Eclipse Awards of thoroughbred racing
Named in honour of the famous thoroughbred Eclipse, the Eclipse awards are considered the ultimate benchmark of success that everyone belonging to the thoroughbred industry wants to achieve.
It is little wonder that the Eclipse Awards were named in honour of ‘Eclipse’, since the 18th century thoroughbred remained undefeated throughout his racing career.
To top that he was the sire of more then three hundred and fifty thoroughbreds, three hundred and forty four of which were victorious in the races they participated in.
It is sponsored by three major organizations of the thoroughbred industry namely, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Forum, and National Turf Writers Association.
There are tewnty categories in the Eclipse Awards, among these the most honourable is the ‘Horse of the Year’ award.
Interestingly thoroughbreds had been honoured with the ‘Horse of the year ’ award decades before the Eclipse Awards were established under the ‘American Horse of the Year’ Award.
It was in 1887 that this honour was first bestowed upon a thoroughbred by the name of ‘Hanover’.
The nominations for each category start at the end of each year. The three sponsor organizations do the nominations for each category.
In January for the coming year, the winners in each category are anounced.
The Eclipse Awards were first established in 1971. Winners of sixteen different categories in the Eclipse Awards are presented with the Eclipse Award Trophy.
Eleven of these categories are for horses and five are for humans.
The categories for the Eclipse Awards include:
American Horse of the Year
American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt
American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
American Champion Three-Year-Old Male
American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
American Champion Older Male Horse
American Champion Older Female Horse
American Champion Sprint Horse
American Champion Female Sprint Horse
American Champion Male Turf Horse
American 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
National Thoroughbred Racing Association Moment of the Year .
The Eclipse Award Trophy was designed the same year in which the awards first took place. The designer of the Trophy was Adalin Wichman. Mrs Wichman is the only copyright holder for the design of the trophy and she has chosen certain bronze casting firms
the country who do the work for her.
Once a thoroughbred wins an Eclipse Awards he is called a ‘Champion’ for the rest of his tenure as a racer as well as a breeder.
Such has been the success of the Eclipse Ards that it has been forty years since the awards inception and to date no other awards have been able to compete in grandeur and honour with Eclipse Awards.
In Januray 2010, the winners of the 40th Eclipse Awards were announced.
The “Horse of the Year” award in 2010 was presented to thoroughbred Zenyatta who has been trained by John Shirreffs.
The Eclipse Awards and would contibue to stay the ultimate success goal of every thoroughbred, trainer and owner. Once achieved these awards are something to be cherished by the thoroughbreds and their trainers & owners as well.
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