The American Champion Male Turf Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. The award originated in 1953 when the Daily Racing Form (DRF) named Iceberg II their champion. The Thoroughbred Racing Association (TRA) added the category in 1967. The organisations disagreed only once, in 1968. In 1971 it became part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to a Colt or Gelding, regardless of age, for their performance on grass race courses.
The Daily Racing Form, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, and the National Turf Writers Association all joined forces in 1971 to create the Eclipse Award. From 1953 through 1978 it was awarded to male or female horses although the only female champion was Dahlia in 1974. In 1979 an individual category was created for each of the sexes.
Starting with the 2015 Eclipse Awards it is no longer possible for a Champion Male Turf Horse to also win Champion Older Male Horse, as the latter category is now restricted to horses proficient in dirt or main track races. The last such winner of both awards was Main Sequence in 2014.
Records Most wins: 4 – John Henry (1980, 1981, 1983, 1984)
Most wins by a trainer: 6 – Ron McAnally (1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1995)
Most wins by an owner: 6 – Godolphin Racing (1999, 2001, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025)
Honorees
Eclipse awards Year Horse Age Trainer Owner2025Notable Speech4Charlie ApplebyGodolphin2024Rebel's Romance 6Charlie ApplebyGodolphin2023Up to the Mark 4Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable & St. Elias Stable2022Modern Games (IRE)3Charlie ApplebyGodolphin2021Yibir (GB)3Charlie ApplebyGodolphin2020Channel Maker6William MottWachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing2019Bricks and Mortar5Chad C. BrownKlaravich Stables & William Lawrence2018Stormy Liberal6Peter MillerRockingham Ranch & David A. Bernsen LLC 2017World Approval5Mark E. CasseLive Oak Plantation2016Flintshire7Chad BrownJuddmonte Farms2015Big Blue Kitten7Chad BrownKenneth & Sarah Ramsey2014Main Sequence5Graham MotionFlaxman Holdings2013Wise Dan6Charles LoprestiMorton Fink2012Wise Dan5Charles LoprestiMorton Fink2011Cape Blanco4Aidan O'BrienDerrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Fitriani Hay2010Gio Ponti5Christophe ClementCastleton Lyons2009Gio Ponti4Christophe ClementCastleton Lyons2008Conduit4Michael StouteBallymacoll Stud2007English Channel5Todd PletcherJames T. Scatuorchio2006Miesque's Approval7Martin D. WolfsonLive Oak Plantation Racing2005Leroidesanimaux5Robert J. FrankelT N T Stud2004Kitten's Joy3Dale RomansKenneth & Sarah Ramsey2003High Chaparral4Aidan O'BrienMichael Tabor & Sue Magnier2002High Chaparral3Aidan O'BrienMichael Tabor & Sue Magnier2001Fantastic Light5Saeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing2000Kalanisi4Michael StouteAga Khan IV1999Daylami5Saeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing1998Buck's Boy5P. Noel HickeyQuarter B Farm1997Chief Bearheart4Mark FrostadSam-Son Farm1996Singspiel4Michael StouteSheikh Mohammed1995Northern Spur4Ron McAnallyCharles J. Cella1994Paradise Creek5William I. MottBertram R. Firestone1993Kotashaan5Richard E. MandellaLa Presle Farm1992Sky Classic5James E. DaySam-Son Farm1991Tight Spot4Ron McAnallyAnderson, Winchell & Carradini1990Itsallgreektome3Wallace DollaseJhayare Stables1989Steinlen6D. Wayne LukasWildenstein Stable1988Sunshine Forever3John M. VeitchDarby Dan Farm1987Theatrical5William I. MottAllen E. Paulson1986Manila3LeRoy JolleyBradley M. Shannon1985Cozzene5Jan H. NerudJohn A. Nerud1984John Henry9Ron McAnallyDotsam Stable1983John Henry8Ron McAnallyDotsam Stable1982Perrault5Charles E. WhittinghamSerge Fradkoff & Thierry van Zuylen1981John Henry6Ron McAnallyDotsam Stable1980John Henry5Ron McAnallyDotsam Stable1979Bowl Game5John M. Gaver, Jr.Greentree Stable1978Mac Diarmida3Flint S. SchulhoferJerome M. Torsney1977Johnny D.3Michael KayDana S. Bray Jr.1976Youth3Maurice ZilberNelson Bunker Hunt1975Snow Knight4MacKenzie MillerWindfields Farm1974Dahlia4Maurice ZilberNelson Bunker Hunt1973Secretariat3Lucien LaurinPenny Chenery1972Cougar II6Charles E. WhittinghamMary F. Jones1971Run the Gantlet3J. Elliott BurchRokeby Stables
Daily Racing Form, Turf & Sport Digest and Thoroughbred Racing Association Awards Year Horse Age Trainer Owner1970Fort Marcy6J. Elliott BurchRokeby Stables1969Hawaii5MacKenzie MillerCragwood Stables1968Fort Marcy (TRA)4J. Elliott BurchRokeby Stables1968Dr. Fager (DRF)4John A. NerudWilliam L. McKnight1967Fort Marcy3J. Elliott BurchRokeby Stables1966Assagai3MacKenzie MillerCragwood Stables1965Parka7Warren A. Croll, Jr.Pelican Stable (Rachel Carpenter)1964Turbo Jet II4Frank A. BonsalBarclay Stable1963Mongo4Frank A. BonsalMarion duPont Scott19621961T.V. Lark4Paul ParkerChase R. McCoy19601959Round Table5William MolterBrookmeade Stable1958Round Table4William MolterKerr Stable1957Round Table3William MolterBrookmeade Stable1956Career Boy3Sylvester VeitchCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1955St. Vincent4Vance LongdenGeorge R. Gardiner & Alberta Ranches1954Stan4Harry TrotsekHasty House Farm1953Iceberg II5Horatio LuroW. Arnold Hanger
References
The Bloodhorse.com Champion's history charts