The Eclipse Award for Champion Older Dirt Female Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a filly or mare, four years old and up, for performances on dirt and main track racing surfaces. In 1971, it became part of the Eclipse Awards program as the award for Champion Older Female Horse.
In 1936 both the Turf & Sports Digest magazine and Daily Racing Form (DRF) began naming an annual champion. Starting in 1950, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations (TRA) began naming its own champion. The following list provides the name of the horses chosen by both of these organizations. Whenever there were different champions named, the horses are listed side-by-side with the one chosen as champion by the Daily Racing Form noted with the letters (DRF), the one chosen by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations by the letters (TRA) and the one chosen by Turf and Sports Digest by the letters (TSD).
Prior to 1971 this award was referred to as "Champion Female Handicap Horse" or "Champion Handicap Mare". The Daily Racing Form version was open to any female horse, and was given to some Champions at the age of three, such as Tosmah, Twilight Tear and Busher.
Champions from 1887 through 1935 were selected retrospectively by a panel of experts as published by The Blood-Horse magazine.
In 2015, the Daily Racing Form, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, and the National Turf Writers Association decided that the award would be renamed and awarded to older female horses proficient in dirt and main track races.
Honorees Eclipse Award for Champion Older Dirt Female Year Horse Age Trainer Owner2024Idiomatic 5 Brad H. CoxJuddmonte Farms2023Idiomatic 4 Brad H. CoxJuddmonte Farms2022Malathaat 4 Todd A. PletcherShadwell Stable2021Letruska5Fausto GutierrezSt. George Stable2020Monomoy Girl5Brad H. CoxMichael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables2019Midnight Bisou4Steven AsmussenBloom Racing2018Unique Bella4Jerry HollendorferDon Alberto Stable2017Forever Unbridled5Dallas StewartCharles E. Fipke2016Beholder6Richard MandellaSpendthrift Farm2015Beholder5Richard MandellaSpendthrift Farm2014Close Hatches4William I. MottJuddmonte Farms2013Royal Delta5William I. MottBesilu Stables2012Royal Delta4William I. MottBesilu Stables2011Havre de Grace4J. Larry JonesRick Porter/Fox Hill Farms2010Zenyatta6John ShirreffsAnn & Jerry Moss2009Zenyatta5John ShirreffsAnn & Jerry Moss2008Zenyatta4John ShirreffsAnn & Jerry Moss2007Ginger Punch4Robert J. FrankelStronach Stables2006Fleet Indian5Todd A. PletcherPaul H. Saylor2005Ashado4Todd A. PletcherJonabell Farm2004Azeri6D. Wayne LukasAllen E. Paulson Living Trust2003Azeri5Laura de SerouxAllen E. Paulson Living Trust2002Azeri4Laura de SerouxAllen E. Paulson Living Trust2001Gourmet Girl6Pico PerdomoGary A. Tanaka2000Riboletta5Eduardo IndaAaron & Marie Jones1999Beautiful Pleasure4John T. Ward, Jr.John C. Oxley1998Escena5William I. MottAllen E. Paulson1997Hidden Lake4John C. KimmelTracy Farmer & Robert N. Clay1996Jewel Princess4Wallace DollaseM. & R. Stephen/Thoroughbred Corp.1995Inside Information4C. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps1994Sky Beauty4H. Allen JerkensGeorgia E. Hoffman1993Paseana6Ron McAnallyJenny & Sidney Craig1992Paseana5Ron McAnallyJenny & Sidney Craig1991Queena5C. R. McGaughey IIIEmory G. Alexander1990Bayakoa6Ron McAnallyJanis & Frank Whitham1989Bayakoa5Ron McAnallyJanis & Frank Whitham1988Personal Ensign4C. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1987North Sider5D. Wayne LukasD. W. Lukas & Paul Paternostro1986Lady's Secret4D. Wayne LukasM/M Eugene Klein1985Life's Magic4D. Wayne Lukas Mel Hatley & Eugene Klein1984Princess Rooney4Neil D. DrysdalePaula J. Tucker1983Ambassador of Luck4Mitchell C. PregerEnvoy Stable 1982Track Robbery6Robert L. WheelerSumma Stable1981Relaxing5Angel Penna, Sr.Ogden Phipps1980Glorious Song4Gerry BelangerF. Stronach & N. B. Hunt1979Waya5David A. WhiteleyP. M. Brant & G. W. Strawbridge, Jr.1978Late Bloomer4John M. Gaver Jr.Greentree Stable1977Cascapedia4Gordon C. CampbellBernard J. Ridder1976Proud Delta4Marion duPont ScottPeter M. Howe1975Susan's Girl6L. R. FenstermakerFred W. Hooper1974Desert Vixen4Thomas F. Root, Sr.Harry T. Mangurian, Jr.1973Susan's Girl4Charles R. ParkeFred W. Hooper1972Typecast6A. Thomas DoyleFletcher R. Jones1971Shuvee5Willard C. FreemanAnne Minor Stone
Daily Racing Form, Turf & Sport Digest and Thoroughbred Racing Association Awards Year Horse Age Trainer Owner1970Shuvee4Willard C. FreemanAnne Minor Stone1969Gallant Bloom (DRF)3William J. HirschRobert J. Kelberg, Jr.1969Gamely (TRA)5James W. MaloneyWilliam Haggin Perry1968Gamely4James W. MaloneyWilliam Haggin Perry1967Straight Deal II5Hirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs1966Open Fire (DRF)5Virgil W. RainesBrandywine Stable1966Summer Scandal (TRA)4Woods GarthHarborvale Stable1965Old Hat6Charles C. NormanStanley Conrad1964Tosmah (DRF)3Joseph W. MerglerBriardale Farm1964Old Hat (TRA)5Charles C. NormanStanley Conrad1963Cicada4Casey HayesChristopher Chenery1962Primonetta4James P. ConwayDarby Dan Farm1961Airmans Guide4Burton WilliamsHugh A. Grant, Sr.1960Royal Native4Peter F. GaciciaWilliam B. MacDonald1959Tempted4Henry S. ClarkMooring Stable1958Bornastar5W. Graves SparksJ. Graham Brown1957Pucker Up4James P. ConwayAda L. Rice1956Blue Sparkler4Harry M. WellsAmory L. Haskell1955Misty Morn (DRF)3James E. FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1955Parlo (TRA)4Richard E. HandlenWilliam du Pont, Jr.1954Parlo (DRF)3Richard E. HandlenWilliam du Pont, Jr.1954Lavender Hill (TRA)5Tommy KelleyMrs. Charles Silvers1953Sickle's Image5Clarence W. HartwickClarence W. Hartwick1952Real Delight (DRF)3Horace A. JonesCalumet Farm1952Next Move (TRA)5William C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1951Bed o' Roses4William C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1950Two Lea4Horace A. JonesCalumet Farm
Daily Racing Form and Turf & Sport Digest Awards Year Horse Age Trainer Owner1949Bewitch4Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1948Conniver4William PostHarry La Montagne1947But Why Not3Max HirschKing Ranch1946Gallorette4Edward A. ChristmasWilliam L. Brann1945Busher3George M. OdomLouis B. Mayer1944Twilight Tear3Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1943Mar-Kell4Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1942Vagrancy3James E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1941Fairy Chant4Richard E. HandlenWilliam du Pont Jr.1940War Plumage4Howard OotsJames Cox Brady Jr.1939Lady Maryland5not foundGustave Ring1938 Esposa6Matthew P. BradyWilliam Ziegler Jr.1938Marica5Howard WellsThomas D. Taggart1937Esposa5Matthew P. BradyWilliam Ziegler Jr.1936Myrtlewood4Ray KindredBrownell Combs
The Blood-Horse retrospective champions Year Horse Age Trainer Owner1935Late Date6Aaron FrostBrentwood Stable1935Some Pomp4Bert B. WilliamsCalumet Farm1934Advising Anna4Jack HowardMrs. Anna Howard1933Rambour5Preston M. BurchPreston M. Burch1932Tred Avon4William IrvineSylvester W. Labrot1931Valenciennes4Willie KnappFannie Hertz1930Lady Broadcast4John M. GoodeRoger Caldwell1929Bateau4Scott P. HarlanWalter M. Jeffords1928Black Maria5William H. KarrickWilliam R. Coe1927Black Maria4William H. KarrickWilliam R. Coe1926Princess Doreen5Kay SpenceAudley Farm Stable 1925Princess Doreen4Kay SpenceAudley Farm Stable 1924Chacolet6Will BufordHal Price Headley1923Chacolet5Will BufordHal Price Headley1922Careful4Eugene WaylandWalter J. Salmon, Sr.1921My Dear4Fred MusanteFred Musante1920Milkmaid4H. Guy BedwellJ. K. L. Ross
References
The Bloodhorse.com Champion's history charts American Champion Older Female Horse at Thoroughbred Heritage