPeek.
10) Different Eclipse Awards acknowledge lifetime achievements and media excellence. These awards have modified descriptions usually, and typically are usually not awarded for a selected yr. However the honorees within the media division for 2024 have already been introduced.
