Eclipse Awards

Every Thoroughbred Syndicate’s Dream

The Eclipse awards are American Thoroughbred horse racing awards that are given to the top horses in their respective categories at the end of each year. The Eclipse awards began in 1971 and were created by three different governing bodies in horse racing: The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, The Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers Association. These three bodies select finalists each year and then vote on the top three finalists in each category to determine the winner. The winners are then announced in January of the next year at a formal ceremony that would be an honor to attend for anyone involved in a horse racing partnership.

These awards are named after the very talented racehorse and influential sire, Eclipse. Eclipse was foaled on April 1, 1764 in Great Britain. He was probably the best thoroughbred of his time, winning all 18 of his races of his races in a span of 17 months. Eclipse was so brilliant on the track that he was retired to stud because there was lack of competition, no one would bet against him. Eclipse went on to a prolific stud career where he sired 344 winners. His bloodlines were so influential that in 1970 The Royal Veterinary College determined that his bloodlines were in nearly 80% of all thoroughbreds. Eclipse was truly a special horse that deserves the recognition he has received as racings highest awards are named for him.

The most prestigious Eclipse award that is given each year and that every thoroughbred horse racing partnership dreams of is The Horse of the Year. The Horse of the Year award is a designation give to a horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year was deemed the most outstanding. Over the years there have several horses to win the Eclipse award twice but only one horse since the inception of the Eclipse awards has won this honor 3 times, Forego. Forego won this award in 1974, 1975, and 1976. He had 34 wins in 57 starts including 9 seconds and 7 thirds. In total he won 8 eclipse awards including horse of the year honors 3 times, male Horse of the Year 4 times, and Champion Sprinter once. He was truly an outstanding gelding that won races from 7 furlongs to 2 miles. His record of 3 consecutive Horse of Year Eclipse awards may never be surpassed.

In total there are twenty Eclipse awards bestowed each year for each respective category based on age, distance, and surface. They are: Horse of the Year, Champion Two Year Old, Champion Two Year Old Filly, Champion Three Year Old, Champion Three Year Old Filly, Champion Older Male, Champion Older Female, Champion Sprinter, Champion Female Sprinter, Champion Male Turf Horse, Champion Female Turf Horse, Outstanding Steeplechase Horse, Outstanding Owner, Outstanding Breeder, Outstanding Trainer, Outstanding Jockey, Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, Eclipse Special Award, Eclipse Award of Merit, and Moment of the Year. Each of these awards are held in very high regard in the thoroughbred horse racing community, and any horse that wins this award will be well deserving of the honor.

Blinkers On Racing Stable was lucky enough to have the 2010 runner up in the Eclipse voting for Champion Two Year Old Filly, with Turbulent Descent. To even be mentioned in the conversation is more than an honor and something that our thoroughbred partnership will never forget and always remember when they think of their best memories with their horse racing syndicate. It is Blinkers On and I’m sure every horse racing partnership’s goal is to win an Eclipse award. With hard work and dedication to our sport and our partners we hope that one day we are fortunate enough to call our thoroughbred horse racing partnership, Eclipse recipients.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!