The American Award for Horse of the Year, or simply Horse of the Year, one of the Eclipse Awards, is the highest honor given in American Thoroughbred horse racing. Because Thoroughbred horse racing in the United States has no governing body to sanction the various awards, "Horse of the Year" is not an official national award.
The Champion award is a designation given to a horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year was deemed the most outstanding. The list below is a Champion's history compilation beginning with the year 1887 published by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's The Blood-Horse magazine (founded 1961), described by ESPN as "the Thoroughbred industry's most-respected trade publication".
In 1936 a Horse of the Year award was created by a poll of the staff of The New York Morning Telegraph and its sister newspaper, the Daily Racing Form (DRF), a tabloid founded in 1894 that was focused on statistical information for bettors. At the same time a rival poll was organised by the Baltimore-based Turf and Sport Digest magazine. Formed in 1942 as an advocacy group, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations (TRA) inaugurated a competing award in 1950, selecting its winners from votes by racing secretaries from member tracks across the United States. The three systems resulted in different opinions as to "Horse of the Year" Champions in 1949, 1952, 1957, 1965, and 1970. In 1971, the DRF and TRA made an agreement with the National Turf Writers Association to merge into one set of awards, called the Eclipse Awards.
Historical notes on winners In a rare occurrence, two two-year-olds topped the balloting for 1972 American Horse of the Year honors with Secretariat edging out the filly, La Prevoyante. Secretariat received the votes of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America and the Daily Racing Form, while La Prevoyante was chosen by the National Turf Writers Association.
Kelso, who placed 4th in The Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century, won "Horse of the Year" honors five consecutive years. Omaha is the only winner of the U.S. Triple Crown that was not voted "Horse of the Year" honors.
Records Most wins: 5 – Kelso (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)
Most wins by a trainer: 8 – James G. Rowe Sr. (1896, 1900, 1901, 1905, 1907, 1908, 1913, 1915)
Most wins by an owner: 6 – Calumet Farm (1941, 1942, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1949)
Honorees
Key Elected to the Thoroughbred Horse Racing Hall of Fame
Eclipse Awards
The 2003 Eclipse Awards marked a significant change in the way that honors were decided.
Under this format, voting is conducted by selected members of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (formerly National Turf Writers Association). The winner of the Eclipse Award for American Horse of the Year is the horse who has received the most first-place votes.
Year Horse Trainer Owner Age Sex Votes (Share) Runner-Up Votes (Share) Ref 2025 Sovereignty William I. Mott Godolphin 3 Colt 201/220 () Forever Young 17/220 () 2024 Thorpedo Anna Kenneth McPeek Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing 3 Filly 193/240 () Sierra Leone 10/240 () 2023 Cody's Wish William I. Mott Godolphin 5 Horse 134/219 () White Abarrio 37/219 () 2022 Flightline John Sadler Hronis Racing 4 Colt 239/246 (97.15%) Malathaat, Life Is Good, Country Grammer 1/246 (0.41%) 2021 Knicks Go Brad Cox Korea Racing Authority 5 Horse 228/235 (97.02%) Letruska, Loves Only You 2/235 (0.85%) 2020 Authentic Bob Baffert Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing 3 Colt 224/238 (94.12%) Monomoy Girl 7/238 (2.94%) 2019 Bricks and Mortar Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence 5 Horse 204/241 (84.65%) Mitole 19/241 (7.88%) 2018 Justify Bob Baffert China H. C., Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm 3 Colt 191/249 (76.71%) Accelerate 54/249 (21.69%) 2017 Gun Runner Steve Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC & Three Chimneys Farm 4 Colt 248/250 (99.2%) Arrogate 2/250 (0.8%) 2016 California Chrome Art Sherman California Chrome LLC 5 Horse 202/248 (81.45%) Arrogate 40/248 (16.13%) 2015 American Pharoah Bob Baffert Ahmed Zayat 3 Colt 261/261 (100.0%) N/A N/A 2014 California Chrome Art Sherman Steven Coburn, Perry Martin 3 Colt 143/265 (53.96%) Main Sequence 53/265 (20.00%) 2013 Wise Dan Charles LoPresti Morton Fink 6 Gelding 208/249 (83.53%) Mucho Macho Man 21/249 (8.43%) 2012 Wise Dan Charles LoPresti Morton Fink 5 Gelding 194/254 (76.38%) I'll Have Another 30/254 (11.81%) 2011 Havre de Grace J. Larry Jones Fox Hill Farms 4 Filly 166/248 (66.94%) Acclamation 26/248 (10.48%) 2010 Zenyatta John Shirreffs Jerry & Ann Moss 6 Mare 128/238 (53.78%) Blame 102/238 (42.86%) 2009 Rachel Alexandra Steve Asmussen Stonestreet Stables 3 Filly 130/229 (56.77%) Zenyatta 99/229 (43.23%) 2008 Curlin Steve Asmussen Stonestreet Farm et al. 4 Colt 153/242 (63.22%) Zenyatta 69/242 (28.51%) 2007 Curlin Steve Asmussen Stonestreet Farm et al. 3 Colt 249/263 (94.68%) Rags to Riches 12/263 (4.56%) 2006 Invasor Kiaran McLaughlin Shadwell Racing 4 Colt 228/271 (84.13%) Barbaro 21/271 (7.75%) 2005 Saint Liam Richard E. Dutrow Jr. M/M William K. Warren Jr. 5 Horse 194/253 (76.68%) Afleet Alex 56/253 (22.13%) 2004 Ghostzapper Robert J. Frankel Frank Stronach 4 Colt 174/271 (64.21%) Smarty Jones 95/271 (35.06%) 2003 Mineshaft Neil J. Howard Farish / Webber / Elkins 4 Colt 209/248 (84.27%) Congaree 11/248 (4.44%)
The 2002 Eclipse Awards were the last conducted under a voting bloc system, in which each of the three voting groups could only cast a single collective vote based on the polling of that group's members. In the event of an overall split vote, the award would go to the horse who had received the most points - each group's vote awarded ten points for first place, five points for second place, and one point for third place. In the event that there was a tie on points, the award would go to the horse who had received the most individual first-place votes.
Year Horse Trainer Owner Age Sex2002 Azeri Laura de Seroux Michael Paulson4F2001 Point Given Bob Baffert The Thoroughbred Corp.3C2000 Tiznow Jay M. Robbins M. Cooper & Cecilia Straub-Rubens3C1999 Charismatic D. Wayne Lukas Bob and Beverly Lewis3C1998 Skip Away Sonny Hine Carolyn Hine5H1997 Favorite Trick Patrick B. Byrne Joseph LaCombe2C1996 Cigar William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson6H1995 Cigar William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson5H1994 Holy Bull Warren A. Croll Jr. Warren A. Croll Jr.3C1993 Kotashaan Richard Mandella La Presle Farm5H1992 A.P. Indy Neil D. Drysdale Tomonori Tsurumaki3C1991 Black Tie Affair Ernie T. Poulos Jeffrey Sullivan5H1990 Criminal Type D. Wayne Lukas Calumet & Jurgen K. Arnemann5H1989 Sunday Silence Charlie Whittingham H-G-W Partners3C1988 Alysheba Jack Van Berg Dorothy & Pamela Scharbauer4C1987 Ferdinand Charlie Whittingham Elizabeth A. Keck4C1986 Lady's Secret D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein4F1985 Spend A Buck Cam Gambolati Hunter Farm3C1984 John Henry Ron McAnally Dotsam Stable9G1983 All Along Patrick Biancone Daniel Wildenstein4F1982 Conquistador Cielo Woody Stephens Henryk de Kwiatkowski3C1981 John Henry Ron McAnally Dotsam Stable6G1980 Spectacular Bid Bud Delp Hawksworth Farm4C1979 Affirmed Laz Barrera Harbor View Farm4C1978 Affirmed Laz Barrera Harbor View Farm3C1977 Seattle Slew William H. Turner Jr. Karen & Mickey Taylor3C1976 Forego Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. Lazy F. Ranch6G1975 Forego Sherrill W. Ward Lazy F. Ranch5G1974 Forego Sherrill W. Ward Lazy F. Ranch4G1973 Secretariat Lucien Laurin Meadow Stable3C1972 Secretariat Lucien Laurin Meadow Stable2C1971 Ack Ack Charlie Whittingham Buddy Fogelson5H
Daily Racing Form, Turf & Sport Digest and Thoroughbred Racing Association Awards Year Horse Trainer Owner Age Gender1970 Fort Marcy (DRF) J. Elliott Burch Rokeby Stables6G Personality (TRA) John W. Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs3C1969 Arts and Letters J. Elliott Burch Rokeby Stables3C1968 Dr. Fager John A. Nerud Tartan Stable4C1967 Damascus Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. Edith W. Bancroft3C1966 Buckpasser Edward A. Neloy Ogden Phipps3C1965Roman Brother (DRF) Burley Parke Harbor View Farm4G Moccasin (TRA) (TSD) Harry Trotsek Claiborne Farm2F1964 Kelso Carl Hanford Bohemia Stable7G1963 Kelso Carl Hanford Bohemia Stable6G1962 Kelso Carl Hanford Bohemia Stable5G1961 Kelso Carl Hanford Bohemia Stable4G1960 Kelso Carl Hanford Bohemia Stable3G1959 Sword Dancer J. Elliott Burch Brookmeade Stable3C1958 Round Table William Molter Kerr Stable4C1957 Dedicate (TRA) G. Carey Winfrey Jan Winfrey Burke5H Bold Ruler (DRF) (TSD) Jim Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable3C1956 Swaps Mesh Tenney Rex C. Ellsworth4C1955 Nashua Jim Fitzsimmons Belair Stud3C1954 Native Dancer William C. Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II4C1953 Tom Fool John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable4C1952 Native Dancer (TRA) (TSD) William C. Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II2C One Count (DRF) Oscar White Sarah Jeffords3C1951 Counterpoint Sylvester Veitch C. V. Whitney3C1950 Hill Prince Casey Hayes Christopher Chenery3C
Daily Racing Form and Turf & Sport Digest Awards Year Horse Trainer Owner Age Gender1949Capot (DRF)John M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable3CCoaltown (TSD)Horace A. JonesCalumet Farm4C1948CitationBen A. JonesCalumet Farm3C1947ArmedBen A. JonesCalumet Farm6G1946AssaultMax HirschKing Ranch3C1945BusherGeorge M. OdomLouis B. Mayer3F1944Twilight TearBen A. JonesCalumet Farm3F1943Count FleetDon CameronFannie Hertz3C1942WhirlawayBen A. JonesCalumet Farm4C1941WhirlawayBen A. JonesCalumet Farm3C1940ChalledonLouis J. SchaeferBranncastle Farm4C1939ChalledonLouis J. SchaeferBranncastle Farm3C1938SeabiscuitTom SmithCharles S. Howard5H1937War AdmiralGeorge ConwayGlen Riddle Farm3C1936GranvilleJim FitzsimmonsWilliam Woodward Sr.3C
The Blood-Horse retrospective champions